We would like to publish your news items to share with other chaplains. Send your news at chaplainjim@gmail.com Don’t be modest about your accomplishments, share them with us.
A NEW VENTURE IN CHAPLAINCY
Along with my family pet, Miss Dolly, and I became a Therapy Dog – Chaplain Team sharing smiles, love, and joy with people in nursing homes, hospitals, hospice, house fires, accidents, and disasters. We did our debut June 2nd and had a very enjoyable experience, seeing people taking their minds off problems, aches, pains, and worries for a few minutes and share some joy and laughter in doing something useful to an animal. We are looking forward to seeing many more of our chaplains use therapy dog – chaplain team programs in their chaplaincies. Check out the Alliance of Therapy Dogs website for information about how to train, register, get testing and observation for your animal. www.therapydogs.com See article on Resource page: “Assisting Children in Disasters with a Therapy Dog Team.”
100th New Member
At the Spring Essentials of Fire Chaplaincy class April 7-8 at the Ruston Fire Department we welcomed our 100th new member, Chris Kirst of the West Baton Rouge Fire District 1. We welcome Chris to the fire chaplain family.
New Essentials Class April 7 – 8, 2017 in Ruston, LA
Twelve chaplains completed the basic training for fire chaplains in Ruston April 7-8. A great class with 10 new chaplains and two chaplains who did a refresher course. A great time of learning, sharing and forming lasting relationships. Thanks for a great Essentials class.
SHARING A link about Mesothelioma information for firefighters.
The only volunteer outreach mission to cancer victims for veterans and firefighters who give a wide range of information. This site covers some valuable resources about mesothelioma, what causes mesothelioma, symptoms, types, stages, prognosis, life expectancy, most common treatments, therapies, doctors, top cancer treatment centers, law firm advice, videos and more. It is like a one-stop-shop for all the information you need at no cost to you. Check it out.
www.TreatMesothelioma.org
H. Butch Browning re-appointed as State Fire Marshal
Congratulations to Chief H. Butch Browning for being re-appointed by the incoming governor to continue as our State Fire Marshal.
Butch is a friend of the fire service chaplains and the people of Louisiana.
Thanks Butch for all your service to the people of our state.
JIM BURNS RETIRING FROM FFC
Jim Burns retired from the Director of Regions of the Federation of Fire Chaplains on October 22, 2015. Jim served as the first Director of Regions coordinating regional chaplains in United States, Canada, and many other countries. He passed the torch to Chaplain Doug Kizer, former Regional Director of the Great Lakes Region. Jim hopes to have more time to devote to the LFCN.
News Flash….. FFC now has the FFC Fire Chaplain Training Manual via USB stick for half the cost of the printed manual and much more convenient Every chaplain needs a copy of the Training Manual as a ready reference. Check it out now at www.firechaplains.org .
We recently had 19 men and women from across Louisiana who completed the Suicide Prevention, Intervention and ministry to Suicide Survivors in a two-day training in Alexandra. We are thankful for these caring people who are sharpening their skills to make a difference in people’s lives.
Chaplain Wayne Hunt completed his first solo instructor at Montegut, Louisiana Essentials class February 19-20, 2016. Dr. Bill Lotz, Institute Director of the FFC Training Institute, presented Wayne his instructor number (#064) and certificate as a Level III Instructor. Congratulations Wayne!!
The Louisiana Fire Chaplain Network has taken the plunge into the challenge coin
collection and exchange. We have joined the fire service in giving a challenge coin in saying “Thank You” to those who have given above and beyond service. You may download information and order below: LFCN Challenge Coin Order 2
YOU MAY NOW BE ABLE TO MAKE ONLINE PAYMENTS!!
