Emergency Chaplains

MORE NEW CHAPLAINS!

2011-10-12T10:33:00.009-04:00

MIKE WHITE (CHAPLAIN)

Effective June 22, 2011, Rev. Mike White joined Emergency Chaplains and has been assigned to serve the Durham Police Department in District 2.

Mike was born in Orlando, FL. He spent his early years in the St. Petersburg area before moving with his family to Durham when he was a teenager.

Raised in church, Mike continued to live what he called a ‘religious’ life even as an adult. One day in 1980 he finally surrendered his life to Jesus and became a true follower of Christ.

Chaplain White trained for ministry through Grace Presbytery School of Ministry and was ordained into the Christian Ministry in August of 2000.

Diane is Mike's wife and they have been married since 1978. Mike and Diane are members of Christian Assembly in Durham and make their home in the northern Durham area.

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ANDRE GILLIARD (CHAPLAIN)

e-mail: gilliards5@yahoo.com

Rev. Andre Gilliard is now associated with Emergency Chaplains. Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Gilliard lived there until relocating to the Triangle area last year. He transferred here with Procter and Gamble, where he has worked for the last 15 years.

Gilliard accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior when he was 12 years old and has served in Christian ministry since he was a teenager. Ordained in 2004, he has served as an Assistant Pastor in the Baltimore area and also served as a volunteer chaplain with the Baltimore County Police and Fire Departments.

Currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry at Duke School of Divinity, Chaplain Gillard is married to Veronica and they are the parents of Andrea, Amari and Reina.

Chaplain Gilliard will be serving the Durham Police Department.

MEET OUR NEWEST CHAPLAINS!

2011-08-08T13:04:00.001-04:00

Art Klose

Art Klose joined Emergency Chaplains as a Chaplain Intern on June 1, 2011 and will be serving the Durham Police Department. He is originally from Pennsylvania but has called North Carolina home for the last 15 years.

Chaplain Art is active in the Men's Ministry at Triangle Community Church in Apex. He has participated in mission trips to Biloxi, Mississippi and Guayaquil, Ecuador plus he sang in the Harvest Crusade Choir at the RBC Center in 2007.

Currently working in security management, he has prior experience in Law Enforcement and Fire, Rescue and EMS.

September 11th, 2001 was a wake up call for Art and caused him to examine his life closely. Accepting a friend's invitation to church during that time, Art heard and responded to the gospel and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in January of 2002.

Art holds a BS in Business Management from Clarion University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at Liberty University. He lives in Holly Springs, is married to Christina and they have 3 children. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, music and playing on the church softball team. His goal in life is to be a faithful servant of the Lord and to especially be a husband and a father who brings a smile to God's face.

Grant Bennett

Grant Bennett joined Emergency Chaplains on May 20, 2011 and has been assigned to serve District 1 of the Durham Police Department.

Chaplain Grant was born in Greenville, Texas, about 50 miles northeast of Dallas and came to know Jesus Christ during Vacation Bible School when he was 7 years old. Shortly after that time he knew that God had called him to ministry.

At the age of 17, Grant joined the U.S. Army and served in Special Forces. Counting his 4 year enlistment and time spent in the Army Reserve, Grant recently retired at the rank of Command Sergeant Major with 28 years of service to our country.

After leaving active duty, Chaplain Grant graduated from East Texas State University with degrees in Economics and Political Science. He was preparing for his dream job in the CIA but God had other plans and Grant soon found himself serving as a pastor in Commerce, Texas while attending Dallas Theological Institute.

Through the years, Grant has been involved in ministry wherever he has been. He currently serves as the Director of Emergency Response at First Assembly of God in Raleigh while working full-time at Fidelity Investments.

Grant is married to Dawn and they have 4 children. He is excited about the ministry opportunity that the Lord has given him with Emergency Chaplains and believes that God has called him to make a difference in the lives of the officers that he serves.

2011-08-01T16:15:00.001-04:00

KEITH KIMBALL ENJOYING ROLE AS POLICE DEPARTMENT’S CHAPLAIN

By PHYLISS BOATWRIGHT C-T Staff Writer pboatwright@roxboro-courier.com

Posted: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 5:00 am

"They're equipped for facing danger. We're trying to equip them for facing life."

That's what Roxboro Police Department Chaplain Dr. Keith Kimball said of his volunteer job and those who support him in his effort to spiritually support the community and law enforcement officers.

Police Chief Todd Boycher said he was happy to have Kimball, a certified crisis counselor, available to, not only officers, but the citizens of Roxboro as well.

"We looked at the type of work we do, and the type of calls we go on," Boycher said this week, "and determined that there was a need in the department for somebody who could specialize in counseling" those hearing the news that a loved one had died in a car accident or by violent means.

Kimball's training allows him to better deliver the news and to help family members cope with it, Boycher said.

Kimball has ministered to Durham Police officers, North Carolina State Highway Patrol officers and served as a chaplain at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville. He is a member of an emergency chaplains' group in Durham.

While serving as a pastor in Johnston County, Kimball said he volunteered as a chaplain at Johnston Memorial Hospital, where he often encountered cases in which law enforcement was involved.

"I've always had a heart for police officers," Kimball said, adding that his uncle was a police officer.

"I know what they go through," he said, "and it's more garbage than you can imagine. They have to maintain their cool when faced with mortality," Kimball added.

He said law enforcement officers must remain calm and respectful, and treat people fairly when arresting them, even though the suspects may be resisting or trying to verbally or physically attack the officer.

"It makes me wonder how they put up with it," Kimball said of the way some in the community treat police officers.

He explained that the officers must deal with "a lot of stress," adding that the divorce rate among law enforcement officers was "higher than that of the rest of the public. Someone needs to do something" to help the officers and their families, Kimball said.

The chaplain said of his work with the RPD officers, "I go where they go. They're armed with bulletproof vests and weapons and all I have is a Bible."

One of the things Kimball hopes to achieve through his work with the police department is for "more people to understand exactly what it means for God to work in their lives."

A bit of that work was evidenced on April 15, when Kimball, riding with an officer, responded to a disturbance call. He wrote in his monthly report that he and the officer arrived on scene to find a "small white man from Durham, claiming to be a white supremacist . . . engaging in an argument with several large black males. The white male was advised to leave the property and Roxboro," Kimball said, and a gun was reportedly involved in the incident. While the RPD officer Kimball was accompanying searched around the house for a firearm, the argument escalated, Kimball stated.

"One officer advised the men that their chaplain was accompanying them, to which they asked that I get out and join them," Kimball wrote. After joining the group, he was "invited to pray for them," he said, adding that he "did not know if they were serious or mocking. I simply stepped up and agreed to pray."

He said everyone at the scene "joined hands and [Kimball] prayed for peace in the community and the homes and for all involved to be drawn closer to the Lord Jesus."

Kimball finished his report of the April incident by writing, "Last I heard, at the end of the month, that area was still quiet and peaceful."

Kimball told The Courier-Times that he had already seen many good things happening within the RPD and hoped to continue to help improve the lives of the officers and Roxboro citizens.

He is a member of North Roxboro Baptist Church and said the men of the church had agreed to order a case of Bibles, the NIV Peacemakers New Testament, so that all officers would have one.

"It's something that I think will be a great encouragement" to the officers, Kimball said.

He said he hoped to see more churches in the community step up and support officers and their families and let them know they are appreciated.

Kimball hopes to soon hold a special family day for law enforcement officers from the RPD and the Person County Sheriff's Department, as well as firefighters and EMS members.

Boycher said, when he first talked with Kimball about serving as chaplain, he thought Kimball would be most valuable in helping officers notify citizens of the death of a loved one.

"He's also there for the officers if needed," Boycher said. "He's also available to any city department that needs his services. He is certainly called from above to minister to and counsel folks."

Emergency Chaplains 10-33 Fund to help family after tragic fire loss

2010-08-17T15:44:00.004-04:00

Durham, NC
August 17, 2010

The Ledwell family needs your help.

On Sunday morning the Ledwell family was awakened to find their home in flames. Today they are staying in a motel provided by the Red Cross and planning the funeral services for their 12-year old daughter, Destiny, who died in the fire. The grief they are facing today is almost unbearable.

There were three generations of the Ledwell family sharing the home that caught fire on Nebo Street. Destiny lived there with her brother, her parents and her grandparents.

Destiny's brother, Chris, was the first to be alerted to the fire by the smoke detectors going off. Everyone else in the house was awakened by Chris as he frantically tried to get into Destiny's room to save her. When it was too hot inside, he went outside and tried to get in through her window. Although he doesn't feel like a hero today, Chris is a real hero for saving the lives of his family and for his valiant effort to save his sister.

Right now, the family is receiving help from their church, friends, family and neighbors...but they desperately need the help of the community to make it through this. They want to give Destiny a proper funeral and burial. They need to replace burned items. They need to find a new place to rent that is large enough to hold their family. They need to replace lost income. Can you help them today?

Emergency Chaplains has an emergency fund for situations like this. It is called The 10-33 Fund. 10-33 is radio code for "Emergency--help needed immediately at this location."

For the rest of the month of August, all donations to The 10-33 Fund will be used to assist the Ledwell family with their expenses as they struggle through this most difficult time.

Please consider making a donation to Emergency Chaplains 10-33 Fund today. Make your checks payable to Emergency Chaplains 10-33 and mail to PO Box 14762, Durham, NC 27709. Donations can also be made via Pay Pal. Go to www.echap.org and follow the link to make a donation with Pay Pal.

The Triangle community is home to almost one million people. If only 1,000 concerned neighbors were to send $10 each today, we would be able to help the Ledwell family with $10,000 to help toward their expenses. Your gift, no matter what size, is significant. Would you consider being one in a million today to help this family make it through this tragedy?

Praying for the Ledwell family,

Chaplain Ralph

Women Serving Jesus

2010-04-28T10:16:00.002-04:00

"Serving Jesus By Serving Others"

Two years ago, Women Serving Jesus (WSJ) started as a missions group from Cross Culture Church. Today WSJ includes members from 5 different churches and they have partnered with us to serve as an auxilary organization dedicated to the ministry of Emergency Chaplains.

WSJ helps us get our newsletter out but most of their time is spent showing appreciation for our First Responders by providing meals, stocking pantries and praying for us and the people we serve. They are always looking for new ways to encourage our Public Safety Community.

A new project that WSJ wants to get started soon is called "Shield A Badge With Prayer". They will be linking Law Enforcement Officers, Fire Fighters, Medics and Telecommunicators with members of WSJ and local churches who will become their prayer partner. Look for more info soon about WSJ and "Shield A Badge With Prayer".

If you are interested in being a part of WSJ, contact Carter Thompson at (919) 596-6345 or carter6345@yahoo.com

Fundraising Banquet on Thursday, May 20, 2010

2010-04-28T10:04:00.008-04:00

You are invited to attend our very first Fundraising Banquet on Thursday, May 20th at 7pm. The banquet will be held at the Bethesda Ruritan Club, 1714 South Miami Boulevard in Durham. Tickets are $10 per person.

Durham Police Officer Damon Youmans will be our special guest. Damon was wounded while answering a call in July last year and is now back on the streets in District 3 after a lengthy recovery. Officer Youmans will be presented the Emergency Chaplains' Hometown Hero of the Year Award at the banquet.

Our keynote speaker for the evening will be Rev. John Butler from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Before he became the Executive Leader of Business Services for the Convention, John served as Sr. Pastor of First Baptist Church in Matthews, NC.

Pastor John will be remembered by many around Durham because of his service to Bethesda Baptist Church where he served as Sr. Pastor during the 1990s. When you hear him speak on May 20th, you will hear from a man who has encouraged me in ministry since 1993. Sometimes his vision for the ministry of Emergency Chaplains scares me...because he sees big things happening...bigger than I am prepared to think about. Be there and be ready to hear Pastor John share what he believes God can do through us.

