The Challenge of Chaplaincy

Did you know that 18% to 30% of all firefighters meet the criteria for a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Did you know that suicide is the leading cause of death among police officers and that the rate of substance abuse among first responders is over twice that of the general public? These are the very men and women that put their lives on the line for us every day and yet they themselves are in desperate need of being saved. In The Challenge of Chaplaincy, Author Carl Seitz presents a thoughtful and well researched assessment of the need for a faith-based support system designed to provide help and healing to our nation's first responders. He calls on the local church to come alongside their public servants through the local church chaplaincy model and provides a detailed SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis of a chaplaincy ministry aimed at improving effectiveness and avoiding common pitfalls. Inside, readers discover the rich faith-based history of chaplains, the struggles-both physical and spiritual-that they face, and the training and ecclesiastical oversight required for an effective ministry. In addition, the author compares and contrasts the current secular approaches to providing care to those in uniform with the kind of care that can only be provided through Christ's love.