Abby - The identity and credibility of a seasonal chaplain. So we're back at this  holiday or Christmas chaplain, course, and we're digging into our next section  here.  

Henry - And the first thing to realize that it is, I believe, a called thing. And I  think there are people, Abby, that just have the Christmas passion. 

Abby - Oh, definitely, really see like, you know, maybe it is something that's  meant a lot to them as a kid, and then now as an adult, some people maybe it  was a really hard season, and now they feel called to really make this season a  little bit better for those that are struggling.  

Henry - You know, it's a Christmas chaplain may not wear. You know that we  use things like collar. And actually, at Christian leaders Alliance, we don't get too  much into collars. But, I mean, it's just the metaphor or a formal ordination. And  at Christian leaders Alliance, we love those ordinations for volunteers. You know, in going back to the early church context of volunteers, in fact, St Nicholas, I  don't know if you ever really studied this guy. It's he was born in 270 and he was one that served the poor. He gave gifts. He was actually at the Council of  Nicaea. Wow. Okay, so kind of like we have Santa Claus, but really, St Nicholas  is the first Christmas chaplain. 

Abby - Yeah, there you go. Okay, so here, you go. 

Henry - it was this Saint Nicholas, that the story of the Christian church centered around Santa Claus, is it really St Nicholas? Isn't that fascinating?  

Abby - That's very fascinating. And I love that, you know, identifying and seeing  where you know, eyes to see what others overlook. At times, you know, I think  it's very easy. And again, maybe, as you're taking this you are in a unique  position during the holidays to be able to fill where people are really needing and so again, as you mentioned, there's that list at the beginning where there's 50  things that you know, a Christmas Chaplain could do during the holiday season,  you know, and there so many of them are so, so needed for people you know as a chaplain, one of the examples was you could host a service for those that just  lost somebody or grieving somebody, and have a very particular service and  pray over each person and the grief that they're having, yeah, and it's like, you  know? So this calling, it comes from the Holy Spirit to serve as a minister of  presence in this time. And this calling is validated through spirit led discernment  and readiness ministry identity is related to God's commission. Not again, just  an institutional organization, right? 

Henry - This isn't like church services, necessarily. You know, it could include a  service, but it's really a very holistic incarnational. You're bringing the presence  of Christ in all sorts of venues at this Christmas season.  

Abby - Identity and credibility matter. So warm intentions alone are not the  hallmarks, right? So as much as we're saying, Yes, this is a god called  appointed, you know you're being called to do this, it is still important that you  are trained, and that's why we're putting this together. And we have a whole  chaplaincy program as well. So if this is something you're called to, of course,  take this course, but we have a chaplaincy foundations class, some other  chaplaincy courses, so just really encourage you that you know we want trained, spirit filled, trustworthy chaplains who are there to be able to answer some of  those questions. Even though, as we said, we don't know all the questions, and  this is a ministry of presence, it's still important to be equipped, because as a  chaplain, you are going to be somebody that people will want to ask important  theological questions or ministry questions,  

Henry - you know, and we love this concept of training. Christian leaders  Institute free ministry training, but programs that are practical, programs where  you get empowered to get out there to actually do ministry. So formal training is  very appropriate. This isn't just a warm intention. This is someone who is a  minister and at Christian Leaders Institute. This is like one of that put your toe in  the water for ministry, type of role, and see where this goes.  

Abby - Maybe people already are saying to you that they see you as someone  that you know is like a elf during the holidays, because you just are the type of  person that you know brings gifts to people who need it or are in the nursing  home. So. Again, you are a minister, not a seasonal decoration. Your words and  actions, they are carrying spiritual weight. You're an ambassador of Christ,  

Henry - as if the message of reconciliation is through you. Yeah.  