Dinner will begin at 7:00pm with the program to follow. Dress for the event will be business casual. (translation: no dress code...but dress up if you want to)

You can reserve your tickets by clicking here to send me an e-mail. Bring a friend or two who needs to hear about Emergency Chaplains. Seating is limited so reserve your tickets today.

See you at the banquet!
Chaplain Ralph

CASWELL FIRE DEPARTMENTS NAME FIREFIGHTERS OF THE YEAR

2010-04-03T12:45:00.007-04:00

By Angela Evans, Managing Editor/Caswell Messenger, Yanceyville, NC

More than 100 firefighters and their guests gathered at the Southern Caswell Ruritan on Saturday to honor Caswell County's firefighters of the year.

Eleven were named from 10 departments, and EMS Director Jimmy Gusler was on hand to present the Ernest Paschal Award.

Mitch Foster, president of the fireman's association led the banquet.

Foster told those gathered that countless hours go into being a volunteer fireman and many miss important events like family functions to make their communities safer.

"I want to personally thank all the firemen here tonight for everything they have given their communities over the past year," Foster said. "I also want to thank someone else, the families of these individuals ... without the support of our families we would not be able to do the job that we do."

Members of the Southern Caswell Ruritan prepared and served a meal of ham, chicken casserole, potatoes, green beans, salad, rolls and desserts.

Guest speaker for the event was Ralph Thompson, a Caswell native who is now director of Emergency Chaplains out of Durham.

Thompson grew up in Providence and moved to Durham in 1985. He had served as an associate pastor in Durham, became a chaplain in 2001, and formed the Emergency Chaplains in 2008.

Emergency Chaplains serves the EMS, police and firefighters by ministering to the public at emergency scenes.

Thompson told the group about his father, who had been a firefighter and farmer in Caswell, and about his upbringing here. He spoke of the influence life in Caswell and its people had on his life, and how through Emergency Chaplains he takes a piece of Caswell everywhere he goes.

"I now work on the streets of Durham taking the comfort of Jesus Christ to people who are in crisis," Thompson said. "I'm taking a little bit of Providence Fire Department; I'm taking a little bit of Caswell County ... the people here and the foundation you've built in in me ... God has used you to touch people all the way in Durham."

"If you are a firefighter or work in public safety, I believe God has called you to that as a ministry," Thompson said. "Never underestimate the influence you have on other people ... the people that you serve and the people you serve with."

The ceremonies ended with a presentation of awards to firefighters who have influenced their peers in the past years, enough to be elected from among them and named 2009 Firefighter of the Year.

Winners from each department include:

Gary Chandler, Yanceyville; Lynn Lunsford, Milton; Chris King, Casville; Butch Barts, Providence; Keith Vernon, Prospect Hill; David McGee, Pelham; Randy Whitt, and Jeanette Dodson, Semora; Derek Watson, Cherry Grove; Harvey Rudd, Anderson; Bryon Reagan, Leasburg.

The Ernest Paschal Award - named for a former Cherry Grove firefighter and given to an outstanding medic responder in the Caswell fire service - was presented to Brian Massey, of the Yanceyville Volunteer Fire Department.

Counseling Announcement

2010-03-31T00:10:00.000-04:00

Emergency Chaplains, a nonprofit ministry to the area's first responders like law enforcement officers, fire fighters and emergency medical personnel, is establishing a counseling center where not only first responders, but their families, can be served.

Grey Stone Baptist Church, 2601 Hillsborough Road, is providing space on its campus for the counseling center to serve individuals, couples and families.

"We want to thank the staff at Grey Stone for their kindness and understanding and especially for their commitment to Biblical counseling and our local ministry," said Chaplain Ralph Thompson.

This service is offered by appointment. Call (919) 280-8908 or send an e-mail to Ralph@echap.org to set up a time. The counseling is provided free of charge to first responders and their family members.

Chaplain Thompson is certified by International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and has a master's degree in Biblical counseling from Master's Divinity School. His wife, Chaplain Carter Thompson, has a BA in psychology/Christian Counseling from Louisiana Baptist University and is currently working on her master's degree.

Hometown Hero: Paul Boyer

2010-03-16T22:31:00.003-04:00

Back in October we advised you of an EMS line of duty death at Fort Bragg. Paul Boyer, a career paramedic who formerly worked for Durham EMS, died in that accident.

(Click here for story)

**Paul Boyer**

While Paul was in Durham he became good friends of Paramedic Rob Stabbe and his son, Ben. They continued their friendship through the years. They attended Carolina Hurricanes games together and Paul also became one of Ben's biggest fans when he played youth hockey.

Earlier this month Ben's team, the 18U Sharks, took second place in the 2009-2010 Canes Cup of the Triangle. Ben and Rob received silver medals and immediately dedicated the season and their medals to the memory of their biggest fan and encourager, Paul Boyer.

Rob describes Paul as a man who loved God, loved people, loved hockey and made a

**Ben and Rob Stabbe**

profound impact on him and an even greater impact on Ben's life.

We salute the memory of Paul Boyer in this issue. A man who lived his life wide open and gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving others.

In Jesus' Name,

Chaplain Ralph

2010-03-04T18:15:00.000-05:00

J.D. GREEAR AT SEBTS 20/20 COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE

Naming some of the cultural objections to Jesus' claim that He is "the way, the truth and the life," Greear said most see this approach to God as archaic or arrogant.

"It's not being arrogant, but being convinced that Jesus is who He says He is. There can be just as much arrogance among the people who say Jesus isn't who He says He is."

Greear said many claim a more postmodern approach, saying whatever works for each person is fine for them.

"To say that religion is subjective and has no objective truth doesn't make that true," Greear said. "We can't just define God as we want Him to be -- He is what He is. You don't get your own personal Jesus. He gets to define Himself."

One of the most widely-used excuses may be that Christianity is divisive and unfair.

"All religions are exclusive, but the Gospel of Jesus is unique. It's not based on what we have done but what Christ has done for humanity." Greear said. "The Gospel, if you really understand it, doesn't lead you to exclusivism. It leads you to grace."

Depression

2010-01-05T17:21:00.003-05:00

Spurgeon on Depression

It's a good thing he wasn't born in the 20th century.

Many believing brothers and sisters would label his tendency to melancholy sinful, or evidence of a lack of self-discipline, or even the result of shallow faith. A psychologist would probably send him away with a prescription and a self-help book with twelve easy steps to overcome depression.

But Charles Haddon Spurgeon, perhaps the greatest preacher of the 19th century, had a different attitude toward his affliction. Spurgeon knew "by most painful experience what deep depression of spirit means, being visited therewith at seasons by no means few or far between."

He warned his students, "Fits of depression come over the most of us. Usually cheerful as we may be, we must at intervals be cast down. The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy."

Although he said, "Spiritual darkness of any sort is to be avoided, and not desired," he never assumed that a Christian suffering depression must necessarily be in sin.

Instead, he wrote, "I note that some whom I greatly love and esteem, who are, in my judgment, among the very choicest of God's people, nevertheless, travel most of the way to heaven by night."Spurgeon goes on in his book, Lectures to my Students, to give some of the reasons believers fall into sadness. He also provides hope for those so overtaken.

"Is it not first, that they are men?"
Spurgeon acknowledged that being a Christian did not make a man or woman immune from suffering. In fact, he said, "Even under the economy of redemption it is most clear that we are to endure infirmities, otherwise there were no need of the promised Spirit to help us in them. It is of need be that we are sometimes in heaviness.

Good men are promised tribulation in this world." But he points out that through this suffering, we "may learn sympathy with the Lord's suffering people."

Paul says something similar in 2 Corinthians 1:4; God "comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

"Most of us are in some way or another unsound physically."
Spurgeon suffered terribly with a joint disorder that was diagnosed as gout. He was forced to stay in bed, sometimes for weeks at a time in excruciating pain.

"I have been brought very low," he wrote to his congregation during one long bout, "My flesh has been tortured with pain and my spirit has been prostrate with depression. . . . With some difficulty I write these lines in my bed, mingling them with the groans of pain and the songs of hope."

With characteristic balance, Spurgeon understood that physical pain and natural temperament contribute to depression, but did not allow his students to use them as an excuse for despair.

"These infirmities may be no detriment to a man's career of special usefulness," he said. "They may even have been imposed upon him by divine wisdom as necessary qualifications for his peculiar course of service. Some plants owe their medicinal qualities to the marsh in which they grow; others to the shades in which alone they flourish."

"In the midst of a long stretch of unbroken labor, the same affliction may be looked for."
Spurgeon's schedule was exhausting. In a typical week, he preached ten times. He answered approximately 500 letters, taught in a ministerial college, administrated an orphanage and dealt with dozens of individuals concerning their souls. He wrote for publications, entertained visitors at his home, taught his own family and encouraged his bedridden wife.

It is no wonder that his health suffered under such a workload. Spurgeon's church finally insisted on regular vacations for him each year. Spurgeon told his students, "The bow cannot be always bent without fear of breaking. Repose is as needful to the mind as sleep to the body. . . . Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength."

"One crushing stroke has sometimes laid the minister very low."
On October 19, 1856, the 22 year old Spurgeon spoke for the first time in the Surrey Gardens Music Hall in London. The church was no longer big enough to contain the crowds of people who wanted to hear him preach. Thousands packed into the music hall, seating themselves in aisles and stairways after all the regular seating was full, and hundreds more waited outside, hoping to hear part of the sermon through the windows.

Just after Spurgeon began to pray, someone in a balcony shouted "Fire!" People pushed and shoved to get out of the building, and a stair railing gave way under the pressure. Seven people were killed and 28 more were injured.

The tender-hearted Spurgeon never completely recovered from the emotional impact of this incident.

He wrote, "I was pressed beyond measure and out of bounds with an enormous weight of misery. The tumult, the panic, the deaths, were day and night before me, and made life a burden."

Many have experienced a natural disaster, the death of a loved one, devastating financial loss or overwhelming disappointment when a child or a fellow believer has fallen into sin.

Spurgeon offers hope from his own experience. "The fact that Jesus is still great, let his servants suffer as they may, piloted me back to calm reason and peace. Should so terrible a calamity overtake any of my brethren, let them both patiently hope and quietly wait for the salvation of God."

"The lesson from wisdom is, be not dismayed by soul-trouble."
In the end, Spurgeon acknowledged that depression may come to some believers for no discernable reason. He did not consider it an illness, a sin, or surprising condition, but an inevitable season in the life of a Christian and an opportunity to demonstrate trust in the God who will one day wipe away every tear.

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Any simpleton can follow the narrow path in the light: faith's rare wisdom enables us to march on in the dark with infallible accuracy, since she places her hand in that of her Great Guide.

-Charles Spurgeon, Lectures to my Students

Copyright © 2007 Susan Verstraete.Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright and web address. Other uses require written permission.

Dangers of Texting While Driving

2009-11-23T00:05:00.001-05:00

Click on the link below to watch a Public Service Announcement made in the UK regarding the dangers of texting while driving.

WARNING: THE VIDEO IS GRAPHIC....VIEWER DISCRECTION IS ADVISED

Dangers of Texting and Driving

DURHAM OFFICERS WOUNDED IN LINE OF DUTY

2009-10-29T23:06:00.002-04:00

OFFICER RECALLS DAY HE WAS SHOT
October 27, 2009
By KEITH UPCHURCH
kupchurch@heraldsun.com;

DURHAM -- A police officer who was shot on duty in July said his will to live, support from the community and faith in God helped pull him through."I've been told that I almost didn't make it, so to be here at this point right now -- I'm really pleased about that,'' Officer Damon Youmans, 32, said at a press conference Tuesday at Durham police headquarters. "I feel very fortunate and blessed.''

