NCSHP Swearing In Ceremony at the Capitol on 3/28/13

HOMETOWN HERO STEVE KINCAID

Steve Kincaid received the Brantley Pearce Memorial Award at our banquet in November 2012.

Steve Kincaid joined the Stanton, VA Junior Rescue Squad when he was 16 years old. 

Steve Kincaid

On his very first call he was part of a crew that resuscitated a cardiac arrest patient.  He was hooked.  EMS was in his blood.

Joining Durham County EMS in 2002, Steve brought with him a great heart for his work that is noticed by his superiors and his peers.

Steve is one person that other medics like to see when they are working a difficult call.  No matter how stressful or crazy the situation might be, he is going to stay cool under pressure and make sure that every patient gets the best care possible. 

Another place where other medics like to see Steve is in the classroom.  When he teaches, he teaches from the heart.  He makes learning fun, interesting and almost effortless because of his enthusiasm.

It's easy to tell that Steve Kincaid loves being a paramedic but it is also easy to tell that he loves the people that he works with.  He makes it his personal business to be an encourager to those around him.

Like any other medic, Steve has seen his share of tough calls.  One time his crew was

VIDEO: STEVE KINCAID HOMETOWN HERO

dispatched to a child birth call and arrived to find the newborn in cardiac and respiratory arrest and the mother bleeding to death.  Steve doesn't take credit for doing anything special on that call but he names the others from A-Squad who were with him for their "dynamic, professional and intense teamwork that saved 2 lives that day."

While medics are skilled in taking care of their patients, they can also find themselves in situations where there is nothing they can do to help.  This can cause a great deal of emotional trauma for the family of a patient but it takes a toll on the medic, too.

Responding to reported cardiac arrest, Paramedic Kincaid arrived to horrified children in the front yard of the residence.  Entering the house he discovered a gruesome murder-suicide scene.  Realizing the magnitude of the situation Steve called for a chaplain to respond.

Steve said that as he watched two chaplains minister to those kids he suddenly realized how important it was to have chaplains who were available and willing to come on the scene and take care of the emotional and spiritual needs of those affected by tragedy.

Later, Steve wrote a note about the incident stating, "For EMS and other responders, it is good to know that we have the Chaplains on our team. It is good to know that we have back up, support and someone who understands.  I owe a great debt to the Chaplains for the work they did that day."

Emergency Chaplains is proud to honor Sr. Medic Steven Kincaid of Durham County EMS with the Brantley Pearce Memorial Award and to thank him for his commitment to providing quality Emergency Medical care...and for being a "Peace Maker" in our community.

Two Chaplains Added at Emergency Chaplains

RICARDO CORREA (CHAPLAIN)

e-mail: ricardotcorrea@gmail.com



Rev. Ricardo Correa joined Emergency Chaplains in December 2011 and has been assigned to serve the Durham Police Department in District 1.  Ricardo moved to North Carolina from Puerto Rico in 1997 and he has lived in Durham since 1999. 

Once a popular DJ on the local night club circuit, his life drastically changed on October 29, 2005 when he asked Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Savior.

Chaplain Correa is married to Carina and he pastors at United Nations Worship Center Ministry in Durham. 

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CHRIS O'GUIN (CHAPLAIN)

e-mail: pastorchriso@windstream.net

Rev. Chris O’Guin became a member of Emergency Chaplains in December of 2011.

Chris is the appointed Chaplain for the Kannapolis Fire Department.  He is married to Crystal and he is the pastor of North Kannapolis Baptist Church.

Chris gave his life to Christ when he was 17 years old and he has faithfully served in full-time Christian ministry for the past 36 years.

Chaplain Chris has prior chaplaincy experience with the NC National Guard and local law enforcement.   He has served as the volunteer chaplain for the Kannapolis Fire Department since 2010.

MORE NEW CHAPLAINS!

MIKE WHITE (CHAPLAIN)

e-mail: mwwhite@bikerider.com

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!

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.

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

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

"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

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

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

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.