International Fellowship of Chaplains Conference in Tiffin Ohio

HEIDELBERG COLLEGE TIFFIN, OHIO
The International Fellowship of Chaplains, Inc. (IFOC) is a non profit, providing training, recognition, certification and information in the varied areas of Chaplaincy. We also interface with the secular and ministry worlds for the purpose of promoting tolerance and understanding, as well as, provide professional, trained and dedicated Chaplains in the various fields of need.

The work of the Chaplain differs greatly from the work of the Pastorate. The Pastor cares for the Spiritual needs of the congregation; whereas, the Chaplain must care for the needs of the Secular World as well.
There are several fields of Chaplaincy, some of which are easily recognized. Others are not. The IFOC endorses all types of Chaplains and recognizes the need for Credentialed Coverage. Some Chaplaincy areas of note are, Police, Fire, Hospital, Jail, Industrial, Transportation, Search & Rescue, Sports, Collegiate, Hospice, Nursing Home, Motor Cycle, and the list goes on. All are valid in scope and design. All need Education, Credentials & Guidance to do the work their hearts desire.
http://www.ifoc.org/

The title of this year's conference was Receiving the Land. Very appropriate considering how God is moving the IFOC into uncharted territory. Dr. Dave Vorce had a vision of beginning a new location for the home of the IFOC. He didn't decide on Tiffin accidentally. It all came together because of the dedication of Chaplain Tracy. What a dynamo she is! There was a Kroger grocery store that was donated to the IFOC. This was owned by a Jewish family and they donated it because of the work the IFOC does for all of God's children. A donation came in from a Muslim organization. People began to come in an offer to donate materials and funds to turn this once food source for bodies to a feeding source for souls.

As usual, I got lost. It was supposed to take an hour and a half to drive from Columbus airport to Tiffin. Tiffin is located north covered by corn fields. Getting lost there is not a great thing to do considering there is no one to ask directions from. Chaplain Tracy later said that she couldn't understand why I couldn't get directions from the cornfields considering "they're all ears!" so yes, she has an amazing sense of humor as well. By the time I finally found out where I needed to be, it turned out that I was right in between the college and the hotel I was staying at.

I arrived at the college at the exact moment I was supposed to be there. Several people told of their stories. There was an ex-police officer telling how God was moving in his life after a traumatic event. A businessman spoke of how God was moving him to help the IFOC and his community. A judge spoke of how attitudes were changing to people in need. After the speeches, I was a bit surprised that people were coming up to me telling me how happy they were to finally meet me. My friend Chaplain Zeta told me that they were talking about some of my videos they've been using in training.

Yesterday more people were coming up to me, which I am not accustomed to. I'm the type more comfortable in the back of the room except on the occasions when I know I have to be a presence. In my class a uniform, badge and all, I look like a cop. What I didn't know was what apparently, they all knew. It was what happened last night that left me in shock.

After all these years of just doing what I do, blending into the crowd, the spotlight hit me. You have to understand what it took to get me to this conference, besides getting lost. I couldn't afford to go. That was really bothering me but I figured if God wanted me there, He'd find a way to get me there. Monday, I went to check my box at the UPS store and there was "love donation" that just about covered the cost of the plane ticket. There was no time to register for any of the certification classes and not enough money to cover the cost as it was. I just knew I had to be there.

Yesterday there was a film crew from LA taping interviews. I was put on the list before they even knew I was coming. Chaplain Tracy was doing the interview and as the equipment was being set up, she told me that Dr. Vorce had me on the list in advance. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to interview me considering the work the other Chaplains were doing. They deal with people in every walk of life, face to face, but the work I do in online and the only time I do the appearances it is to do educational presentations with the videos. I think I'm kind of boring and strange because this is ground breaking work into new territory. Using the videos in a whole new different way and the reach out work online with the addition of the blog covering reports from all over the nation and internationally, is not something chaplains have been doing. Truthfully, I'm in awe of the Chaplains working in the fields they are in. Interviewing them really made sense considering how they are there when people need them the most, right after traumatic events.

Anyway, last night was the awards night. Before the awards were given out, Dr. Vorce made a speech about the work I do and I got a standing ovation. As I struggled to keep myself from running out the back door, my friend Zeta made me get up. Dr. Vorce called me to the podium. I stood there not knowing what to say. Yes, I was speechless. When it comes to PTSD, people can't shut me up when I get started and there I was without knowing what to say.

I told the story of how the video PTSD Not God's Judgment was created. As I was making the other videos, I was being tugged to do on addressing the spiritual wound that happens after trauma. I didn't want to do it. I found excuse after excuse to not do it. I used the inability to find the right music, the right layout, the right pictures or I had better things that needed to be done first.

One of the Vietnam veterans I've been helping, has tugged at my heart since the first email. He's very special to me. One day as I was answering his email, I addressed how God did not judge him and this was not punishment. It was one of those days when I saw all the emails and was just drained. I didn't want to do anything that day until I read his email. After I responded, I look up and said in a very loud voice, "OK! YOU WIN! I'LL DO THE VIDEO! Amazed I didn't wake up the entire house, I got to work. A couple of hours later, it was done. The video I didn't want to do is healing a lot of people.

While Tracy was interviewing me she told me how much it's helping police officers and other people she helps everyday. She told me she can see the look of relief on their faces. It's the video that has opened a lot of doors for me that used to be locked shut. I had no idea what I had done.

They showed the video I did for the IFOC taking traumatic events from news and everyday life to explain how important the IFOC is. Again I was honored by the reaction. Later I was given an award, again shocked, for special achievement. "Exceptional Performance with Outstanding Achievement in the Service as a Chaplain" and a pin. I had no clue of any of this.

You have to understand that the other chaplains were receiving awards for the work they do and tremendous accomplishments helping others. Dr. Vorce's wife Judy, also a chaplain I adore, had gone with two other chaplains to respond the drowning of a 9 year old girl, who was also a relative. The child drowned saving the life of her sister. They responded not just for the family, but for the other people on the beach that day. Another chaplain had responded to the scene of a child who died at school when a flag pole fell on her. Chaplains just being there to help people after traumatic events that no one ever knows about when they read about these stories in the paper or watch the report on their local news. They never hear about the chaplain who takes care of officers at hospitals when one of their own is injured or killed in the line of duty. They never hear about how they comfort the families when the officers have to make a death notification and they bring the chaplain with them. I lost count on how many awards Chaplain Tracy received along with Chaplain Mindy. These people are unsung heroes acting out of love on a daily basis humbly and magnificently.

People told me that I deserved to be among them, honored at this event, but I feel I did not deserve to be anywhere near these people. They are heroes to me.

I hope to be able to tell more of their stories but they do not publicize their work. Their stories need to be told. Until then, please be aware that just because they do not have a blog or a web site, they are changing lives a lot more than I ever could. No one goes through life without facing events that are traumatic. The chaplains are there when they do need someone to help them get through it. The problem is there are not enough of them to go around. We need them everywhere.

If you have a tug at your help to help others, please consider becoming a chaplain. You get to decide where you are being lead and God will find a way to get you to where you are called to be. If ever you wondered who the people are coming to your rescue after a natural disaster, with IFOC Chaplain on their jacket, now you know who they are. You couldn't ask for a better group of people to serve your fellowman with. Go to the link above and learn more about these people who I am humbled standing next to.


Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
International Fellowship of Chaplains
Namguardianangel@aol.com
http://www.namguardianangel.org/
http://www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com/"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington