John Shore Philosophy – Biker Bible Institute

Personal Philosophy of Ministry as a Chaplain

by John Shore

As I read through the workbook a couple of points hit me straight away and are the main focus of what I personally believe and think is the direction I need to continue. Many organisations are in your face type consultations and programs but that is not what I need or what I believe my target audience currently requires or is and will be going into the future.

The ministry of presence is often undervalued. The sick wait for visitors, the lonely delight in company, and the fearful take comfort in companionship. The chaplain who is present—keeping watch—communicates God’s assurance, “Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10, NKJV).

Paget, Naomi K.. The Work of the Chaplain (Work of the Church) (p. 12). Judson Press – A. Kindle Edition. that the ministry of presence is sometimes the most important ministry intervention chaplains provide.

Paget, Naomi K.. The Work of the Chaplain (Work of the Church) (p. 10). Judson Press – A. Kindle Edition.

I’m not sure where this particular learning curve began for me, most likely when I served in the Army but continued on into my civilian working life, my Christian walk and into most aspects of my life and ministry. I watch people (always have) and see where they make mistakes or where things go wrong. I don’t watch them to criticise but to learn. If I think something isn’t right or isn’t working then I make sure I do not apply (try not to) the same things into my life and walk.

An example is looking at the Christian Motorcycle fraternity in general (as I know there are some really good ones out there) there is no difference in them to the people they are supposed to be helping. Rigid Christian Motorcycle clubs that are identical to normal clubs in pretty much every aspect except name are not showing how God has changed them. Drinking, smoking, racing drag bikes, strict club rules and a multitude of other ‘club’ activities means that we are not showing hurting people that we have the answer they are looking for. They just see exactly what they are already doing. Each person or club has to work this out for themselves between them and God, that’s not the purpose of me using this example.

For me personally if I have not changed inside and people cannot see that then they are not going to be interested. Or they will see that they can just keep doing what they are doing.

Being an Army Veteran and a biker, I understand fully why we do the things we do and why we seek the brotherhood of bike clubs. In Australia we have quite a few military specific motorcycle clubs for those who got lost in the transition to civilian life. The issue is it keeps the problems in-house and bottled up.

I still have contacts spanning over 40 years with people in most of these clubs and I see an opportunity to be the ‘presence’ someone needs when they need it. There are 100’s of vet’s who have committed suicide and I personally know 16 from my days who have killed themselves. If they had someone there at the right time, we could have saved them or at the least pointed them to where they can get help. We cannot save everyone, but we can certainly try. Many times, it is the ‘presence’ of someone who is actually listening that can make a difference in a person’s mental state.

Surprisingly one of my main inspirations for chaplaincy comes from way before I became a Christian and was still in the Army. In the Australian Defence Force (but mostly Army) we have what is now called the Everyman Service which is a non-denominational Chaplain service provided in barracks and the field. When I was in (most of the 80’s) they were supplied by the Salvation Army and were called either the Sally Man or Captain Cordial. They were always turning up just when you needed them for an ice-cold drink (cool aid I think you yanks call it) and biscuits or a shoulder to lean on. They had better intelligence information than us on where we would be as they always turned up in the worst spots. I never forgot them or their ‘presence’ and when I became a Christian wanted to be like them. I have added some references at the end of the document.

My other inspiration I will not go into detail but there is also a reference that can be followed at the end of this document. He was a Military Chaplain called “Fighting McKenzie” the ANZAC Chaplain. A shortened summary is that he wanted to be everywhere and do everything that the diggers were doing. To be a ‘presence’ for when he was needed. He gained a fierce reputation and did exactly what he said he would do. He was there for the personnel, not himself. This is what I need to achieve in my own personal ministry. To be where I am needed and do what I need to do.

There are a multitude of varieties of works Chaplains can do but for the purpose of minimising the data in this assignment I have focussed more on the one topic that I am more aware of. My proposed ministry is not military focussed, it is for anyone who spots the cross on the back of my vest and asks me about it. I have lost track of the number of times I’ve felt God prod me into saying hello to someone I don’t know or who has a look of doom (or major stress) on their faces. A simple hello or even cracking a joke or mentioning something complimentary about them can be the difference from them calling it quits. You never know what God is doing in their lives or even in your own life. The more I follow Gods prompting I’m sure I will get better at listening to him.

An example I like to remind myself of happened a few years back and I hope I never forget it as it is a good reminder for me. I was walking through a major shopping centre and a lady was sitting at a table in a café with her daughter who was a bundle of joy and full-on energy, you could see (I think God showed me) that she was about 2 seconds off losing the plot. I felt prodded to go round to a shop and buy something for the daughter to distract her. I bought a stuffed dragon and went back and sat at the table. I apologised to the mother for interrupting and explained that I realised I was a complete stranger, but I could see she was having trouble containing her daughter. I asked her if I could give her the stuffed toy (to the mother to give the child) to keep her occupied so she (the mother) could have a minute’s peace and a coffee. It was like the mother suddenly deflated and was going to burst into tears. So obviously she needed someone, anyone, a ‘presence’ to take the pressure off. She thanked me and I left. I never asked what the problem was, none of my business as she did not tell me and neither did God. But the moment was there that she needed something, and God provided it. I was just the vessel who was available and listened. I did not recite this to big note myself (as I generally do not tell people about it or anything else I do) but to make the point that we have to listen and take opportunities wherever we are at any time as you never know who needs it. This is where I see I can add value and hopefully make a difference in some people’s lives.

An additional objective I have (and this is what drew me to this course) is to learn everything that I can so that when I am needed I have the information I need to provide for and help those God puts across my path.

I believe this assignment will provide you with the insight on what I believe being a Chaplain is to me and the focus on being a ‘presence’ that I see as being so important. If I have misunderstood the context and the requirement, please let me know.

References for my inspiration and guidance.

I realise BBI does not require references for what is written. In the main article above I referenced where I got two comments from the workbook as it is a legal requirement here (In OZ) if you utilise someone else’s work or comments.

The references I have added below this are not specifically for this assignment but are for anyone who is interested in the topics I used and shared. Hopefully, somebody gains some use from them.

McKenzie, William (1869–1947), by Michael McKernan. This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, (MUP), 1986

https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mckenzie-william-7391

Chaplains, Australian Army, First World War

https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/chaplains/first

History of Chaplaincy in the Australian Defence Force 1901 to 1945

https://military.catholic.org.au/about-us/history/

Chaplaincy Australia

https://www.chaplaincyaustralia.com/