My wife, Naomi, had a heart for people who were hurting.
Her service as a volunteer chaplain with The Salvation Army of Milwaukee County was one expression of a lifetime devoted to nursing, public health, Christian ministry and compassionate care.
Naomi and I had previously completed disaster-response training through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. However, many of the disasters requiring chaplains occurred far from our Wisconsin home. We wanted an opportunity to use our training within our own community.
The Salvation Army chaplaincy opened that door.
A Ministry of Presence
Our chaplaincy service took us to community events, prayer vigils and crisis scenes involving homicides, suicides, overdoses, infant deaths and other sudden losses.
We could not remove the pain or answer every question.
Often, our most important responsibility was simply to be present—to listen, offer comfort and pray with grieving individuals and families.
Naomi’s nursing and public-health experience helped prepare her to enter these difficult situations. She knew how to listen, care for people and treat every individual with dignity. But she did not rely only upon her professional experience. She depended upon the Lord to provide the love, strength and words each situation required.
Serving as a Team
Naomi was often the driving force behind our ministry, but neither of us would likely have undertaken it alone.
We operated as a team. Together, we encouraged and strengthened one another. We brought different gifts, experiences and abilities, and the Lord joined those gifts for His purposes.
Our partnership allowed us to enter difficult places and stand beside hurting people in ways neither of us would have done independently.
Ultimately, this was not Naomi’s ministry or my ministry. It was the Lord’s work, and He allowed us to participate in it together.
Unity Amid Diversity
One of the most meaningful parts of the Salvation Army chaplaincy was its diversity.
At the time of our original 2018 interview, the program included more than 50 Christian chaplains representing approximately 39 churches and at least 13 denominations. We came from different ethnic, cultural, social and economic backgrounds, but we served together as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Naomi and I saw the chaplaincy as a small picture of what Heaven will be like: people from every background united in the presence and service of God.
A Prayer That Shaped Our Service
One prayer captured the heart of our chaplaincy ministry:
“God, break my heart for what breaks Yours.”
That is a costly prayer. When we open our hearts to the suffering of others, we will encounter pain.
But God does not leave us there. He supplies the compassion, courage and mercy we need to respond.
Naomi understood that she was a frail human vessel whom God could fill with His Spirit. When she needed strength, He provided it. When she needed words, He supplied them. When words were unnecessary, He helped her offer the gift of quiet presence.
Remembering Naomi’s Legacy
Naomi was the driving force behind much of what we did together. But the deeper truth is that the Lord was the driving force behind Naomi.
He shaped her compassionate heart. He used her nursing career, public-health experience and Christian faith to prepare her. He opened doors and directed our steps.
Remembering Naomi is not simply about listing what she accomplished. It is about recognizing what God accomplished through her faithful and willing life.
Her example leaves each of us with an important question:
Where is the Lord asking me to become available?
We may not be called to serve at a crime scene or stand beside a family experiencing sudden tragedy. But someone near us may need a listening ear, a compassionate presence, an encouraging word or a person willing to pray.
We do not need to have all the answers.
We simply need to be available.
Naomi may have been the driving force in our team, but the Lord was the driving force in her life. That is the legacy I want to remember and honor.
#ChristianService #Chaplaincy #TheSalvationArmy #FaithInAction #Compassion #ChristianLeadership #Legacy #ChristFollower
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