Youmans, a former New York City police officer who joined the Durham force this year, was shot in the abdomen July 2 while responding to a call about gunfire and a break-in at South Square Townhomes at 3300 Shannon Road.

Doctors at Duke University Hospital used more than 60 units of blood to save his life. Youmans said he knew he had been shot the instant it happened. "I felt the pain. I felt the burning. I didn't see blood and couldn't quite figure out where I was hit, but I knew I was hit somewhere.''

"I remember being transported in the back of a police car to a waiting ambulance, and the coldness of the emergency room,'' Youmans said. ''They're there to help, but it's a cold place. I was sedated and taken up to the [operating room].''

Youmans said he never thought about dying. "It wasn't even a thought, really. I knew once they got me to Duke, I would be alright.''

Three months later, Youmans, looking fit and alert Tuesday, said he's ''not 100 percent, but pretty close.'' He's still undergoing physical therapy and has lost 10 to 15 pounds, but some of the weight is returning. He's back at work on light duty, and his goal is to return to street duty by year's end or the first of next year.

Youmans said he has no hard feelings toward the man accused of shooting him. The suspect, Thomas Rashawn Monroe, 23, is awaiting trial in the shooting.

Youmans said he's been "surprised and grateful'' for the outpouring of support from the community. "I just want to say 'thank you' for all your support. I think it's part of the reason I'm up and about and recovering so well, so quickly, because of all the prayers from the citizens.''

He said the episode hasn't changed his desire to stay with the Durham Police Department and has no plans to retire. "I'm just getting started. ''

Youmans said he's wanted to be a police officer since he was a kid, and his injury hasn't changed that. "It hasn't changed my desire to serve the community,'' he said. "If anything, it's made it even stronger.''

When misfortune strikes, Youmans said, ''you stay focused and get back on your horse and ride. That's my attitude.''

WOUNDED DEPUTY RECALLS SHOOTOUT
September 9, 2009
By KEITH UPCHURCH
kupchurch@heraldsun.com

DURHAM -- He calls it "the scariest time of my life."

But Durham County Sheriff's Investigator Morial Whitaker knows that the bullet he took in his foot last week in the line of duty could have been worse. And he's grateful to his family, friends and co-workers for their support since that painful, dramatic night last Wednesday.

Whitaker, 34, a gang investigator, was shot during an exchange of gunfire outside Cracker Barrel restaurant at 3703 Hillsborough Road during the culmination of a drug investigation, which ended in the arrest of three men.

A single bullet lodged in Whitaker's right foot. "They tried to get the bullet out the night of the incident with a minor procedure when I was still awake," Whitaker said in an interview Tuesday. "But the bullet was too far in, so they couldn't get it.

They said it's not considered an emergency," so he's set for surgery today at Duke University Hospital to remove it.

"It was the scariest time of my life -- to look at a gun barrel and actually have it pointed at you, and you can see the fire coming from the barrel, and you know that the bullet is for you," he said. "And then immediately, I tried to get cover. I got down and did a crab crawl, and unfortunately, one of the bullets hit me in the foot."

At first, Whitaker said, the bullet felt like "debris or a rock had hit me.""I didn't think anything of it. I didn't know what was going on. I just heard a lot of gunfire. I didn't know if this guy was just dumping the bullets toward me. I didn't know what was going on, because I was crouched behind the vehicle."

After the gunfire, he said, "I kind of sat there for a bit to get my composure, and that's when I felt my foot kind of tingle. Then it started burning, and I stood up to try to walk it off. I couldn't walk on it, because it felt like I stood on a nail."

He said he fell back to the ground, "and then it started throbbing real bad, like I was being hit by a hammer on the side of my foot."Whitaker said he looked at his boot and saw a small hole in it.

"I was trying to figure out if I had gotten grazed. And then I kind of limped toward the other detectives. They saw me, and asked if I was OK, and I said: 'I think I might have been shot in the foot.'

"By Tuesday, he said, the pain was nearly gone."But unfortunately, [after today's outpatient surgery,] I'll have to start over with the healing process."

Whitaker wants to return to work by the start of next month, although he concedes that may be pushing it. But mentally, he said, he's doing well.

"I don't think it's hit me yet 100 percent. I sit back and think: 'Wow, I got shot.' It's kind of surreal."

But what stands out in his mind isn't just the pain or drama, but the support he's gotten. "My family and friends are pretty much what's keeping me going right now -- the support that I'm getting. And that includes my co-workers in the sheriff's office."

Three men face charges stemming from the incident.Olvin Alexander Arenda Hernandez, 24, of 1506 Bungalow Ave., has been charged with trafficking in powder cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver more than a pound of the drug, maintaining a vehicle for the sale of cocaine, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer.

Victor Oscar Olguin-Bravo, 21, of 917 Virgie St., Apt. A, and Richanel Sala Sala, 19, of 2816 Ross Road, Apt. 10G, face the same drug offense charges.

Emergency Chaplains Board of Directors

2009-10-10T22:49:00.001-04:00

J. Clay Stevens

Clay is the Lead Pastor of Cross Culture Church in Raleigh, NC. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. A native of Florida, Clay is married to Cindi and they have three adult sons plus they are the proud grandparents of Wyatt and Dakota. Pastor Clay likes to play a little golf in his spare time and his favorite verse is Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Jay Veasey

Jay is a native of Durham where he graduated from Northern High School. He has an MBA from Campbell University and is employed by BB&T in Cary as a Commercial Banking Officer. He is married to Jenny and they have two children, Jacob and Jordyn. Jay and his family attend Colonial Baptist Church in Cary.

Kimberle Walker

Kimberle's commitment to the public sector is grounded in 1st Timothy 2:1-4. As Senior Public Affairs Specialist for the City of Durham Police Department, Kim has more than 20 years experience in municipal government, community affairs and media relations having also worked in the offices of the Durham City Manager and Durham County Manager in the area of public Information/public relations. An active member of North East Baptist Church (Durham), Kimberle is a facilitator of the Leadership Development Ministry and a Music Ministry vocalist. She and husband, Freeman, reside in Durham, NC and are the parents of one daughter, Taylor.

Michael Perra

Michael is Vice President of Bugman Exterminators, Inc. in Durham. He is married to Edie and they have two daughters, Morgan and Skylar. Michael and his family attend Southbridge Fellowship. He is also a leader in Bible Study Fellowship. His desire is to live a life that is pleasing to God and to introduce others to the life changing power of Jesus Christ. Some of Michael's favorite verses are Numbers 6:24-26, Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 23:12 and Mark 12:32-34.

Mike Smith

Mike grew up in Northeast Durham and is a graduate of Southern High School. He has been married to Nell for 27 years. They have a son and a daughter and five grandchildren. He started in emergency medical response as a Hospital Corpsman during the Vietnam Era and joined the Durham Fire Department in 1969. Today, Mike serves as the Director of Durham County EMS. He loves spending time with his grandchildren and thanks God for being able to serve the citizens of Durham for over 40 years now. Mike and Nell are members of Red Mountain Baptist Church in Rougemont, NC.

Bond Lowered to $75,000 for Monroe

2009-09-10T17:06:00.002-04:00

Bond slashed for alleged cop shooter, set for killing suspect

BY JOHN MCCANN (Durham Herald Sun)

DURHAM -- Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson this week slashed the bond for a man accused of shooting and wounding a Durham police officer from $250,000 to $75,000 and approved bond terms for an accused murderer who had been held without bond.

Thomas Rashawn Monroe, 23, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. He'd been in jail under the $250,000 secured bond after allegedly wounding Officer Damon Youmans in July. Youmans had joined the police force in May.

Monroe's lawyer had been seeking to get his client's bond reduced to $20,000, but Hudson decided on $75,000. Monroe remained in jail Wednesday evening.

On Wednesday, Hudson gave accused killer Randy Tyson Bledsoe, 51, a $500,000 secured bond. He'd been jailed with no bond on a first-degree murder charge for allegedly killing his ex-wife's husband in June. Bledsoe also remained behind bars Wednesday evening.

Police believe Bledsoe kicked in a door at a West Markham Avenue residence and shot and killed 44-year-old Edward William Riddle, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Police arrested Bledsoe at his Redwood Road home about 20 minutes after officers responded to the murder scene.

Meanwhile, in the Monroe case, Youmans was among several officers who responded to a call at Monroe's address in the South Square Townhomes apartment complex on Shannon Road. As officers arrived, shots were fired from inside Monroe's apartment, one striking Youmans in the abdomen. Doctors went through more than 60 units of blood to save Youmans' life.

The incident generated support from the law-enforcement community as well as the general citizenry, many pitching in to help Youmans, a police officer in New York before coming to Durham. Youmans, 32, has still not returned to work, police spokeswoman Kammie Michael said.

Hometown Heroes--Durham 911, Durham PD, Durham FD, Parkwood EMS, Duke ED

2009-08-24T14:04:00.001-04:00

July 16, 2009

60 units of blood.

One bullet, not even as big as the tip of my little finger, caused the damage.

Officer Damon Youmans was struck in the lower abdomen by the .25 caliber slug. The doctors at Duke used more than 60 units of blood during the emergency surgery.

District 3 officers were dispatched to an apartment complex on Shannon Road about 4am on Thursday morning, July 2nd. Without warning, shots were fired from inside the apartment. One shot hit Officer Youmans in the lower abdomen, just below his protective vest.

The 911 center was still on the phone with the original caller when the shots rang out. Before any radio traffic indicated that an officer had been shot, telecommunicators already had Fire and EMS in route to the scene. The quick thinking of the folks at the 911 Center saved Officer Youmans' life.

According to the Durham Herald Sun, Cpl. T.D. Bobbitt and Officers D. Horton and A. Brown took Youmans away from the scene in a patrol car. They met Fire and EMS units at a safe location a few blocks from where the shooting occurred. The quick thinking of those 3 officers saved Officer Youmans' life.

The crew from Durham Engine 11 and Parkwood Medic 62 treated and transported the wounded officer.

Captain Glenn Cooper was in charge of E-11 and he had Cleve Sorrell and Larry Perdue with him. Zane Jones and Chris Taylor were on M-62. The quick response, care and transport by E-11 and M-62 saved Officer Youmans' life that night.

A Herald Sun article on July 7th mentioned that Dr. Gregory Georgiade performed the emergency surgery to stabilize Youmans and Dr. John Scarborough was in charge of the second surgery that took place on that Friday. The quick action and skill of those doctors and nurses at Duke saved Officer Youmans' life.

There are a couple of things that I can tell you for sure right now. First, a lot of people from several agencies all worked together to save Damon Youmans' life. You probably figured that out already.

The second thing that I can tell you for sure is this: Damon Youmans is eternally grateful.
I met Officer Youmans for the first time last Tuesday. He has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from his fellow officers and from the Durham community.

Durham PD asked me if Emergency Chaplains could assist in raising funds for Officer Youmans and we gladly said yes. He is going to be out of work for a while, his family lives in New York City and there are a lot of unexpected expenses that come up during a time like this.

If you would like to help Officer Youmans, we have established a "10-33 Fund" where every penny given will go directly to him. Info on how to give can be found at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102632288398&s=-1&e=0016Voap1xuyqUKbslwikUt5yCznXfAuRgyEmXLOKFMd9HxZstJ9t8tDUFLIDpDdj_lvMFOb-ecvebSNwaODf7ALt9i2zT5Zxoj
I will keep you posted on his recovery and get you more information on the "10-33 Fund" in later issues. Please pray for Officer Youmans and his continued recovery.

Hometown Heroes

2009-08-24T13:38:00.002-04:00

WOUNDED OFFICER ON FAST TRACK TO RECOVERY
By KEITH UPCHURCH :
The Herald-Sun kupchurch@heraldsun.com

Aug 15, 2009
DURHAM -- "Miraculous" is how a chaplain who is handling a fund for a Durham police officer who nearly died after being shot on duty last month describes the officer's recovery.

