Unique Opportunities of Community Chaplaincy

Larry Robbins

It was the fall of 1998 when a fellow associate pastor at Tri-City Baptist Church in Westminster, Colorado, popped into my office.

“Would you be interested in being a police chaplain?” Immediately intrigued by this random question, I wanted to know more. He continued. “I just attended an informational meeting at the Westminster Police Department about the start of a new chaplain program. A second meeting will be this week if you want to attend with me.” Without much thought I agreed to join my co-pastor at the police department, having no idea what to expect.

As I learned over the course of the next several months, a small group of Westminster officers in a Bible study became burdened for their department. They were praying that God “would really do something.” With the approval of a rather skeptical chief of police, and after many months of prayerful preparation, the chaplaincy program was started.

Suddenly finding myself in this position of counselor, confidant, and encourager, I recognized my need for additional training. Twenty-five years of ministry experience—serving under godly pastors who mentored me—helped to prepare me to deal with critical incidents and trauma. Taking advantage of every opportunity, I attended classes with several organizations and finally joined the FBFI chaplaincy program for my endorsement.