Rob McPaul | Jericho Road
In NSW, we are blessed to have bipartisan support for the work of Chaplaincy in our prisons, hospitals and juvenile detention centres, both financially and by the very act of welcoming chaplains into the workspaces. Other states do not financially support chaplains in the same way. The way funds are distributed is through an independent company called the Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee or CCAC. Initially the CCAC was totally made up of Christian organisations and our denomination (the Presbyterian Church) was one of the founding religious bodies. For the past 2 years I have been the Chair of this Company representing the Presbyterian denomination.
We receive a government subsidy for each chaplain that covers approximately 70% of the cost of employing and supporting them. This contribution plays a significant part in providing the resources necessary to sustain the ministry of each of our chaplains – what a blessing this is. But we still need the help of supporters to fund the remaining 30% if this important ministry is to continue.
Our Chaplains are given the opportunity to talk to people who are at a low point in their lives and as such are in need of support and care. They are also open to being talked to about spiritual matters.
The non-Christian religious groups have identified this wonderful opportunity and in recent years we have seen representatives from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu groups become full members of the CCAC and they are being allocated funding, often filling roles that have traditionally been filled by the Christian denominations, but who because of the lack of the make up funding Christian organisations have relinquished their chaplaincy.
Talk to our chaplains and they will tell wonderful stories of opportunities they have had to share the gospel of Jesus. I recall the story of a Prison Chaplain meeting an inmate shortly after his admission. He had several discussions resulting in the Chaplain giving the inmate a Bible. Shortly after, he didn’t see the inmate for several months due to the inmate being accommodated in a different part of the prison.
When he met him again the prisoner said that he had read the Bible, and he now believed in Jesus, and he would like to be baptised. The Chaplain, with the approval of the authorities, agreed for a baptism to take place within the gaol. The prisoner was able to demonstrate Christ’s grace to other prisoners through the act of baptism. Only God knows where the conversation a chaplain has with a prisoner or a patient in hospital, without a Chaplain the conversation may not take place.
If Christians will not support the work of Christian chaplaincy, who will? What conversations will not happen? If Christians do not, other faith groups will – and they do not have the truth. As Jesus clearly states, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Are you willing to partner with Jericho Road and pray and financially support the work of Chaplaincy?