Ralph Thompson from Emergency Chaplains said on Friday that the fund has raised $1,500 so far to help the officer, Damon Youmans, as he continues to recover at home from his wound.

Youmans, 32, who had just joined the police force in May, was shot in the abdomen July 2 while responding to a call at an apartment on Shannon Road.

Thomas Rashawn Monroe, 23, of 3300 Shannon Road, Apt. 5A, has been charged with the shooting. He was indicted this week on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

"We've had a good response from the community,' Thompson said. "People are sending $20 or $25. All donations, no matter how large or small, are significant, and he appreciates every one of them.'

Thompson said he delivers a check to Youmans at the officer's home every week. He said he got another check in the mail for Youmans on Friday and hopes donations to help the officer with unexpected expenses will continue to come in.

Thompson said Youmans spent about three weeks at Duke University Hospital, then returned home to continue his recovery, which he said has been remarkable.

"The week after he got out of the hospital, he was able to drive himself back for his doctor's appointments,' Thompson said. "He's doing some physical therapy and he hopes to be able to return to work, but he doesn't have a time frame on it,' he said.

"He's in really good spirits right now. From a spiritual side, I can tell you that he is very thankful to Jesus, his Lord and savior, for saving his life and for his miraculous recovery.'

"He's really been blessed by the outpouring of support from the community,' Thompson said. "And he's very thankful for all the people who played a part in saving his life -- from the 911 operator on down the line -- his fellow police officers, fire department, EMS, hospital emergency department and the surgeons. He is so grateful.'

Emergency Chaplains: 'Green Berets' of the Pastoral Army

2009-07-15T22:49:00.000-04:00

The Work of the Chaplain
By: Ralph Thompson

You may be familiar with the Green Berets of the US Army. They are highly skilled and trained for special operations. They spend much of their time practicing and a lot of time doing ‘routine’ duties….then the call comes in and they spring into action. Green Berets take care of the jobs that no one else can.

Emergency Chaplains are the ‘Green Berets’ of the pastoral army. We may not be in the physical shape as our military counterparts, but we are highly skilled and trained for special operation. We spend time practicing our skills and taking care of routine tasks…and then the call comes in. Emergency Chaplains spring into action and take care of the jobs that no one else can.

Calls can come in anytime…day or night. Sometimes they come in 2 or 3 at the same time. Some days there are no calls at all. No matter how often or when the calls come, we seek to go and help those who are in crisis.

Our estimated cost for providing chaplaincy is about $25 per hour and we are able to offer counseling, comfort and crisis response because of your generous gifts. Let me share a few examples of what your donations have allowed us to do recently:

A monthly gift of $25, (One hour) provided a counseling session for an individual.

A monthly gift of $50, (Two hours) provided care for family members waiting in the Emergency Room while a loved one was being treated for critical injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

A monthly gift of $75, (Three hours) provided ministry care for the family of a 33 year old man who died in his sleep.

A monthly gift of $100, (Four hours) provided two pre-martial counseling sessions for a young, newly engaged couple.

The call for assistance where the young man was found dead came in the early morning. Although I have attended countless families during similar circumstances, the time that I spent on that scene stretched every area of training that I had under my belt.

That call placed me face-to-face with a young widow and a fatherless child who went to bed just a few hours earlier with no thought of waking up a widow or not having a daddy.

Our paramedics had discontinued CPR just prior to my arrival and were waiting for me. They gave me a briefing and took me into the next room and we delivered the death notification to the man’s wife.

For the next three hours I rode the emotional roller coaster with this family. Denial…anger…bargaining…acceptance…back to denial and through the cycle again…and again…and again. If you have ever been through anything like this, you understand. If not, you don’t.

I made phone calls. I greeted neighbors. I took phone messages. I gave family members directions over the phone while they drove. I held her while she cried. I listened to her when she asked how God could let this happen. I stood there while she pounded on my chest and demanded that I call the paramedics back to help her husband.

God gave me a special privilege to minister to this Christian family in Jesus’ Name during the greatest crisis they have ever experienced.

In my follow up with the young widow, she remembered the raw moments of that morning but she wanted to thank me for being there with her. She believes that God sent me there that morning to take care of her. I believe that God sent me there, too.

Thank you for being a part of this important work that the Lord has given us to do.

Counseling Center

2009-06-16T23:55:00.002-04:00

Grey Stone Baptist Church has graciously agreed to allow Emergency Chaplains to use space on their campus for counseling individuals, couples and families. This offer comes after much prayer for a confidential place to meet with folks that was centrally located. Carter and Ralph will be available for counseling by appointment and we can be reached at 919-280-8908 or by e-mail at ralph@echap.org

Ralph is certified by ICISF (International Critical Incident Stress Foundation) and has a Master's Degree in Biblical Counseling from Master's Divinity School.

Carter has a BA in Psychology/Christian Counseling from Louisiana Baptist University and is currently working on her MA there. Counseling is provided free of charge to First Responders and their family members. More information about our counseling ministry will be included in our next newsletter that will go in the mail next week.

If you do not receive our regular, semi-monthly newsletter in the mail, we want you to.

Just send us an e-mail to ralph@echap.org with your mailing address (that's right...SNAIL MAIL...) and we will add you to our mailing list.

Hometown Heroes/Durham EMS B Shift

2009-06-01T22:50:00.009-04:00

Six Durham EMS Medics were honored by the Durham County Commissioners at their May 26th meeting. The story below, by Keith Upchurch, was published on May 13th in the Durham Herald Sun.

Pictured below are the medics after they were recognized at the meeting. Front Row (L-R) Karin Knight and Valerie Norton. Back Row (L-R) Warren Swanson, Chris Ragan and Donald Fonville. (Rodney Medlin was not able to attend the meeting due to the death of his Grandmother.)

DURHAM -- Paramedics who responded to a fire that killed a man and his elderly mother on Russell Road will be honored by the county for their efforts to save them. The paramedics will be recognized at a future Durham County Commissioners meeting, Assistant County Manager Deborah Craig-Ray said.

"We're so proud of those guys,' she said. "We definitely want to make sure that their heroism is recognized.'

The fire broke out the night of April 30 at a home at 6406 Russell Road in northern Durham County, and claimed the lives of Larry Eddie Laws, 58, and his mother, Catherine Burch Turner, 76. They died at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill after being transported by ambulance.

In an e-mail to Durham County Manager Mike Ruffin, Chief Len Needham of the Bahama Fire Department praised the paramedics' efforts that night.

"All of these teams on Medic 2 and Medic 6 along with the EMS supervisor and new employee riding with him worked tirelessly to treat these patients and give them every chance at life,' he wrote. "I know these patients are not what they see every day, but the skill levels of these medics were like they treated these type of patients daily. We are so lucky here in Durham to have great medics like these to help our citizens when they are in need.'

The paramedics are Donald Fonville, Karin Knight, Warren Swanson, Valerie Norton, EMS supervisor Rodney Medlin and new employee Chris Ragan.

Mike Smith, director of Durham County Emergency Medical Services, said he's proud of all his employees. "They worked hard with the two patients there,' Smith said. "It seems overwhelming sometimes, but that's what they're trained to do. We try to do the best we can. "I'm really proud of them -- all of those who work here, because they're under a lot of pressure, a lot of stress. They're busy, they work hard, and they're trained well for their jobs.'

Rudy Bear at DEMS and BVFD

2009-06-01T22:17:00.019-04:00

The generous folks at Bethesda Ruritan Club have donated a supply of 'Rudy Bears' to Bethesda Fire & Rescue and Durham EMS. The bears will be carried on ambulances and will be used to comfort children encountering a traumatic event. Thanks BRC!

Bears delivered to Bethesda Fire and Rescue

Bears delivered to Durham EMS

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Hometown Heroes--Lenoir County, NC

2009-05-20T14:39:00.006-04:00

Kent Bennett climbed into his cruiser Tuesday night, April 7th to patrol the rural roads of Lenoir and Jones Counties. Having served as a Trooper for the NC State Highway Patrol since 1995, he has seen a little bit of everything…but tonight he would experience something new. Something no officer wants to be a part of.

It was a routine night on patrol up until about 10 pm. Monitoring the frequency of the local sheriff’s department, Kent heard a call for assistance. There was a man in the woods firing a high powered rifle and Kent responded to the scene to assist.

The shooter was Clarence Douglas Phillips, 49, a man with an extensive criminal history. Public records show that Mr. Phillips went to prison for the first time as a 17 year old for breaking and entering and DUI. To be sent to prison as a 17 year old usually indicates that person has been in trouble with the law before then.

Not much had changed in Clarence Phillips life since then. The court system in Craven County had convicted him of punishable crimes at least seven times from 1983 until 2004 with four of those convictions resulting in prison time.

If you look at the NC Department of Corrections website, the offender search will tell you that Mr. Phillips’ last incarceration was in 2004-2005 when he served 20 months of a 27 month sentence for AWDWWITK. If you don’t know what AWDWWITK means, I will tell you…..Assault With Deadly Weapon With Intent To Kill. I don’t know any of the circumstances leading up to that arrest and conviction but I do know that 20 months served doesn’t seem long enough.

It is suspected that Mr. Phillips murdered his girlfriend, Cynthia Tillet Knighten, 49, shortly before driving her car into the woods and starting the stand off.

Isaac Grady called Lenoir County 911 at 9:56pm because someone was shooting near his house on Tick Bite Road in Grifton. It is not known exactly when it happened but Mr. Grady pointed out a spot in his house to a reporter that was hit by a bullet during the shooting. The bullet passed right through the wall and across a sleeping area where some of his family would have been sleeping that night. He is thankful that they were not in the bed at that time.

The arriving officers formed a perimeter around the area where the shots were coming from and with assistance from the NC State Highway Patrol helicopter they were able to pinpoint Clarence Phillips’ exact position.

Two of the deputies that responded to the scene were Detectives Allen Pearson and Ryan Dawson. They moved in with the Special Response Unit (SRU) to close in around Clarence Phillips and do whatever was needed to disarm him and end the danger posed by this renegade and his high powered rifle.

Using infrared night vision, the Highway Patrol helicopter was able to monitor the movement of the suspect and guide the team in to affect the arrest. Clearly outnumbered and surrounded from every side the suspect should have surrendered…..but he didn’t.

In what seems to have been his own death wish, Clarence Phillips sprung up and began firing at the officers as they approached him. The officers fired back and mortally wounded the suspect, bringing the standoff to an end.

Trooper Kent Bennett was on the outside perimeter, probably 100 yards away, when the shooting broke out. He immediately grabbed his medic bag and started toward the area where the shots had been fired.

Arriving at Allen Pearson’s side, Kent began to access his injuries and knew that Allen had been seriously wounded. He transferred Allen’s care to the paramedics who arrived quickly after him and turned his attention to checking for others who were hurt. At first, Detective Ryan Dawson did not realize that he had been wounded. He was too busy caring for Allen Pearson to notice that he had suffered a gunshot wound to his own neck.

Trooper Bennett applied direct pressure to Detective Dawson’s neck wound and kept that pressure applied as an SRU officer drove the ambulance to a landing zone at Dupont to meet the East Care Helicopter. Kent maintained pressure on the wound all the way from the woods on Tick Bite Road until Ryan was loaded into the helicopter and flown to Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

Detective Ryan Dawson

Quick thinking and good training put Trooper Kent Bennett into a position to be a hero that fateful night of April 7th, 2009. Kent went above and beyond the call of duty and his actions were instrumental in saving Detective Ryan Dawson’s life.