Abby - So these, these symbolic roles, they do demand theological grounding  and that emotional intelligence. So being as equipped as you can in these areas is important, and so an ambassador ministry means carrying Christ's authority  into each encounter as a chaplain that  

Henry - you have. And again, as we even say the word symbolic roles, we're  just really, you know, in a sense, the story Christmas chaplain, you know. It, but  yet it's more it's still a theological big deal, especially if people are searching or  hungry or hurting during the holiday seasons. 

Abby - Yeah, a student of the reason of the season. So as stated, being  grounded in the Bible and in theological meaning of what Christmas really is  about. It's redemptive. I mean, it is the story of redemption of Christ coming into  the world. You know? It's the Incarnation in God's entry into human brokenness  and him then having a ministry and dying on the cross. And so, yeah, again,  there's such an evangelistic opportunity here for those that maybe they have  been a Christian and they've walked away, maybe they never known God, such  an opportunity.  

Henry - And I just go back to this army of chaplains are going to be stewards of that brand like we are not going to let the world forget that the reason for the  season is Jesus, Christ, yes.  

Abby - So the training prepares chaplains to respond to those deep questions,  as we already stated, Christ came as a baby to walk with humanity. Emmanuel  means God is present in every circumstance. And so those clear theological  understanding can really transform these seasonal conversations into the  gospel opportunities so completely what we've been saying so as you're  considering this, you know, there, every time you're going into a conversation,  you know, you have an opportunity say to God, God, let me be your  ambassador in this moment, in this conversation,  

Henry - you know, and I've noticed too, like when someone sees the word  chaplain, it invites people to walk up to you. So when someone walks up to you,  what's a chaplain now? Or a chaplain with a green or red Chaplain shirt on, what is that it needed to say, You know what? We just love Christmas, but we love the reason for the season. Oh, and I would imagine many people go like, well, what  does Jesus Christ have to do with Christmas? And now you have an opportunity to share. Now, one thing about a chaplain, a chaplain does not knock on doors  like an evangelist,  

Abby - right there, there really being an open space for people, a safe space to come and talk and be able to ask these questions or ask for prayer. But that's a  good distinction. You don't want to as a chaplain. You're really, again, trying to  create this not intimidated. People can feel very intimidated if you approach  them. So you're being that openness for people to approach you, emotional  intelligence and readiness. So there is emotional layers beneath the holiday  season, as we really shared about. To just dig into a little more. I mean, there is  so much grief. I mean, I can, right off the top of my head, think of multiple people that I think, Wow, this Christmas is going to be very difficult. 

Henry - Later in this class, we're actually talking about Blue Christmas training  to get deeper into what you say, how you respond, yeah.  

Abby - And again, I think that's so important, you know, I still think about,  course, I just worked on with Pastor, Dr Bruce Ballast. We were talking about  this book that's like when, you know, hurting happens. And it was sharing the  story of all these different people that come to visit, and how they try to tell  someone who's on their, you know, dying of cancer, how they should handle it,  and all the things that we're trying to be encouragement and helpful, it just  created more pain or even anger at God, or anger at the situation. And what  people really need again is someone to just come alongside them, to just love  them. And I think as a chaplain, it's such an opportunity to really live out what  God has asked us to do, to love God with all our heart, to ooze that love for God and then to really, really, really love our neighbor, right?  

Henry - And these are opportunities for pastoral care. Blends emotional  awareness with spirit led discernment and that. Really what you're saying. So  you're not coming in there to throw a Bible verse at someone thinking that that's  going to, you know, help them. It's really, you could ask, Would you like me to  share a Bible verse? Yeah, but, but it's not a duty language role where you're  you should feel this way now Christmas, because, you know Christ came to this  earth, you  

Abby - should be feeling grateful during Christmas time. You know, no you  know what, as the Bible has shown us, there is many times those psalms where  there is lament, there is sadness, and again, as a chaplain, we need to come  alongside people in that time and just point them to deeper relationship with  Christ versus again, this first trying to make them feel better, this thing that they  need to do so they'll feel better, or they need to have gratitude, like you said.  

Henry - So it's really learning how to foster resilience and adaptive presence to  their specific situation, yeah, yep. So let's talk about the core skills of a  Christmas chaplain.  