We have entered the 21st century finally. You may now make DONATIONS to our organization, PAY YOUR DUES,, or PAY CLASS TUITION online by clicking the link below:
www.aplos.com/aws/give/LouisianaFireChaplainNetwork/payonline
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LFCN PATCHES AND DOOR SIGNS
We are now offering shoulder patches and a magnetic sign for your POV when you are making chaplain calls. The prices are on link below. Click the link below and check out these LFCN items
LFCN-Patches-and-Door-Magnet A
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Louisiana Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will be on April 8, 2017 at 11:00 Am on the Memorial Grounds at the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s complex in Baton Rouge, LA.
Bill Lotz, Director of FFC Training Institute, introduced at the 36th Annual Conference of the Federation of Fire Chaplains, several chaplains who completed their Master Level Chaplaincy during 2014. Left to right are: Cecil Tatum, Lexington, KY; Ray Parker, Kamloops, BC; Gilbert Chard, Kingsport, TN; Daniel Clegg, Fishers, IN; Jerry Kennedy, Keithville, LA; Bill Lotz, director and Jill Chambers, Pittsburg, KS. Congratulations to those who have earned 130+ hours of chaplaincy training required for master level chaplaincy.
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LFCN has a new Table Top display to be used at fire service events and other event to share our mission and ministries.
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Congratulations to Chaplain Mark Miles from Baton Rouge Fire Department was recently promoted to new Public Information Officer. Mark will continue to serve as chaplain. Thanks for Mark for all his service and best wishes to his new assignment.
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Congratulations to James A. “Butch” Savage for his new position at LSU FETI. We hope being Butch at FETI will be able to put CISM into regular curriculum for all fire department in the state, and will be available to us for CISM there. Thanks for all your services as chaplain and best wishes for his new position with FETI.
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Congratulations to Steve Jackson to his new grandson born June 3, with 7 lb. 13oz. The grandson’s name is Tegyn Seth Tucker. Steve is chaplain for Union Parish Fire District, Ward 5, Rogers Station.
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CONGRATULATIONS JERRY KENNEDY…
Congratulations to Jerry Kennedy, chaplain for Caddo Parish Fire District #4 who received his ADVANCED FIRE CHAPLAINCY certificate from William Lotz, Institute Training Director, FFC. Jerry is now entitled to use MASTER CHAPLAIN behind his name.
A Master Chaplain has completed 130+ hours of training and experience in the chaplaincy. Jerry has received a way over the 130. He was a chaplain and chaplain instructor for the UAW for several years. We’re glad to welcome you to MASTER CHAPLAIN JERRY G. KENNEDY with the LFCN.
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Congratulations to Clifford Person, chaplain with Sandy Hill and New Llano Fire Departments in Vernon Parish, who was recently ordained to the gospel ministry and appointed as pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 2160 Houston St., Alexandria.
Pastor Person will tentatively be installed August 10th. Our prayers are with you as you take on this new appointment.
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LFCN board adopted and authorized paying-dues members to wear this new badge on their uniforms during their line of duty as a fire service chaplain.
If you would like to order a badge, you may may download an order form here
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One of the things we want to do through the Network is to share news you might be interested in. Check out the Added Items for Your Chaplain’s Tool Kit below.
Added Items for Your Chaplains Tool Kit
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Check out this site www.firefightingNews.com with fire rescue news, Fire Department
Directory, buyers guide and more. Firefighter news are current and up to date with
LODD, major fires. This is one I like to check out daily.
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Check out the Federation of Fire Chaplains website: www.firechaplains.org
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Federation of Fire Chaplains Challenge Coins
The fire chaplaincy has adopted the symbols of the military and fire service in having our own FFC challenge coins. See the link below about the availability of FFC Challenge Coins.
FFC Challenge Coins Available 1
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Louisiana Fire Chaplain Network is growing all across the state. We have now 86 chaplain members. However, we still need a number of chaplains in the North-Central and North Eastern area of the state – a wedge between I -20 on East side and I-49 on the Southeast side of the state. If you know of potential chaplains in this area, please speak to them and share the vision for being a fire department chaplain. See the map below for those we have across the state, and that area we need chaplains in. We now have member chaplains in all of the nine regions of the state.