Detective Allen Pearson was pronounced dead after midnight at Lenoir Memorial Hospital. He had been wearing his body armor but the bullet hit in his shoulder area that is not protected by the vest. Allen was an eight year veteran of the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Department and was serving as a Detective at the time of his death.

Detective Allen Pearson

EOW: April 8, 2009

On May 15, 2010 Allen Pearson’s name will be added to the wall of fallen heroes at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC.

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Twenty-Eighth Annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service

2009-05-18T12:14:00.007-04:00

On Friday, May 15, 2009, Carter and I attended the 28th Annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service on the west front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

In 2008, four Law Enforcement Officers from North Carolina died in the line of duty. Those officers were honored during the service and their names added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial.

The names added to the wall included two Troopers from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, David Shawn Blanton, Jr. and Andrew James Stocks.

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DAVID SHAWN BLANTON, JR

NCSHP G-540

EOW JUNE 17, 2008

Trooper Shawn Blanton (G-540) died on June 17, 2008 when he was shot by a suspect during a traffic stop on I-40 in Haywood County. (Click here to see entry on Officer Down Memorial Page)

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ANDREW JAMES STOCKS

NCSHP C-352

EOW SEPTEMBER 9, 2008

Trooper A.J. Stocks (C-352) died in a vehicle crash on September 9, 2008 while he was responding to a call in Wake County. (Click here to see entry on Officer Down Memorial Page)

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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)

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The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23 (NKJV)

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May God bless the families, fellow officers and loved ones of Shawn, A.J. and all the other officers who have died while serving us.

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Hometown Hero--Kevin Keith, Durham EMS

2009-04-21T11:15:00.011-04:00

At 3am this past Saturday, I did something that I had never done before in my life. I called 9-1-1…..for me. I’ve called for others in the past, but never for me.

This would turn out to be a day of “firsts” for me, some that I prefer to forget. I desperately want to forget that I screamed at the top of my lungs several times because of the pain that I was in. I want to forget being strapped to a backboard and carried down a corkscrew staircase…while I was screaming.

I also want to forget my first ride ever on a bedpan at the hospital. Bedpans have a way of humiliating you. I was in pain during my bedpan ride….but for some reason I didn’t scream.

Paramedic Kevin Keith from Durham County EMS and Mike Collier from Bethesda Fire and Rescue were on Medic 41 on Saturday. Upon their arrival they found their patient (me) in excruciating pain and unable to move.

Although I was dehydrated, Kevin was able to establish an IV access to re-hydrate me and get some pain medicine on board. He gave me all the morphine that he could, but it still did not touch the pain emitting from my lower back.

I wanted to be able to walk downstairs and get on the stretcher but my back was in spasms that I can’t begin to describe to you. The decision was made to call Durham FD Engine 13-B for assistance in getting me down the steps.

Kevin, I want to say thank you for taking such good care of me on Saturday. Your IV placement lasted for my entire hospital stay. You did everything that you could to alleviate my pain and make my trip to Durham Regional as smooth as possible. You are the Emergency Chaplains “Hometown Hero” for this week.

Special mention also goes to Mike Collier, EMT from Bethesda Fire and Rescue and to the crew on Engine 13-B. I hated calling you guys out at 3am, but every one of you are professionals at your job and courteous in every way. Thanks for helping me out.

My hospital stay was only 36 hours and it turns out that I was having an allergic reaction to a new medicine that I am taking. We don’t know if the back pain was part of the allergic reaction or maybe the pain was compounded by the reaction. I also had a virus at the same time.

While all of my doctors are still standing around scratching their heads as they try to figure out what was wrong with me, I’ll just sit at home for few days and try to recover. I will also remember what it is like to be a patient. I am always taking care of patients and it is awkward when I have to be taken care of. This past Saturday gave me a whole new perspective on patient care.

Thanks again to Kevin, Mike and Engine 13-B for taking care of me. You guys are the greatest!

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Note to Kevin: Sorry about the picture, but it was the only one that I could find of you.

Note to Readers: Kevin was posing for the camera doing an :Incredible Hulk" impersonation when this picture was taken.

ret

Hometown Hero--Justin Garner, Carthage PD

2009-04-08T08:07:00.012-04:00

Cop Who Shot Active Shooter was Only Cop on Duty

On Sunday mornings in Mayberry, Andy and Barney would close down the courthouse and head to church with Aunt Bea, Opie, Gomer and even an occasional prisoner.

Carthage is a lot like Mayberry. Sure, times have changed...but Carthage is still a quiet little place. So quiet in fact that only one police officer is on duty on any given Sunday morning. Justin Garner was that officer on March 29th.

Sunday mornings are usually slow in Carthage. Folks that aren't in church are either asleep or quietly working around the house. No one would have ever suspected that an armed gunman had gone into Pinelake Rehab looking for his estranged wife and shooting anyone that he came in contact with.

Justin Garner answered the call. Some may call him foolish for entering the nursing home without backup. There is no doubt that he put his own life at risk--he has three wounds to prove that.

Robert Stewart had already shot and killed seven elderly patients and one employee when he was confronted by Corporal Garner. Although he was drawing fire from the gunman, Garner held his ground and returned fire, critically wounding Stewart and bringing the carnage to an end.

I believe that Robert Stewart was prepared to kill every person inside the nursing facility that day. Eight dead is too many...but the heroic actions of Justin Garner saved everyone else there.
Corporal Justin Garner of the Carthage Police Department is a hero in every right.

Thank you, Justin, for giving your life in service for the people of Carthage.

Chaplain Ralph
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March 31, 2009
CARTHAGE, N.C. (AP) — Justin Garner turned down a chance to join the state highway patrol so he could stay on his small hometown’s police force. In just five years, he’d already been named Officer of the Year. And when a call came in that a gunman was shooting up a nursing home, Garner was the only one on duty when seemingly everyone else in this town of 1,800 was at church.

The clean-cut outdoorsman with a passion for hunting and fishing raced to the Pinelake Health and Rehab Center. Armed with a .40-caliber Glock pistol, he entered the building to confront Robert Stewart, 45, in the hallway. Garner fired his weapon once, hitting Stewart in the chest, even though Garner had already been shot three times in his foot and leg.

A day later, Garner was being praised as a hero in this small town in North Carolina’s Sandhills region, about 60 miles southwest of Raleigh, for forging into the nursing home without waiting for backup to stop a man authorities say shot and killed eight people — many of them elderly and frail — inside.

“If that’s not heroism, I don’t know what is,” said Police Chief Chris McKenzie, who later added: “You can train all you want to, but it comes down to whether you have what it takes.”

Experts also took note. Nick Minzghor, whose business trains police and military personnel in Seattle, said a quick response to mass shootings is crucial, but that it’s not common for an officer by himself to be successful.

“This is one of the few instances nationwide where the lone officer took care of the bad guy,” said Minzghor, who’s also a police officer.

Garner, 25, grew up in the Carthage area like most of the town’s 18-officer police force, said McKenzie, who’s also a native. Garner, who is married, has been on the force for less than five years but already has been honored as the town’s Officer of the Year.

At one point, though, Garner nearly joined the North Carolina Highway Patrol before ultimately deciding to stay in Carthage, said the Rev. Tom Herndon, the chaplain for the police and fire departments. Herndon, who also is pastor of First Baptist Church of Carthage, described Garner as “a real clean-cut, handsome young fellow” who is fair to the people he serves.

“He’s one of the individuals who will give you a break if you happen to be speeding one mile an hour over the speed limit,” Herndon said, adding that his wife once received a warning from Garner though he didn’t know who she was.

McKenzie said Garner hunts and fishes whenever he gets the chance, and that he’s not surprised the officer stayed close to home.

“You don’t find too many country boys heading to the city (to become police),” McKenzie said. “They stay here to take care of their own.”

Seven nursing home residents and one of their caretakers were killed and three others, including Garner, were wounded. Stewart was charged with eight counts of first-degree murder.
McKenzie said Garner isn’t yet ready to speak publicly about the shootings. He was released from the hospital, but will need outpatient surgery, McKenzie said.

“He wants to sit at home with his family and rest. He almost died yesterday,” McKenzie said.

Life Lessons from the Family Dog

2009-04-08T08:02:00.002-04:00

3-31-09
New York Times editor Dana Jennings writes every Tuesday about coping with an advanced form of prostate cancer.

Bijou, the family dog of Times editor Dana Jennings.

Our family dog started failing a couple of months ago. Her serious health problems began at about the same time I was coping with my own — finishing my radiation and hormone therapy for prostate cancer.

Since last summer, I’ve learned that my cancer is shockingly aggressive, and the surgery, radiation and hormone treatments have left me exhausted, incontinent and with an AWOL libido. These days I’m waiting for the first tests that will tell me the status of my health.
Even so, as I face my own profound health issues, it is my dog’s poor health that is piercing me to the heart. I’m dreading that morning when I walk downstairs and … well, those of us who love dogs understand that all dog stories end the same way.

Her full name is Bijou de Minuit (Jewel of Midnight) — my wife teaches French. She is a 12-year-old black miniature poodle, and she is, literally, on her last legs. Her hind quarters fly out from beneath her, her back creaks and cracks as she walks, she limps, she’s speckled with bright red warts the size of nickels, her snore is loud and labored (like a freight train chugging up some steep grade) and she spends most of the day drowsing on her pillow-bed next to the kitchen radiator.

Bijou’s medicine chest is impressive for a 23-pound dog: A baby dose of amoxicillin for chronic urinary tract infections; prednisone and Tramadol for pain; phenobarbital for seizures; Proin for incontinence – all of it wrapped in mini-slices of pepperoni.

She is, I realize, “just” a dog. But she has, nonetheless, taught me a few lessons about life, living and illness. Despite all her troubles, Bijou is still game. She still groans to her feet to go outside, still barks at and with the neighborhood dogs, is willing to hobble around the kitchen to carouse with a rubber ball — her shrub of a tail quivering in joy.

I know now that Bijou was an important part of my therapy as I recovered from having my prostate removed. I learned that dogs, besides being pets, can also be our teachers.
Human beings constantly struggle to live in the moment. We’re either obsessing over the past (”Gee, life would’ve been different if I’d only joined the Peace Corps.”), or obsessing over the future (”Gee, I hope my 401K holds up”). We forget that life, real life, is lived right now, in this very moment.

But living in the moment is something that dogs (and cancer patients) do by their very nature. Bijou eats when she’s hungry, drinks when she’s thirsty, sleeps when she’s tired and will still gratefully curl up in whatever swatch of sunlight steals through the windows.

She’d jump up onto my sickbed last summer, nuzzle me and ask for her ears and pointy snout to be scratched. It made both of us happy as she sighed in satisfaction. And she was the subject of one of our favorite family jokes as I recuperated: “You take the dog out. I have cancer.”

In spending so much time with Bijou, I began to realize that our dogs, in their carefree dogginess, make us more human, force us to shed our narcissistic skins. Even when you have cancer, you can’t be utterly self-involved when you have a floppy-eared mutt who needs to be fed, walked and belly-scratched. And you can’t help but ponder the mysteries of creation as you gaze into the eyes of your dog, or wonder why and how we chose dogs and they chose us.

Dogs also tell us – especially when we’re sick – of our own finitude. And, partly, that’s why we cry when they die, because we also know that all human-being stories end the same way, too.
Good dogs – and most dogs are good dogs – are canine candles that briefly blaze and shine, illuminating our lives. Bijou has been here with us for the past 12 years, reminding us that simple pleasures are the ones to be treasured: a treat, a game of fetch, a nose-to-the-ground stroll in the park.

Simple pleasures. As I lazed and dozed at home last summer after surgery, there was nothing sweeter to me in this world than to hear Bijou drinking from her water dish outside my door. It was if her gentle lap-lapping ferried me to waters of healing. I’ll miss her.

