My Next Steps

By Beth Rogers

There are several things I need to do to be prepared for my life as a chaplain.

First, I need to maintain a daily time of reading and studying the Bible, and a time of prayer. I have a portable war room that I’ve compiled in a notebook, and a part of that is a running prayer list, with specific requests. Obviously, I can pray on the run but at least some of my daily prayer life should be in a quiet place so not only can I talk to God, but I can listen to hear from Him as well. What He has to say needs to be much more important than what I have to say. I also need to spend time each week in fasting.

I need to research local and state laws regarding privileged communication between me and the people I minister to. I am in prayer now that God will show me how to handle some situations that are not specifically covered by the law. I don’t ever want to know that I’ve left an abused person in a dangerous situation because I wasn’t prepared on how to handle the situation

I also need to give lots of thought and prayer to what I’m willing to do or not to do. As the book pointed out, can I pray without saying in the name of Jesus? I do not now think that I can do that I believe God has called me to be a chaplain, a shepherd, someone to watch out for His children I can pray for anyone, but I have to pray to God and call on Jesus. If I get my credentials to perform marriages, I am not willing to perform a same-sex marriage. I am willing to speak at someone’s funeral, and I am willing to counsel with anyone, but I have to bring my own faith background into that situation. I can talk with someone of another faith and listen to them, and give them what I think God is leading me to say, but they have to understand that I will always do as He leads me, and say what He says is truth I have to do it in love but I have to speak the truth that God gives me. I trust myself enough to know that I won’t belittle or dishonor another person’s faith, and I would never argue theology with someone of a different faith. I can and will pray for them and with them, but I won’t disrespect my faith anymore than I could disrespect theirs.

I will not ever knowingly break the laws of the United States; however, if it ever comes to breaking the law or breaking Gods commandments, I will have to do what God tells me to every time.

The book discusses misconduct among chaplains I must keep my mind and my heart clear so I will never have an attitude that I am above the law; I have to keep myself humble so that I won’t get puffed up and think my self-importance will save me from messing up or getting in trouble. I will need to watch every step I take and take it prayerfully.

The last thing on my list of next steps is to make sure I keep trusted people around me, who can help me stay accountable, and who can let me unwind with them, so I don’t get burned out. I will make sure that I stay fed from other trusted Christian leaders, pastors and teachers so I can pour into others.