June 2002 Volume 83 Number 6
"serving the protectors"
| June 2002 Volume 83 Number 6 "serving the protectors" |
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ChaplaincyPolice the best advisers |
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| By Chris Beal |
Quite a few years ago, I was caring for a woman who was severely depressed. Life was not going her way and, at one point, she got so low that I sensed her life was at risk.
I was pretty new to ministry and thought I had better get some help in solving the problem. In a state of considerable anxiety, I rang a couple of professionals associated with her, but they were not much help. I rang a senior colleague in the ministry but, I have to confess, he too was not much help – his own life was full of stress at the time. I rang some of her family. They had never experienced this kind of situation before and were at a loss as to what to do.
I had been on the phone quite a bit by now. I racked my brain. Then, it occurred to me. I should ring a police officer friend of mine. Whenever I had talked to him about people in crisis before, he seemed to be able to discuss the issues with amazing calm, and he gave the clearest and most practical advice.
I rang him. In an instant, he assessed – with a minimum of questions – the extent of the seriousness of the situation and the practical steps I could take to give the woman assistance. I immediately put his advice into action. To cut a long story short, I saw the woman not long ago for a coffee and she was leading a happy and fulfilling life.
Fortunately, I still meet many police who find police work satisfying, and the challenges of police work stimulating and enjoyable. It occurs to me that, in many fields, people become immersed in their work culture. Police are no different, and might therefore not be able to see the enormous life skills they gather in their careers. Maybe it becomes routine.
I do know that some of the best and most practical advice I have received in life has come from police officers. And, in my experience, it has been life-giving advice.
Nearly 2 billion people around the world recently celebrated the life-giving power of the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter. The greatest gift God has given us is life, and helping people to preserve their lives is the greatest gift we can give them.
SA Police Chaplains
Welfare Section 58 David Marr 8364 3567 Senior Police Chaplain. Academy 8 Brenton Daulby 8272 8324 Adelaide: 158 Vacant Adelaide Hills Division 54 Adrian Stephens 8398 2510 Office: 8398 2517 Ceduna 214 Sybil Peacock 8625 3505 Christies Beach 20 Peter Coote 8381 3039 0412 818 995 Clare 202 Michael Dutschke 8842 3681 Communications 172 David Hand 8376 5612 Elizabeth 52 Lindsay Mayes 8281 8088 Far North 210 John Folkman 8672 5011 Firearms/Records Dianna Bartlett 8337 8552 Gawler 52 Brian Tscharke 8522 2288 Glenelg 22 Malcolm Thomas 8377 0772 Henley Beach 18 Tim Kowald 8449 6868 Holden Hill 44 Rod Dyson 8365 1170 Kadina 71 Vacant Kingston 208 Mount Gambier 208 Brian Ashworth (w) 8723 1353 (h) 8725 2537 Murray Bridge 200 Malcolm Bottrill 8532 5536 Naracoorte 208 Bruce Cliff 8737 2457 0417 811 702 Norwood 60 Lynton Wade 8362 2227 0418 831 703 Nuriootpa 204 Andy Kowald 8562 1011 Port Adelaide 6 Jeff Oake 8341 5930 Port Pirie 206 Steve Ardill 8632 3977 Prosecution Services 176 Vacant Port Augusta PS 210 Mark Thomas 8642 2487 0401 671 850 Port Lincoln 214 Peter King 8682 3725 Riverland 212 Robin Zadow 8588 1540 Salisbury 53 Vacant South East Terry Natt 8571 1114 Sturt 12 Chris Beal 8278 9578 Ian Dempsey 8296 7292 Tea Tree Gully 48 Bob George 8395 9363 Thebarton Barracks 32 Vacant Transit Division Rob Packer 8332 9155 Victor Harbor Graham Rogerson (h) 8552 1718 (w) 8552 5029 Whyalla 218 Tony Redden 8649 3593
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