Bethesda Bluegrass Boys

2009-03-29T14:40:00.009-04:00

Carter, Carl and I had the pleasure of attending Angier Avenue Baptist Church on March 29th. Our friends, The Bethesda Bluegrass Boys led the worship service.

Mark (the old guy in the picture) taught himself to play the guitar a few years ago. He later taught all three of his boys to play one or more instruments. When congratulated for teaching the boys to play so well, he tells me that he evidently taught them everything that he knew....because he doesn't know anything anymore.

The boys are Caleb, Jackson and Connor. For years I have told the Hagwood boys to continue eating their Wheaties and stay away from cigarettes and coffee---do that and one day they would be as tall as me. Judging by this picture it looks like they took my advice.

Holly is the only non-Hagwood in the group. She plays fiddle and adds vocals.

Karen is the mom. (Not-pictured) She is the brains behind the boys.

I love you guys. Keep using your talents to honor the Lord.

Hometown Hero--Andy Barringer

2009-03-26T14:42:00.005-04:00

For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
Colossians 1:4-6 NLT

When Andy Barringer was a child he had visions of being a hero. He could see himself rushing into a burning building to save a helpless child. He probably pictured himself bringing that child out of a smoke filled house while giving rescue breaths. He collapses to the ground, barely able to breathe himself, with the child in his arms.

Suddenly—the child begins to cough. An oxygen mask is placed on the young boy as he is loaded into a waiting ambulance. Andy returns to his duties—life saved—now we need to put out that fire.

For 29 years, Andy risked his life to help others. He joined Parkwood Fire Department as a teenager. He later became a full-time firefighter. At the time of his death he was an Assistant Chief—still serving at the same department where he started.

From the first time that Andy put on the turnout gear, his life was on the line. Every firefighter knows that. However, a firefighter not only puts his life at risk to save others, he dedicates his life to the service of others. On call, 24 hours at a time, waiting for someone to call out for help.

On Sunday, March 1st, Andy was the one who called out for help. While serving as a chaperon on a ski trip for a group that included his son, he began to experience chest pains. When the paramedics arrived, Andy walked to the ambulance and climbed in under his own power.

No one would have ever expected that on the way to the hospital Andy would go into cardiac arrest. The medics did everything they could do. So did the doctors and nurses at the hospital. It seems tragic that a man who had dedicated his life to helping others could find no help on his day of trouble. There were lots of people that tried to help—but to no avail.

As I talked with Andy’s wife, Amanda, I struggled for the words to say that might bring comfort to her and to Colton. As we talked, her words were the ones bringing comfort to me.

Amanda told me that the last few years of Andy’s life had been his best. He had come to understand John 10:10 and what Jesus meant about giving him a full life—abundant life.

She told me that Andy did cry out for help many years ago. He cried out to Jesus and Jesus heard him. Jesus helped him. Jesus saved him from his sin and during the past few years Andy grew in his faith. By leaps and bounds—especially after the family moved to Rolesville.

Moving caused Andy and Amanda to seek out a new church where they met Pastor David Sims, and they all ended up together at Richland Creek Community Church.

The Lord used Pastor David and the church family at “The Creek” to build into Andy’s life and things changed for the Barringer family—to better than ever before. That is not to say that Andy, Amanda and Colton did not face difficult circumstances over the past few years. Just like any other family they have had their share of hard times.

The big change was this—when looking back over the hard times they faced over the past few years, Amanda sees them as sweet times—because Andy had allowed Jesus to change his life and put things in proper perspective. Don’t miss the point—Jesus changed Andy’s life. Drastically.

Andy was changed and so was his family. Andy was the spiritual leader of his home and Jesus was at the center of everything they did. Together, they came to find out what a life of true “JOY” is all about.

Everybody is looking for joy in this dark and difficult world that we live in. If Andy could speak to you right now, he would want you to know that he found there is only one true source of joy—Jesus Christ. As Andy led his family to understand the proper perspective of life, he understood the word joy and that you can find joy by following the letters—J-O-Y.

J=Jesus: Simply put Jesus first in your life—in everything that you do—give Him first place and honor Him above all else. This comes by understanding the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

O=Others: Honor and serve others. Put the needs of other people before your own needs. Love people and serve them in a way that brings glory to God.

Y=You: That leaves you—last. Honor Jesus first and honor all others before yourself. Most people try to work this model upside down. Doesn’t work that way. I think Andy would want you to know that.

Many of you who are reading this knew Andy Barringer. Some of you are still grieving over his death. Life will never be the same again for some of you because of the void that Andy’s death leaves.

One thing I believe that my brother Andy would want you to remember about him is this—His life was changed forever by his relationship with Jesus Christ. He would want you to know that Jesus can bring you the same joy, peace and hope that he lived with here on earth.

Andy would also want you to know that you should not weep for him. Because of his faith in Jesus Christ, his hope has now become sight. The Savior that he trusted in faith here on earth is now his Savior by sight—forever—in heaven.

Gunman Kills 4 Police Officers in Oakland, CA

2009-03-24T07:38:00.003-04:00

Slain Oakland Cops Remembered as Proud Veterans

OAKLAND, Calif. — The shootings of four Oakland police officers on a single day was remarkable not just for its death toll, but for the years of law enforcement experience Mark Dunakin, John Hege, Ervin Romans and Daniel Sakai had racked up between them. Sakai, at 35 the youngest of the three officers killed Saturday by a 26-year-old parolee with two ...READ MORE

Related stories:

Oakland Police Department Stunned By a Day of Loss

Officer Down Memorial Page

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Forgiving A Killer

2009-03-20T14:29:00.003-04:00

Watch CBS Videos Online

2009-03-02T10:59:00.004-05:00

Andy Barringer, Assistant Chief, Parkwood Fire and Rescue, died on Sunday, March 1st.

Andy (pictured--on right) was a dear brother in the Lord. Everytime that we got together, our conversations always centered on serving Jesus and reaching others.

He was a faithful encourager to me and I will miss him. Pray for his family and for his extended family at Parkwood Fire and Rescue.

Barringer
DURHAM - Andy Barringer, 46, passed away Sunday evening in W. Virginia.

Andy was born in Salisbury. He moved in 1965 to Durham where he graduated from Jordan High School. Several years ago Andy moved his family to Rolesville and his life was transformed by Christ! He loved God and being at church with his family.

Andy was a godly and loving father to Colton.Andy was a deacon at Richland Creek Community Church, where he played in the church orchestra. Andy made several mission trips to South East Asia, Greece, W. Virginia, and France to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. He enjoyed playing golf, especially with his golfing buddies at Hillandale Golf Club.

Andy served for 29 years at Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department. He has been assistant chief since 1997 and past president of the Durham County Fire Chief's Association.

He is survived by his wife, Amanda Aiken Barringer of Rolesville; son, Colton Barringer; parents, Peggy Eidson Barringer and James M. Barringer of Durham; and brother, Tony Barringer of Hillsborough.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Richland Creek Community Church in Wake Forest with Pastor David Sims and Chaplain Mark Holland officiating. Burial will follow in Rolesville Cemetery.

A visitation is scheduled Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Clements Funeral Service in Durham. Pallbearers will be Keith Edmonds, Duane Webb, Archie Dinglasan, Troy Meachum, Mike Crawley and John Wright.

The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral Service in Durham. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Colton A. Barringer Scholarship Account, Suntrust Bank 401 S. Main Street Rolesville, NC 27571.

Emergency Chaplain's Web Site

2009-01-21T10:36:00.004-05:00

Finally...

Our new website is up. Go to http://www.echap.org/ and check it out!

We have more to add---especially pictures. If you have pics I can use, send them to ChaplainRalph@yahoo.com

Many Blessings!
Chaplain Ralph

On The Streets--"Dealing With Sorrows"

2008-12-23T07:59:00.002-05:00

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 1982. In the first 15 years, 54,000 items were left at the Wall. It still takes almost an hour every night, and much longer on Memorial Day, to collect the mementos—a teddy bear, a photo of a soldier’s grandchild, a letter from a daughter who never knew her dad.

The Wall reminds us that sorrow comes to us all. We often carry our grief around for years—struggling with our emotions. While the Wall provides a place to leave mementos—is there a place where we can truly lay down our sorrows?

The holidays bring out the best and the worst in some people. As Emergency Responders, we know about the worst all too well.

All of us will have to deal with folks during the holiday season that are at their worst. People have pain and grief in their lives that has gone unresolved and for some reason—the holidays seem to magnify the pain.

Our “customers” often try to handle the pain in ways that are neither healthy nor productive. Those who choose to use alcohol and drugs to ease their pain will use too much. The 911 center will get calls about fights, car wrecks and other bad decisions caused by too much “medication”. Some of the sights that we see over the holidays are too heart breaking to talk about.

As we take calls from hysterical people, respond to domestic situations, arrest DWI drivers and transport depressed patients to the hospital—we do our best to distance ourselves from the situation. We can’t get too personally involved—but do we understand that many of the people that we come in contact with are dealing with their sorrows and grief in ways that are “not good?”

While most of us that respond to these emergencies know that this happens to the public—do we keep a check on ourselves? Do we deal with our life struggles in a way that is productive and healthy? We know that the difficulties of life come to us all, but is there a place where we can leave our sorrows and find healing for the wounds of life?

The Old Testament book of Isaiah tells the prophecy of the coming Christ. If you go to a Christmas program you will probably hear from Isaiah 7:14—“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” You may also hear Isaiah 9:6—“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Immanuel means “God with us”. Another name that Isaiah tells us that Jesus will be known by is “Prince of Peace”. We always talk about peace at Christmas…but where is the peace that I need when I am dealing with the great struggles that I face?

Keep reading in Isaiah and you will come to Chapter 53. Here the prophet speaks of the Messiah as the One who came to be with us and “has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…By His stripes we are healed” (vv4-5). When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin, we also come to know Him as the One who can lift the weight of sadness from our shoulders.

We can bring our grief to the Man of sorrows. There is help and healing and closure at the cross for the deepest pain of our hearts.

Car vs big tree on US 70

2008-06-15T01:11:00.003-04:00

Vehicle Fire on NC 147

2008-06-15T01:09:00.003-04:00

2008-06-15T00:38:00.004-04:00

LETTER OF INTRODUCTION

For the past 9 ½ years I have served as an Associate Pastor at Bethesda Baptist Church in Durham and over the past 6 years I have served as Chaplain for Bethesda Fire and Rescue, also in Durham. Two years ago, I began serving as Chaplain for Durham County EMS.

During this time I sensed the Lord leading me to devote more time to chaplaincy and because of this calling I enrolled in the Biblical Counseling program at Master’s Divinity School. In July of 2007 I completed a Master of Ministry degree.

In January of 2008 I resigned from Bethesda Baptist Church in order to begin work on a new venture called Emergency Chaplains. My wife (Carter) and I believe that the Lord called us to minister to the public safety community here in Durham and we have dedicated our coming days to answer that calling.

Carter graduated with a BA in Psychology/Christian Counseling in May at Louisiana Baptist University and she will be available to work with the ministry, especially in the area of counseling females.

We are currently in the process of forming a non-profit corporation that will have 3 principle goals. Those goals are to provide pastoral care for our local public safety responders and their families, to provide chaplaincy care for the general public during a time of crisis and to provide resources and training that will facilitate this comprehensive approach to chaplaincy care in all 100 counties in North Carolina.

I would love to tell you more about our vision and how I believe that we would be an asset to your organization. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Ralph Thompson

2008-02-23T08:09:00.003-05:00

Emergency Chaplains

Purpose Statement

The purpose of Emergency Chaplains is to:

Provide pastoral care and counseling for employees and families of emergency service agencies

Provide pastoral care and short-term assistance for the general public whose lives have changed suddenly and forever due to a violent act or unexpected tragedy

Provide training and assistance to other counties and agencies in NC.

