The CENTURION Law Enforcement Ministry: On Police Work and Leadership

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

On Police Work and Leadership

Dear Sheepdogs:

First off, we’re back on schedule this week, meaning we’ll meet at our usual day/time/place, to wit, Saturday, 0900, Calvary Chapel South Denver in Littleton (see http://www.calvarycsd.org/about/location.php for map/directions). Come hang with your fellow officers for an hour of profession-relevant Bible study, prayer and fellowship. Remember that wives are always welcome and strongly encouraged to join us.

Updated MEETING SCHEDULE for the next month (plan ahead/pass it on):
(1) Saturday, July 19, 0900-1000
(2) Thursday, July 24, 1830-1930
(3) Saturday, August 2, 0900-1000

Last Thursday’s meeting was just a terrific time of prayer and fellowship with Michelle who is a former undercover operative from “way back.” She was ultimately offered a place on J. Edgar Hoover’s personal team but walked away from a career in law enforcement out of deference to her husband. Michelle's incredibly moving testimony revealed a woman who has experienced, in many ways, a truly Job-like life while remaining obedient, faithful and ever thankful to our Lord. Her husband is incredibly ill; her son, a Navy SEAL, was wounded, captured and tortured before being rescued; and so much more. What a super example she sets for all of us and yes, what a warrior!

This week we’ll complete our study of how God would have us view our work in law enforcement – that while He has a purpose for us in our calling, we can’t at the same time allow the “badge” to become our “god.” I’m looking forward to sharing with you.

I’ve harped on this before and no doubt will do so again: we continue to “eat our own!” The true stress in our profession comes not from the stuff we see on the street but rather from crappy leadership on the inside. Folks, I know I’m “preaching to the choir” here but we MUST infuse the law enforcement profession with godly leaders. Anyone can be a supervisor but it takes something special to be a true LEADER (and even more so to be a servant-leader with a biblical world view). The primary purpose of a leader is to accomplish the mission whilst at the same time taking care of his/her people! What we do is already so unpopular with civilians and liberals. Let’s not add to the problem internally. Back your people when they are right for God’s sake! Our profession is supposed to be about honor: DO THE RIGHT THING!

PRAYER REQUESTS

Do you need prayer or just a fellow warrior to talk to? Send me your prayer requests and I’ll post them here as appropriate. I am also available to pray and talk with you in person or by phone – shoot me an email or call me at 720-371-1022 (that’s what I’m here for folks).

(1) A former officer and current pastor in NC has requested pray for his marriage and ministry. Kevin’s wife has not embraced or even supported his ministry and calling. We NEED our spouses at our sides! Please pray that she will seek forgiveness and come along side her husband. Pray also for Kevin as he is struggling and has taken a six-week sabbatical to seek God’s will and direction for his ministry while at the same time trying to mend his marriage.
(2) Pray for me as I seek God direction for my future/career AND for my ministry.
(3) Continue to pray for CSP Trooper Scott Hinshaw as he still has a long way to go in terms of recovery (including more surgery). While Scott is still in a great deal of pain, the good news is that I truly believe God will use this tough situation to bring others in our profession to Christ through Scott. I hope to visit with him this week.
(4) Please pray for Officer Howard Prince. Without getting into too much detail, Howie is in the midst of a battle for his career and future. Please pray that God will come along side him and see that justice is done (and that his department will truly back him).
(5) Pray for Michelle (strength); for her husband Mike (healing – he needs a miracle and our Lord is in the business of miracles); and for their son Ryan (mental, physical and spiritual healing).
(6) Please, please remember to pray for our country and our leadership. Like many, I truly believe that we may be in the "last days" and, while I'm ready to go, I want to take as many with me as possible.

PRAISE REPORT

We had a potentially serious situation in Fairplay last weekend involving some outlaw motorcycle gang members who were reportedly planning some rather serious criminal activity. Thanks to some solid proactive decisions made by my chief and sergeant, we were able to deploy some serious backup and effectively defuse the situation. Nobody got hurt and our “guests” decided to leave town (can’t say they left “quietly” as they were all on Harley’s). I have NO doubt that God had a hand in that!

Finally, check out this cool video sent by a fellow officer in NM: abc-banner.wmv (2842KB. Please keep our military personnel serving overseas in your prayers.

Hope to see you Saturday, take care of your families, and remember to keep God as your #1 backup

Denver-Area Meeting Schedules

* Please check back frequently for the latest updates!

-- Thursday, February 16th, 7:00 PM, Calvary Chapel AURORA (http://www.calvaryaurora.org/ for directions).

-- Thursday, February 23rd, 7:00 PM, Calvary South Denver (www.CalvaryCSD.org for directions) -- probably in HS room or Cafe.

-- Thursday, March 1st, 7:00 PM, Calvary South Denver in Littleton.
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In addition:

(1) A number of us participate and serve at the Tuesday night service held at Calvary South Denver in Littleton (7:00 PM). We are currently working through the Book of Revelation. Bring your spouse and invite a colleague to join us for this unique and powerful service. We have changed direction somewhat in that every message will close with an invitation to accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

(2) Officers are meeting for Bible study at Brooklyn's near Invesco Field each Tuesday at 1230 and at the DIA chapel each Saturday AM. Contact Mark Roggeman at MRoggeman@aol.com for more info.

