Bring the Love of Christ - Specialized Pastoral Ministry

Rev. Dr. Richard Armstrong, LMFT,  is Executive Director of Lutheran Counseling Services in Orlando, Florida. He is a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Florida and a Florida Approved Clinical Supervisor. Rick served for over 25 years in the parish ministry of the LC-MS in three different congregations. He is Co-author and trainer of “God's Care in Times of Crisis”, “God’s Care For Congregations in Times of Crisis” manuals for selecting and training crisis teams in Christian Schools and Churches to prepare for, respond to and provide aftercare in crisis situations. Rick and his teams have been part of Lutheran disaster response to tragedies in Denver, New York, D.C., Newtown, as well as the Florida and Gulf Coast  hurricanes. He has received the “Distinguish Service Award” Lutheran Schools Association Metropolitan New York and the “Distinguished Alumni Award 2006” Concordia University – Austin, Texas. In addition to serving as the Executive Director at LCS, conducting individual, marriage and family system therapy sessions, Dr. Armstrong is also involved in facilitating organizational consultations, leadership coaching and workshops and retreats. Rick is happily married to his wife Kristi and they have two daughters, two sons-in-law and six grandchildren.

Chaplains play an important role in the lives of people who are hurting, distressed, or in challenging situations. They serve alongside first responders, in hospitals or other institutions, with the military, in prisons and jails, and in other situations. Hear from nine individuals about their journeys into chaplaincy, how they serve, and how they bring the love of Christ to those in need. This podcast is produced in partnership with the LCMS Office of National Mission. Find all episodes via the tag "Bring the Love of Christ."

Rev. Joel Hempel is Director and Religious Endorser of LCMS Specialized Pastoral Ministry.  As director, the Rev. Joel Hempel facilitates ecclesiastical endorsements, recruits specialized pastoral ministers, provides opportunities for continuing education and peer support, and offers mentoring and pastoral care as needed.

Hempel is a certified clinical pastoral educator (CPE) with the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) and a certified pastoral counselor with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC).

Before joining the staff of the LCMS International Center, Hempel served for 19 years as pastor and CPE educator at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in inner-city Cincinnati, Ohio, and as chaplain and CPE administrator for Lutheran Senior Services, St. Louis, also for 19 years.

Hempel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind.; a Master of Divinity degree from the former Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Ill.; and a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from the Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati.

He and his wife, Marcia, reside in the St. Louis area and are members of Glendale Lutheran Church. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

Chaplains play an important role in the lives of people who are hurting, distressed, or in challenging situations. They serve alongside first responders, in hospitals or other institutions, with the military, in prisons and jails, and in other situations. Hear from nine individuals about their journeys into chaplaincy, how they serve, and how they bring the love of Christ to those in need. This podcast is produced in partnership with the LCMS Office of National Mission. Find all episodes via the tag "Bring the Love of Christ."

Rev. Arthur Werzner grew up in Houston, TX.  He completed M.Div. Studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in the Spring of 2000.  In the summer of 2000, he did 1 unit - 10 weeks / 400 hours of Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis.  That was followed by a 3 unit Clinical Pastoral Education Residency with Lutheran Senior Services at Laclede Groves in St. Louis.  In the Spring of 2001, Chp. Werzner was called to Lutheran Ministry Services Northwest (LMSN) - a Recognized Service Organization - in Seattle that provides hospital and care center chaplaincy to Seattle area facilities.  As part of his call, Chaplain Werzner served Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Bellevue, WA for 5.5 years part time as an assistant pastor.  After that time, he went to work as LMSN's full-time chaplain.  Chaplain Werzner and his wife Sarah have been married for over 17 years and they have one daughter, Elizabeth.

Chaplains play an important role in the lives of people who are hurting, distressed, or in challenging situations. They serve alongside first responders, in hospitals or other institutions, with the military, in prisons and jails, and in other situations. Hear from nine individuals about their journeys into chaplaincy, how they serve, and how they bring the love of Christ to those in need. This podcast is produced in partnership with the LCMS Office of National Mission. Find all episodes via the tag "Bring the Love of Christ."

Rev. Brad Thomas lives with his wife and twelve-year-old son in Collinsville, Illinois, where they are members of Holy Cross Lutheran. He graduated from Concordia Seminary St. Louis in 2008 and was called by Lutheran Senior Services to serve as chaplain for the people of Meridian Village in Glen Carbon, IL. As chaplain, he brings the Word of God to the residents of the community through worship services, Bible studies and one-on-one visits. He encourages residents to maintain their relationship with their parish pastor, if they can, and he encourages local pastors to visit their parishioners. Chaplain Brad sees his role as supplemental to the parish pastor and especially important to those who do not have contact with a pastor. He also provides pastoral care for the staff and family members of residents as they deal with their own challenges of life and caring for aging loved ones. Prior to moving to the St Louis area to attend the seminary, Brad and Susan lived in the Chicago area where Brad had worked in business development.

Chaplains play an important role in the lives of people who are hurting, distressed, or in challenging situations. They serve alongside first responders, in hospitals or other institutions, with the military, in prisons and jails, and in other situations. Hear from nine individuals about their journeys into chaplaincy, how they serve, and how they bring the love of Christ to those in need. This podcast is produced in partnership with the LCMS Office of National Mission. Find all episodes via the tag "Bring the Love of Christ."