The primary purpose of Emergency Chaplains is to provide pastoral care and counseling for employees and families of emergency service agencies in Durham County, NC. This will include but is not limited to:

· Stress debriefing

· Job counseling, marriage and family counseling, addiction counseling

· Pre-Marital counseling, Perform weddings

· Officiate at funerals, bereavement counseling

· Offer spiritual guidance to those who desire it and to serve as a communication link between people in crisis and their own spiritual advisors.

· Get to know personnel, their families and their needs, providing an informal but professional support.

· Hospital visitation

In addition, Emergency Chaplains will also intervene in times of crisis for the general public of Durham County by providing on-the-scene pastoral care and crisis intervention in conjunction with local EMS, fire, law enforcement, and other emergency response agencies. This will be accomplished by doing the following:

· Respond as needed to the crisis scene.

· Minister to crisis victims and their families.

· Provide a communication channel between responders and crisis victims giving a positive public image.

· Follow the scene as it transitions to hospital or other locations, providing continuity for patients, victims and family members.

· Interface with other clergy, extended family, Red Cross, and other community support mechanisms to meet needs of victims.

· Provide stability for victims and personnel during crisis situations. Give direction for spiritual and emotional needs, both for victims and personnel.

The work of Emergency Chaplains will be accomplished by recruiting and training chaplains to serve on a volunteer basis. They will work in conjunction with agency chaplains that are already in place in order to provide support and resources and to give 24/7 coverage for crisis calls.

Emergency Chaplains will provide training and assistance for other counties in NC that desire to establish a similar chaplaincy program.

Resume

2008-02-23T07:42:00.011-05:00

Rev. Ralph Edward Thompson

5116 Huxey Glenn Court

Durham, NC 27703-9293

Home Phone: 919.596.6345

OBJECTIVE
· To be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ and to bring honor and glory to His name.

EXPERIENCE
· February 2008-present: Executive Director, Emergency Chaplains, PO Box 14762, Durham, NC 27709. Founded this ministry in order to provide chaplaincy to all public safety responder agencies in Durham County.
· June 1998-January 2008: Associate Pastor, Bethesda Baptist Church, 1914 S. Miami Blvd., Durham, NC 27703. Served as Discipleship Pastor initially and later as Pastor of Administration and Outreach. Ordained by church in 2001.
· 1995-1998: Agent, Farm Bureau Insurance, PO Box 15310, Durham, NC 27704

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
· April 2008-present: Chaplain, NC State Highway Patrol, District C-7, Durham/Granville, NC and Troop C Chaplaincy Coordinator, Raleigh, NC
· November 2006-present: Adjunct Clergy, Durham Regional Hospital, Durham, NC
· December 2005-present: Chaplain, Durham County EMS, 402 Stadium Drive, Durham, NC
· January 2002-present: Chaplain, Bethesda Fire and Rescue, 1724 S. Miami Blvd, Durham, NC

EDUCATION
· M.Min., Biblical Counseling, Master’s International School of Divinity, Evansville, IN
July 2007.
· B.A., Biblical Studies, Louisiana Baptist University, Shreveport, LA, May 2002.
· A.Div., Southeastern College at Wake Forest, Wake Forest, NC, May 2001.
· A.A.S., Business Management, Danville Community College, Danville, VA, June 1983

OTHER TRAINING
· Specialized Training Certificate in Spiritual Care in Crisis Intervention awarded by International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF)
· Traumas of Law Enforcement training by Concerns of Police Survivors(C.O.P.S.)
· Certified EMT-B by NC Office of Emergency Medical Services

AFFILIATIONS
· Member, American Association of Christian Counselors
· Member, International Association of Biblical Counselors
· Member, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
· Member, Federation of Fire Chaplains
· Member, Bethesda Ruritan Club

Public Safety Appreciation Weekend

2007-08-21T12:31:00.000-04:00

I just spent an exhausting weekend with two of the greatest chaplains that anyone could ever know. Chaplain Tony Miano of Ten-Four Ministries was our speaker at Public Safety Appreciation Day on August 19th. We burned the candle at both ends---I'll let him tell our story. Check out his blog at http://thecenturionpapers.blogspot.com/2007/08/mission-durham-nc.html

Tony's website: http://www.tenfourministries.org/

Chaplain Tommy Neiman was also in town for part of the weekend. We spent most of the day Monday together and he did the service on Monday night at Ridgecrest Baptist.

You can learn more about Tommy's ministry at http://www.tommyneiman.com/

Watch this video

2007-08-11T09:14:00.001-04:00

http://www.thehopeproject.com/

Hospital Visit

2007-04-14T18:45:00.004-04:00

God gave me an awesome privilege back in January to lead a man named Bill to faith in Christ.

I went to see Bill in the hospital at the request of his son. We hit it off right away and became good friends.

One day when I went to visit Bill we began to talk about spiritual things. Morally, he was a good man but he had never surrendered his life to Christ.

As I shared the gospel with him, he began to weep over his sin. I asked Bill if he would like to have forgiveness for his sins and ask Jesus to be his savior.

When he said "yes", I told Bill that he could pray on his own to do that.

Before I could finish speaking, this 76 year old man raises his hands in the air, tears are streaming down his face and he cries out "Dear Lord Jesus, I have let you down so many times. Could you ever find it in your heart to forgive me? Please forgive me and please adopt me into your family. I want to be your child."

Bill got saved that day. 32 days later, he died---just one day after his 77th birthday.

I preached his funeral and was able to comfort the other believers with the news of Bill's salvation. That same news served as Bill's testimony and his witness to all of the unbelievers gathered that day.

Pray for the seeds of the gospel that were planted through the life, death and testimony of my friend Bill.

I only knew him for about 45 days here on earth---but we will have eternity to get to know each other!

N&O Article/ November 2006

2007-03-17T22:23:00.002-04:00

Spiritual First Responder: Volunteer Chaplain Helps Emergency Workers Cope

Posted: November 20th, 2006 03:30 AM PDT

Yonat Shimron
News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)

Nov. 17--DURHAM -- Ralph Thompson was eating a sandwich at Chick-fil-A when the call came in on the radio: altered mental status, diabetic, low blood sugar.

He rushed to his car, grabbed the spiral bound Durham County map from the rear seat, and sped to the scene.

"Ralph, you want to hold this door?" shouted Corolla Lauck, the paramedic, who spotted him as she rolled the stretcher out of the EMS truck and onto the sidewalk.

"I love it when they put me to work," said Thompson.

Every Thursday, Thompson has an emergency -- ministering to firefighters and paramedics in Durham County. It's not his main job. On other days he is the pastor of administration at Bethesda Baptist Church.

But this is Thompson's passion, his calling, as religious folk put it. Thompson's father was an assistant fire chief in the little town of Providence in Caswell County, and caring for emergency workers has been a family affair.

"Git in the truck, boy," was one of his dad's frequent orders, he says.

Five years ago, after the terrorist strikes of Sept. 11, Thompson felt compelled to minister to firefighters in a more intentional way.

"All of a sudden it came close to home," he says. "Firefighters, EMS and police saw the importance of chaplaincy in a major catastrophe."

Six months ago, Thompson added emergency medics to the list of people he offers support.

"They deal with life and death every day," says Thompson. "It's tough out there."

Thompson doesn't tell firefighters and medics what to believe. And though he carries a New Testament in his pocket, he doesn't quote Scripture. Chaplaincy, he thinks, is about relationships. He wants to be a listening ear, a friend. Usually, that means chatting up emergency workers about mundane things such as sports, the weather, their kids.

Still, there's nothing mundane about some of the issues paramedics are facing. On a Thursday last week, Thompson made a point of visiting with a paramedic whose daughter had just died, and inquiring about another who was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Gordon Smith, a paramedic who relocated from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, says Thompson paid him special attention to make sure he wasn't experiencing any post-traumatic stress.

"He made sure I was OK in the head," says Smith. "He's easy to talk to and makes you feel at ease."

'I live Scripture'

There are 80 full-time EMS workers in Durham County and another 40 part-timers. Thompson makes a point of getting to know all of them, at least by name. His routine is the same. Thursday mornings he checks in at the EMS headquarters behind Durham Regional Hospital. Then he heads out to the 15 fire stations and six EMS stations across the county.

"My faith is caring for people," says Thompson, who is 45. "When I think of the ministry of Jesus on earth, he took care of people, he met people's needs. My philosophy is, I live Scripture."

Thompson's black SUV is emblazoned with the words "Fire/EMS chaplain." On his belt he packs a portable radio, two pagers and a cell phone. If he arrives at a station and the team gets a call, he jumps back into his car and heads out to the scene right behind the crew.

Once there, he opens doors and helps EMS workers carry their equipment. And though Thompson is chaplain to the emergency workers, he often helps patients and their families, too.

Once, he received a call from a paramedic at 2:30 a.m. A man had just died of a heart attack. His one remaining family member was in shock and the paramedics had to leave for another call. Could he come over stay with the family member?

Another time, a man in distress was threatening to shoot himself, and Thompson was there to minister to the man's wife in the raw moments after the suicide.

Across faiths

A calm demeanor and a low-key presence make him a favorite in a department that includes Christians, Muslims and plenty of agnostics.

"The guys are under a lot of stress," says Mike Smith, director of EMS for for Durham County. "They talk to each other a lot, but now they have a resource, too."

Thompson doesn't get paid for his job, yet like all volunteers, he's devoted. In addition to showing up one day a week, Thompson passes out magnetic cards with his cell phone number and he tells people he's available 24/7.

Thompson knows it's not always easy getting people to talk about their problems. "You don't just walk up and say, 'How you doing?' and expect them to tell you."

But he said, if you hang out long enough, there's always a point when the subject of a conversation turns, and a leading question can get people to open up.

In a conversation with Gary Witherspoon last week, the two talked about the EMS awareness class Witherspoon was going to give at a local elementary school. As they finished talking, Witherspoon told Thompson his mother was being discharged from the hospital, even though her situation was deteriorating.

Thompson made a mental note to follow up and say a prayer.

"Chaplains talk about having a ministry of presence," Thompson says. "You just go out and be there with them. Sometimes, you can't improve on silence."

Copyright (c) 2006, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. For reprints, email , call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

"Put Your Money Where Your Tract Is"

2007-03-03T08:34:00.000-05:00

Recently I was talking to a supervisor with Valet Parking at the hospital and came to find out that he was a believer in Jesus Christ. We talked about the opportunities to witness when working with the public. This young man impressed me with his desire to make Christ known to the people that he came in contact with.

I gave him one of our “Steps to Peace With God” tracts and briefly showed him how to use it like Dennis Nunn taught us during our Spiritual Awakening services back in January. My new friend (let’s call him “Parker”) was encouraged when as I told him how so many of you are using these tracts to witness on a daily basis.

The tract reminded Parker of an incident that he had with a fellow believer. It seems that a gentleman had offered this young man a tract in lieu of a tip along with the advice, “this is the best tip you will ever get.”

“That had happened before,” Parker told me, “several times”.

We laughed for a minute as we talked about how some Christians tip the people who serve them. It is a well-known fact that waiters and waitresses hate working the Sunday lunch shift because “Christians” are notoriously bad tippers and sometimes leave tracts in lieu of tips.

Anyway—our conversation turned back to valet parking and the incident of the tract tipper. “I don’t know what came over me,” Parker said, “but I handed the tract back to the man and told him that I didn’t need it.”

“But young man,” the tract tipper said, “the best tip I can give you is in this tract. It explains how you can ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior”.

Parker explained to the tipper that he accepted Christ as his Savior four years ago and that he appreciated the fact that this man wanted others to know Jesus.

“But you are going about this the wrong way,” Parker told him. “I agreed with him that ‘follow Jesus’ is the best advice we can give anyone.”