TCLEM Mission Statement

The mission of The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry (TCLEM), is to educate law enforcement officers (police, deputies, troopers, investigators, parole/probation, corrections, military, etc.) about God's unique call on their lives as outlined in God's word (Bible) and to lead officers and their families to a saving knowledge of and close personal relationship with our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Through same, we also seek to positively impact our profession by raising up Christian servant-leaders and reduce our historically high rates of divorce, alcoholism, depression, suicide and related issues.

Law enforcement is a God-ordained ministry of service and protection for our society as outlined in the Bible in Romans 13. Inasmuch as our very authority as peace officers is given to us by God, TCLEM seeks to affirm our calling as servant-warriors ("sheepdogs") and leaders while at the same time developing the our spiritual, family and personal lives through Bible study, peer fellowship, and group accountability along with active involvement in a solid Christ-centered/Bible-based church. We also seek to infuse our profession with godly leaders who will in fact LEAD (aks "servant") from a biblical world view.

What We Believe (Statement of Faith)

(1) WE BELIEVE the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ's sacrificial agape love, which is greater than any secondary differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.

(2) WE BELIEVE in all the fundamental doctrines of orthodox evangelical Christianity as detailed in God's word (Bible).

(3) WE BELIEVE the sixty-six books of the Bible (i.e. Old and New Testament) comprise the totality of Holy Scripture and is inerrant in the original text, and remains inerrant, inspired, and infallible in all its substance, and therefore, it is the supreme and final authority in faith, theology, and life.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:11, 89, 105.

(4) WE BELIEVE that our Lord has called us to share the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to an individual's life and, in particular as it relates to our service in the God-ordained calling of law enforcement. We also believe that it is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to seek to make growing disciples. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8.

(5) WE BELIEVE there is only One true, eternally existent God. He exists in three co-equal persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The triune God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and is worthy of worship and obedience. Deut. 6:4-5; Genesis 1:31, Luke 3:21-22; Matthew 28:18-20, Rev. 4:11.

(6) WE BELIEVE in one God who is Creator of heaven and earth, Spirit, personal, transcendent, sovereign, life, love, truth, almighty, simple (i.e. one without parts), timelessly eternal, unchangeable, wise, just, holy, relational, dynamic and infallible in all things.

(7) WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, possessing two distinct natures which are co-joined in one person, that He was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless and miraculous life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vicarious substitutionary death on the Cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, physically ascended back to the right hand of God the Father in heaven, and lives to make intercession for us. After Jesus ascended to Heaven, He poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem, enabling them to fulfill His command to preach the gospel to the entire world, an obligation shared by all believers today. John 1:1-3,14; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:11.

(8) WE BELIEVE that all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered as a gift by the Lord Jesus Christ to all based on His grace alone. When a person sincerely repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God, changed, and destined to spend eternity with the Lord. John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21.
(9) WE BELIEVE in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures, and that they are valid for today, and should be exercised within scriptural guidelines, seeking to exercise them in love that the whole Body of Christ might be edified. John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9,11; Titus 3:5.

(10) WE BELIEVE in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, and we believe that the physical second coming of Christ with His saints to rule on the earth will be personal, premillennial, and visible. This motivates us to holy living, heart-felt worship, committed service, diligent study of God's Word, regular fellowship, and participation in the two ordinances the Lord gave the church - adult baptism by immersion and Holy Communion. Revelation 3:10, Thessalonians 5:9.

(11) WE BELIEVE there is a real personal devil of great evil, cunning, and power, who seeks to tempt, kill, steal, and destroy, yet his power is limited by God to only what God permits him to do; that the devil has been defeated positionally at the cross of Christ, and will be defeated practically at Christ's glorious second coming which will ultimately eventuate in the quarantine and punishment of the Satan (aka the Devil, Beast, and False Prophet, etc.) in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone where they will be tormented day and night forever (what has been traditionally called "Hell"). Luke 10:18; Matthew 4:10; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11, etc.

(12) WE BELIEVE that our Lord is clear that there is ONLY ONE WAY to Christ and that is through a life-changing personal relationship with the Risen Savior. Jesus told his disciples, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). He did not merely point the way to God. He himself claimed to be the only way to the Father and the source of eternal truth and life. The way to God is through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Intellectual acceptance of Christ is not enough. You must come to him determined to turn from what displeases him, with a total trust in Christ's saving power for you.

Are you ready to receive Christ today? If so, right where you are you can pray something like this: "Lord, I know that I have sinned and need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for me and rose from the dead. I invite you into my life to be my Lord and Savior."

If you sincerely put your faith in Christ, God promises not only to forgive you, but also to receive you into his family. It's the greatest discovery you will ever make!

Donate to TCLEM/FCPO?

We do accept donations to support our ministry and outreach, including but not limited to leading officers to Christ, support for wounded officers; "officer down" outreach; chaplain and counseling services; speaking engagements; website expenses; ministry apparel, etc. Donations can be made out to The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry and/or FCPO-Denver and mailed to

P.O. Box 630854
Littleton, CO 80163

Donations are tax-deductible through our affiliation with the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers 501(3)(c). That said, support your church first...and then donate if the Holy Spirit inspires you to do so. Thanks in advance for your support.