Rev. Kenneth N. Hessel has been a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod minister for 30 years and is Chaplain at the Good Samaritan Society-Millard NE and Chaplain for Papillion Fire Department. He moved from Long Island NY after spending 19 years there. He has served congregations in Schleswig, IA; Omaha, NE; Huntsville, TX; and Old Westbury, NY. He has served as a firefighter, EMT and chaplain for the Westbury Fire Department, served as the Chief Chaplain of the New York State Association of Fire Chaplains, Inc. from 2014-2016, the chairperson of the New York State Fire Council from 2009-2011 and served on the Omaha Handicap Parking Patrol from 1994-1995. Pastor Ken, originally from Derby, NY, took his CPE units at Eger Lutheran Nursing Home in Staten Island, NY and Bellevue Hospital, New York, NY. He and his wife Theresa have been married for 29 years and have two children Kaellen and Erik.

As chaplain to the Westbury Fire Department, he and his department were activated to assist the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) on September 11, 2011 with Search and Rescue and Recovery efforts at the World Trade Center in New York City. He spent 2 days working on the pile at Ground Zero and then assisted at the Family Assistance Center (FAC) over the course of the next 6 months. In addition to his fire department service, Ken worked with members of his congregation and community assisting them in dealing with the disaster.

Chaplains play an important role in the lives of people who are hurting, distressed, or in challenging situations. They serve alongside first responders, in hospitals or other institutions, with the military, in prisons and jails, and in other situations. Hear from nine individuals about their journeys into chaplaincy, how they serve, and how they bring the love of Christ to those in need. This podcast is produced in partnership with the LCMS Office of National Mission. Find all episodes via the tag "Bring the Love of Christ."

Deaconess Gayle Truesdell attended Concordia Seminary to become a deaconess After being a stay-at-home mother of seven children for nearly thirty years. She hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Missouri—Kansas City. After doing fieldwork at Breeze Park, a Lutheran Senior Services older adult community, and a deaconess internship in Clinical Pastoral Education at Laclede Groves also a Lutheran Senior Services older adult community, Gayle developed a passion for older adult ministry and knew she wanted to be a chaplain.

After graduating from Concordia Seminary in 2006 with a Master’s Degree in Deaconess Ministry, Gayle was called to serve as Chaplain at Lutheran Senior Services—Meramec Bluffs where she primarily serves the Assisted Living Community, the Care Center, and both dementia neighborhoods.  Gayle serves alongside the other Chaplain at LSS-Meramec Bluffs who is an ordained Lutheran Minister who has responsibility for Word and Sacrament Ministry.  Gayle and her husband Jim have been married for over 45 years.  They have seven children and fifteen grandchildren.

Chaplains play an important role in the lives of people who are hurting, distressed, or in challenging situations. They serve alongside first responders, in hospitals or other institutions, with the military, in prisons and jails, and in other situations. Hear from nine individuals about their journeys into chaplaincy, how they serve, and how they bring the love of Christ to those in need. This podcast is produced in partnership with the LCMS Office of National Mission. Find all episodes via the tag "Bring the Love of Christ."

Rev. David Ficken began full time parish ministry July 2007 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Plover, Wisconsin. His first police ride-along was in August of that year when became a police chaplain. He became a fire chaplain in June 2016. In the Spring of 2017 his chaplaincy expanded to include Portage County Sheriff Office and Plover Police Department.

Chaplains play an important role in the lives of people who are hurting, distressed, or in challenging situations. They serve alongside first responders, in hospitals or other institutions, with the military, in prisons and jails, and in other situations. Hear from nine individuals about their journeys into chaplaincy, how they serve, and how they bring the love of Christ to those in need. This podcast is produced in partnership with the LCMS Office of National Mission. Find all episodes via the tag "Bring the Love of Christ."

Rev. Jeffery Scheer serves Lutheran Senior Services (LSS) in St. Louis, MO as the Administrator for Clinical Pastoral Education.  Jeff is a 2004 graduate of Concordia Seminary St. Louis and was fully certified as a CPE Supervisor (now called Certified Educator) by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) in 2011.  He also became a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) in 2009.  He is married to Jin with whom they have two daughters, Cassandra and Alexandra.

Chaplains play an important role in the lives of people who are hurting, distressed, or in challenging situations. They serve alongside first responders, in hospitals or other institutions, with the military, in prisons and jails, and in other situations. Hear from nine individuals about their journeys into chaplaincy, how they serve, and how they bring the love of Christ to those in need. This podcast is produced in partnership with the LCMS Office of National Mission. Find all episodes via the tag "Bring the Love of Christ."

Deaconess Tiffany Manor is called by the New England District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to be the Deaconess for Human Care, her work is focused on caring for rostered church workers and their family members.  She previously served Mill Neck Family of Organizations as Lutheran Friends of the Deaf’s Director of Ministry Support Services where she and other Lutheran Friends of the Deaf staff members provided chaplaincy services to the staff and program participants. Tiffany also served congregations in Michigan and Illinois, as well as Concordia Seminary. After a first career in business, B.A. in Marketing and studying in a MBA program, Deaconess Tiffany received a M.A. from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and 4 children.

Chaplains play an important role in the lives of people who are hurting, distressed, or in challenging situations. They serve alongside first responders, in hospitals or other institutions, with the military, in prisons and jails, and in other situations. Hear from nine individuals about their journeys into chaplaincy, how they serve, and how they bring the love of Christ to those in need. This podcast is produced in partnership with the LCMS Office of National Mission. Find all episodes via the tag "Bring the Love of Christ."