Abby - Yeah, active listening. Again, as we were saying it, with a ministry of  presence, you have to be able to listen and and when you're being a ministry,  the reason active listening is put there is is, you know, you can sit there with  somebody, and that'll still be helpful. But are you really understanding them?  What you're saying? I think one of the things that mean the most to people is  feeling like someone truly listened to them, and then is able to And Chaplain is  such a relational ministry, is able to follow up and go, You know what you told  me last week, x, y, z. I just want to let you know I prayed for those things this 

week, and I want to ask if there's any updates, you know, and that is being  active listening. I mean, again, you can sit with someone all day, but you need to be really actively listening.  

Henry - Ministry ethics. We'll talk about that trauma informed presence. We're  going to talk about that boundary and self care for sustainable ministry. We're  going to talk about that prayer in public places and pastoral comfort without  preaching. We're gonna talk about all these things in the skill development gives you confidence and ethical integrity. In other words, your ethical would be things  like, you understand confidentiality. So you're gonna be like, okay, somebody's  gonna tell you some things, and they have to get it off their chest. And there's  gonna be that. It's going to be that space where their soul opens up to God,  

Abby - absolutely, and then this healthy boundary safeguarding long term calling and effectiveness super important. I do think one thing as being stated with a  chaplain, it is such a relational ministry. So if you don't have healthy boundaries  on burnout, is so real, as we know, in ministry and in this area as a chaplain,  you're going into really, typically heavy situations, really, really heavy situations.  So we're definitely going to talk more about those healthy boundaries to  safeguard your long term calling and effectiveness.  

Henry - Very powerful, and it really is a presence, connection prayer type of  ministry, embodying Christ's love in person. You just said the word relational,  helping people feel seen and valued. You know, one of the things with like, sort  of this preoccupation with Santa Claus and everything is we sort of like, have,  you know, it has its spiritual roots, back to St Nicholas ministry. That's where  Christmas is a ministry holiday. Then it now moves into, like, you know, making it about, you know, sitting on Santa's lap. I know when I grew up that the malls  would have, oh yes, you know. And and again, it sort of all changes. The  cultures all change. But the underlying thought there was being noticed, right?  

Abby - What you wanted for Christmas was being seen by someone. And yeah,  Santa Claus is the one now magically delivering it and all that  

Henry - stuff, right? Who comes to your house? Think about that. Santa is like a  material chaplain who is in a sleigh and comes down your chimney. In some  ways, it's like a little scary to have like a stranger coming down to in your  chimney again, again, very, very much storied in the European tradition that. But it's fascinating to think about that. And someone, this person you write a letter to, and this person answers your letter, Dear Santa, yeah, I, you know, like  somebody notices me this is personal, impersonal thing, whereas a Christmas  Chaplain can be that person that says, God notices you, God notices you. 

Abby - So a walk in calling and character as we continue this class and  program. This program forms identity, strengthens your credibility. It's a spirit led  ministry that requires. Scripture, theology and skill. It really embraces chaplaincy as a very sacred assignment, not just a seasonal hobby, but something that is  going on all the time, but is so needed during the holidays. And this ministry,  insight here,  

Henry - character sustains, calling, preparation deepens impact. I have noticed that my entire life. So here's ministry. It's a real person connected to God. The  seven connections you're connected to God, character, however, character, the  other side of character is skill development. So you put those two together, and  it's powerful, and then it clarifies a mission, and now you have a long term  effectiveness, because you are a person who is a lover of Jesus Christ, who's  walking and growing and changing, and someone who takes skill development,  even as a volunteer, very seriously.  

Abby - So our closing challenge here is be a student of the gospel, a bearer of  Christ. Serve as a listener, a servant, a voice of peace. Let your light shine  before others,  

Henry - and ministry sciences affirms the integration of calling competence and compassion faithful chaplaincy redeems seasonal moments into eternal  impacts.