“Then I pointed at the young guys working for me,” Parker continued, “these guys have a hard time paying rent and buying baby food with advice and tracts. It takes money for that. Tips are how they make a living. If you want them to listen to you, you need to tip them—and tip them generously.”

Parker told me that he wanted to tell the man to “put his money where his mouth was” but decided to leave it at “put your money where your tract is”.

“How did ‘Mr. Tract Tipper’ take your comments?”

“Well, he put the tract back in his pocket, kind of made an ‘umph’ sound and got in his car.”

“Did he give you a tip?” I asked.

“No, he didn’t. The last I saw of him was the fish symbol on his trunk as he drove out of the parking lot.”

Remember—tip your wait people well—always. Tip especially well on Sunday after church. In restaurants, go ahead and give them 20% and round up to the next dollar. Don’t be a tightwad. You’ll never miss the money.

If you ever use a valet, give him at least a couple of bucks and thank him for serving you. If you have an opportunity to give out a tract—do that AFTER you tip—it will be better received.

About the fish on the back of your car—remember it is there when you are driving. It’s there when you drive away from the valet, too.

Tip generously. It’s your testimony.

Pastor Ralph
March 2007 Newsletter Column
Bethesda Baptist Church
Durham, NC

Stressed Out

2007-02-21T11:32:00.000-05:00

Chaplain’s Notes*****Ralph Thompson, Durham County EMS Chaplain

My wife asked me the other day, “Who do you talk to when you get overloaded with stress?”

“Why do you ask?” I asked.

“Because you are stressed out,” was the answer.

My wife was right. I was stressed. How did she know?

She just knows.

Her point was made and we began to talk about the past week. As I stopped to think, I realized that I had not been sleeping like I should. I was having problems falling asleep and staying asleep.

My eating habits were all messed up. Snacks were up. Nutrition was down. Caffeine intake was too high and protein intake was too low.

My blood pressure was up and my mood was down. My expectations were high and my temper was short.

We talked about what was going on in my “real job” as an associate pastor. There were job evaluations to write and a budget to prepare. There was a class to prepare for and visits to make.

Our church was in the middle of introducing a new worship schedule that includes 3 services every Sunday morning.

Then there was home.

“The house needs to be painted,” she reminded me. “Yeah,” I added, “and it’s almost time for a new roof and the AC should have been replaced last year.”

The check engine light came on again in my wife’s car while she was driving to the doctor’s office to try and find out why she can’t seem to keep her weight up.

Then we talked about Buddy, our 14-year-old dog. We joked about getting him a hearing aid and some glasses.

We laughed about the vet strongly urging us to have his teeth cleaned and at the same time cautioning us that the anesthesia might kill a dog his age.

Guess we will put up with the bad breath. I just couldn’t see spending that much money on a gamble that the dog would live to see tomorrow—when I know he probably won’t see next year.

Then I remembered that I had been burning the candle at both ends running EMS calls with you guys and with Bethesda.

In a one-week stretch, I started out with a couple of cardiac arrests and then I went BLUE.

It seems like every call I went on turned out to be some sort of blue tag.

Some of the blue tags were light blue. You know, just a little kooky. Then there were a couple that were totally nuts. Navy blue tags. Dark navy blue.

One of the calls was so crazy that I just can’t even begin to explain it to you. If I start trying to tell you about it you will think that I am the one who should be in the straitjacket.

As I reminisced, I realized some of the job stress that you encounter on the streets. Every one of you have the day to day pressures of life that any average person has—and then you pile Code 5’s, blue tags and frequent flyers on top of that.

Not to mention the trauma. It was a trauma call that sent me over the top.

10-50, PI. It’s amazing with all the plain text radio talk we can’t seem to find any that is an acceptable substitute for 10-50.

The code talk continued on the scene. After the medic unit had left for the hospital I moved over to speak with one of the officers on the scene.

“Looks like an F-Frank to me,” he said. Another officer came up and they repeated the F-Frank talk. I thought how impersonal they made it sound.

Another officer came up. He talked about F-Frank, too. I wondered if they knew any words other than the F (Frank) word.

I moved over to the car and inspected the mangled mess and replayed the video from my mind.

A young woman, the same age as my oldest niece had been struck in the driver’s side by a much larger vehicle. I remembered the blood that streamed down her face from the lacerations on her scalp and forehead.

I remembered her eyes seemed to be fixed at one point. She was seizing. She was pinned in the vehicle. It was not pretty.

I sort of snapped out of it and came back to the present. I looked at the bloodstains and the seat that had been pushed over into the center of the car and I began to cry. As I wept, I prayed for this young lady. I also prayed for my fellow rescuers—especially that God would guard their hearts and minds.

Being the tough guy that I am I only allowed myself a minute to cry—there was still work to do. I sucked up the sniffles and checked in with command to see what I needed to do next.

Later that night my wife told me that I was stressed out (see page 1, paragraph 1) and she helped me de-brief the week.

Whew! It was good to be able to talk about it and to be reminded that we all need someone to talk to—even the preacher.

As I thought about the question of who to talk to, I remembered that my wife is always there for me. I also have a fellow chaplain that I can talk to along with a close pastor friend.

The Bible gave me a reminder that very night of where my hope and my strength come from. I was listening to a sermon by Adrian Rogers and it just happened to be on stress. He used Isaiah 40:28-31 for the passage.

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

What an awesome promise! Everybody will have stress, problems and issues. That’s life.

But God’s promises are bigger than life. He is the source of hope.

Verse 31 is my prayer for each of you. I pray that you will place your hope in the Lord and watch Him renew your strength so that you will soar on wings like eagles and that you will be strong and not grow weary.

Have a great month and be safe out there.

Many Blessings!

Chaplain Ralph

Ralph Thompson, Durham County EMS Chaplain

A Vacation To Remember

2007-02-21T11:27:00.000-05:00

Chaplain’s Notes/////Ralph Thompson, Durham County EMS Chaplain

It was the last week of September. We were on vacation. The condo was oceanfront. The weather was perfect. My family was excited.

I was sick.

I won’t bore you with the details of my illness—but I can tell you that there is no place like home when you are sick.

A room with an oceanfront view is no comfort when all you want is that old sofa in your own den.

On the second day my wife said, “Let’s go home. You will be more comfortable there.”

“No,” was my response.

“Why not?” she asked.

My answer began to ramble at that point. My stubborn self would not leave because we had paid in advance. I’m way too much of a tightwad to leave a paid up condo unused.

My rational self would not leave because I knew that I would feel just as sick at home. Even though I would be more comfortable at home—my wife and son were very comfortable where they were.

The verdict? We stayed right up till check out time on the last day. I figured if star athletes perform in spite of the pain then I could to.

As a husband and a father, I had duties and responsibilities to my wife and son. I promised them a vacation. I was going to deliver. Even if it killed me.

I survived and now we have another goofy expedition to laugh about in the years to come.

There was one prevailing principle that I remembered as I was curled up in the bed, in pain, moaning, crying and feeling sorry for myself.

“It’s not about me.”

That’s it. “It’s not about me”. That statement is the opening line in a book by Rick Warren titled, “The Purpose Driven Life”.

Even though Rick uses “it’s not about me” to open his book, it is not an original thought of his.

As a matter of fact “it’s not about me” was a statement that I had used for years before Rick Warren ever wrote his book.

Did Rick Warren steal my thought and use it to write a best selling book? Did he forget to include me in the credits? Did I even get a footnote?

Actually, Rick learned the “it’s not about me” idea from the same source that I did. The Bible.

We were able to salvage some good times from our vacation. We were able to get out on the beach a few times and we ate out every night.

True, it could have been better—but we made the best of the week and were still able to spend some valuable time together as a family—even if daddy was not feeling well.

My wife is a champion at “It’s not about me.” That makes it easier for me to do the same.

When we got married over 20 years ago, we promised to serve each other. The only way to do that is to think more of the other person than you do yourself. Put the other person’s needs ahead of yours.

Your personal pride and selfishness are the natural enemies to serving another person. It is difficult to be a servant to someone who should be serving you. It is tough to give up a good night of sleep to run a frivolous call.

Why do you do that? “It’s not about you”.

When you are a rookie and gung ho about EMS, you relish the calls. You serve with gusto and enthusiasm. All calls are good.

Some folks are able to work their entire career and see the good in all calls. That person is a rare bird.

Even those with the greatest attitude will sometimes qualify calls based more on their attitude at the time rather than their call to serve others.

We have to be careful to not allow bitterness to creep in and affect our attitude.

No matter how frivolous the call, or how many times we have been there—it’s not about you.

It’s about the one who called for help. It’s about the family of the patient. It’s about being a servant to others when our human nature says to be selfish.

Look at these words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 25:

“Then the King will say…For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we [do this]?”

“The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

“It’s not about me” is the principle of giving of oneself for others. It is the standard that I seek to live by everyday.

Thanks for all you do. Have a great month and be safe out there as we “serve the least of these”.

Many Blessings!

Chaplain Ralph

Ralph Thompson, Durham County EMS Chaplain

Bless Your Heart

2007-02-14T22:20:00.000-05:00

February brings back all kinds of memories. Warming up by the wood stove at my Grandpa’s house. Hot chocolate. Sleds, snowball fights and Valentine’s Day. It is “Heart” month.

When I was in the 3^rd grade our teacher helped us set up a Valentine’s Post Office in our classroom. Each student had a mailbox and classmates were encouraged to exchange Valentines by dropping them into the mailboxes.

Every day I would go to my mailbox hoping that someone had sent me a card. Most days it was empty. I got a card from my teacher but that doesn’t count. There were a couple of other days that I found cards in my box. They were the cheesy type—bought in bulk—signed in a hurry—and given to everyone in the class without any personal message or even thought put into it.

Most of the kids in my class had been together for more than 2 years and I was the new kid in town. Although school had been in session for 5 months—I still was not truly accepted by my classmates.

Yet, every day I would go to the box hoping that someone had remembered me. Most every day I would leave my box with a Charlie Brown complex. Nobody liked me. I wanted to be liked.

As you read this you may be thinking, “Bless his heart.” Have you ever heard that? What does “Bless his heart” mean?

It seems to be a Southern thing. You can use that expression when you feel sorry for someone. In other circumstances it is used to avoid gossip. You know what I mean. Someone will talk about the shortcomings or failures of a person and they follow it with “bless his heart.”

Common belief is that you can say anything about anyone and follow it with a sincere “bless his heart” and you are not gossiping. I don’t think that is true.

What does it mean to “bless a heart”? Our job, as Christians, is to bless the very heart of God. We do this by obediently loving people. We serve Christ by serving others. By serving others the very heart of God Almighty is blessed.

Let me share this example with you. I received an e-mail from Teressa Bays recently. She wrote that the Women on Mission had arranged for volunteers to help with testing at Bethesda Elementary School. The school was desperate for help. These women stepped up to volunteer their time. The teachers and the kids will notice that these women are full of love. My heart was blessed to the point of bursting from this news. I know that God’s heart was blessed.

There was a home that caught fire in our neighborhood in January and so many of you shared your blessings with the family in need. As I made one delivery, I noticed there was a pair of tennis shoes for the teenager. I looked in the box and realized that the woman who donated these shoes had actually bought them for herself. It just happened that there was a 13-year-old girl that needed them worse and it also “just happened” that they were exactly the right size. The heart of God was blessed by this gift.

The greatest gift that we can offer to others is the gift of God’s love. We do this by giving of our resources and ourselves and we tell them that Jesus Christ loves them so much that He took their place on the cross. Nothing blesses the heart of God more. Now—go—“Bless HIS Heart”!

Pastor Ralph
February 2007 Newsletter Column
Bethesda Baptist Church
Durham, NC