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Sharing an article about the Breavement Uniform Program for firefighters developed by the Lighthouse Uniform Company in Seattle, Washington by Steve Cohen, President of Lighthouse. Thanks so much to Steve for helping firefighters and fire chaplains over the
years. Check out this link below for this magazine article.
Bereavement Uniform Program Magazine article 2.0 (1)
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Grant Parish Fire District 3 dedicated a new Fire and Life Safety Education trailer on September 20 of last year. This new program has a lot of potential for saving many lives. If you would like to look into providing a trailer for your area, contact Vice President Shane Anderson, he’d love to share how they did it.
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Lou Gordon, Immediate Past President of the LFCN, was selected by secrete ballot of members of the department as Officer of The Year 2012 of the Alpine Volunteer Fire Department. Congratulations, Lou. Lou was recently asked to be chaplain for the Fire Chiefs Association in Avoyeles Parish.
Lou’s new pic
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Bob Braly gets a new chaplaincy
Bob Braly, chaplain for the Alexandria Police and Fire Departments and the State Police, recently took part in the groundbreaking of a new Fire Station in St. Landry Parish at Big Cane, LA. The chief invited Bob to take part in the groundbreaking. The new station is about 6 miles from the church Bob pastors. This new station will provide better fire protection and help insurance rates for people in Big Cane. Also the chief asked Bob to become their chaplain. Bob recruited a local pastor to be Chaplain there. Congratulations, Bob! And may God bless you as you continue to serve those who serve.
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Louisiana firefighters and friends can now visit the Loyd Rockhold Memorial Fountain on the Memorial Grounds of the State Fire Marshall compound which was dedicated last year.
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Fire Chief/Chaplain, Fire Emergency Services, Directorate of Emergency Services, Fort Polk, LA retired last year but Mike is not sitting down in a rocking chair, he started the Vernon Parish Fire District Chaplain Corps and has created a corps of chaplains to cover the whole parish. He has founded the Vernon Parish Fire Honor Guard, the Flying Squad for LFCN, and is a member of our Board of Directors for the Louisiana Fire Chaplain Network. Congratulations!
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Great News !
Congratulations to Vernon Parish Fire District #1 Fire Chaplains Corps for organizing their local corps, establishing a mission statement, and are providing effective mutual-aid chaplaincy service to their area departments. Chief Michael Kuk is heading up this new group. Our goal is to have groups like Vernon Parish Fire District #1 develop their own chaplaincy programs all over the state of Louisiana. If you would like to develop a group in your parish, Chief Kuk would love to share you how you can do it.
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We recently added several new Members to our roster. See the membership page for all those who are now a part of our chaplain family in Louisiana. You can click on the link on the page and download the roster on your computer so you can put faces and names together.
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Russell Aucoin has resigned as the Regions position to coordinate the regions of the state due to health challenges.
We are working toward having Regional Coordinators for each of our 9 regions of the state. We have confirmed Wayne Hunt in Region 3 –Houma area; Butch Savage in Region 1 – New Orleans area; Michael Kuk in Region 6 – CenLa Area; David Stephens in Region 7–Northwest Area; and Tommie Woods in Region 8 – Northeast Area. We are now recruiting for each of the Regions -2, 4, 5, and 9. We will even accept volunteers. If the Lord calls you to this ministry, contact me. I’d love to talk with you. 318-419-7278
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FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING needs funds to move toward more active services.
We would like some ideas for doing FUND RAISING for our state organization. Our dues are only $20.00 per year, which will NOT adequately cover the cost of our ministries as we are moving toward more active services.
We are a 501(c)(3) organization and contributions are deductible and are qualified to receive deductible bequests, devices, transfers or gifts under IRS codes. Please share some ideas to Secretary Burns chaplainjim@gmail.com
And, seek contributions from churches, firefighters, businesses, and friends to help us moving this organization forward. Share the website to a friend so they can see what we do, and ask them to consider giving.
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Page Updated 10/26/15