FAQ

Living Shield Ministries (LSM) is built on Chaplaincy experience and has developed many courses on the topic.  However, LSM also licenses courses from other organizations such as the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc, (ICISF). ICISF courses are available through their Approved Instructor Courses program. LSM is proud to offer these courses in conjunction with our own training.  LSM will recognize certificates from any of ICISF’s Approved Instructors, as meeting the requirements for Chaplain 2 or Chaplain 3 certifications.

Living Shield Ministries offers a comprehensive program for people choosing to enter the Chaplaincy ministry. The program is a mixture of proven skills coupled with practical application, to engage in crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, family support services, community services, and community activities. These classes are taught by seasoned chaplains from various disciplines of Chaplaincy. The curriculum is designed to enable students to gain proficiency and understanding through increasingly higher levels of certification, as well as ordination. Living Shields Ministries is also pursuing accreditation to enable students to earn transferrable college credits. Living Shield Ministries has successfully trained and ordained hundreds of Chaplains, who now occupy both ministry and vocational chaplaincy positions, deployed across the country in a wide range of Chaplaincy disciplines.

Not at this time. However, Living Shields Ministries is pursuing accreditation to enable students to earn transferrable college credits. In the meantime, students will acquire skills through class work, course certifications, deployment, and/or ordination.

Simply stated, an Ordained Chaplain has been recognized by a governing body to have the skills and values necessary to perform the tasks that Chaplains are called to perform. Chaplains are appointed to serve in various institutions such as schools, prisons, hospitals, and other organizations that require their specific skills.

Each ordaining organization has tasks and guidelines that must be achieved to be able to attain the Ordination and perform the unique functions set aside for Chaplains. Traditionally, to be ordained as a chaplain, a person must be baptized, of good moral character, convinced that they have a divine calling to the position, and be endorsed by their church.

To contrast, a pastor is the spiritual leader of a congregation, evangelizing, teaching, and meeting the spiritual need of the congregation. A chaplain is a minister in the workplace focused on people in crisis and helping to mitigate the emotional toll of that crisis.

For further information go to the page: What is a Chaplain? or Chaplain vs Pastor.

Students can register and attend one or more classes without a desire to pursue ordination or certification. Many people will find great value in learning the skills and techniques of ministering to people in crisis. These people take courses to better equip themselves to meet the challenge of bringing care and compassion to hurting people whom they may encounter. If you don’t think you are called to be a chaplain, but would really like to help in times of need, you may find many of the Living Shield Ministries courses both helpful and enlightening.

Download a copy of Living Shield Ministries application for ordination in PDF format by clicking here.