Chaplains of Living Shield Ministries write:

As we enter October 2024, we find across our world… great uncertainty. Our country is in the midst of disasters, tragedy and trauma. Many of our first responders are on high alert, as others are dispatched to the disaster sites for lengthy deployments.  Along with those, a large number of chaplains are also deployed or heavily involved in supporting their teams at home.

It is critical for those serving in disasters, that you are aware of the need for self-care,

During the deployment or high intense assignment times, with extended hours, it is important to remain grounded.

Remember your purpose, remember your mission, your personal values and spend time with your faith foundation when possible.  Hydrate, eat and rest.   Fuel your body and your spirit.

Workers and families are left behind (so to speak), at home and are tasked with picking up all the pieces. This all becomes harder to manage, when compounded with limited contacts from the those in the field.

As a Chaplain, thru reaching out to those still on site and the responder families, you serve everyone.  The lack of information, lack of regular schedule, the unknown duration and lack of contacts, increases the burden of stress and emotion. Normalize their feelings of being overwhelmed. Simple contacts from others who understand, will lessen that stress load for everyone, including the one in the field.

Encourage them to reach out to others. To support each other. That if they need assistance, to please ask.

The secondary issue arises when the team returns home.

It is important to allow time for rest and decompression.  Chaplains should also encourage their families to allow for that healing time.   As you touch base with and talk to the families, educate them on how to support someone returning from the disaster field.

Critical things to know:

  • Allow them time to work back into family life. Rest is vital.
  • Don’t press them to talk about their experiences, unless they choose to. Then listen quietly.
  • Allow time for quiet, if they need it
  • Or familiar family time if they seem ready.
  • They may need time to process what they have seen and experience. Allow them to do so.
  • Everyone processes those differently. They may need time to reconcile what they have seen and experienced.
  • It is important to link those returning, to the resources from their agencies that are available to them.

For returning chaplains, remember this applies to you as well.

You have stepped into the midst of the difficulties and pain of others. It will impact you.

Individuals in trauma question their faith.  Their cry of despair, and crisis of faith, can affect your faith foundation as well.

Remember your mission, your role and your purpose. Stay connected to your faith foundation. Reach out to each other as Chaplains.  Ask for help if you need it.  Connect with your faith foundation. No one can do this work alone. We are stronger together. Teach and example that.

“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” ~ Ephesians 4:2 NASB

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Chaplains Deployed and Involved

Maintain Self-Care before, while in, and after service.

How do you keep focus on your role as a chaplain in these times?
  • Purpose – Know your purpose.
  • Presence – Be fully present with them.
  • Peace – Hold a place of Peace for them – your peace becomes theirs. You become a safe place for them to express themselves.
  • Silence – understand that grieving and pain may require silence from you to allow it to flow from them.
  • Compassion – Have compassion. Show love and empathy in action.
Loss of Hope

In the immediate crisis time, they may feel a sense of a loss of hope – that anything can be good again, Normalize that feeling. Lead them back to their faith foundations. What does your faith say about this? How has your faith helped you in the past?

Why do people question their faith during trial?

It is a normal reaction to ask Why?  People want to make sense of what happened to them.

  • They’re trying to make sense out of something that makes no sense.
  • They’re trying to process it in their mind.
How do we as chaplains support individuals in a crisis of faith?
  • Live out the character of God before them
How do we live out the character of God?

Let them see God in us. Reflect Hope . You are a tangible representation of God before them.

If you want them to believe that God :

    • Is a refuge – be a refuge
    • Is faithful – be faithful to them
    • Is Truthful – be truthful to them
    • Cares for them – you care for them
    • Is patient with them – be patient with them
    • Loves them – you love them