Every chaplain has a way of “doing ministry”. Some simply hold team or company Bible studies. Others simply pray before games or operations, etc. Whatever things you are currently doing as a chaplain, we all could stand to be exposed to some basic framework for how to do chaplain ministry. What follows is not a step-by-step outline for doing chaplaincy; it is, however, a few philosophical, big-picture ideas to help you as you do your work.
First, chaplain ministry must be rooted in the gospel and good theology in general. What you believe about God, His Word, Christ, the Gospel, etc. will dictate how you do your ministry. A chaplain’s duty is to expose people to the Word of God that they may see Christ – his life, death, and resurrection for sinners – and believe. Therefore, it is not enough for a chaplain to have surface-level knowledge of theology. Chaplains, and indeed all ministers, need to have their theology worked out fairly well so that they can apply the truths of Scripture to peoples’ lives in helpful, thoughtful ways. So, don’t just settle for basic knowledge in your chaplain ministry; study and teach and preach the truths of Scripture because what people believe really matters. Lead people to know Christ and see Him as their all sufficient Savior and Lord.
Second, chaplain ministry must be relational. The most effective ministry to people – whether in a hospital, in the military, sports teams, or in the workplace – is through relationships. Chaplains need to not only spend time teaching, preaching, and praying for the people to whom they are ministering; they need to really get to know them, love them, and show them the truth of Christ through friendship. As you build relationships with people, they will allow you to speak more and more of Christ and the gospel into their lives.
Third, chaplain ministry does not end with the chaplain. The discipleship that we do with people is intended to train, equip, and mobilize people to begin to participate in ministry themselves. This comes from 2 Tim. 2:2 where Paul instructs Timothy to take the things he has learned from Paul and teach them to others who will take them and teach them to others. Chaplain ministry should multiply and spread throughout our field such that each worker becomes a “chaplain” themselves.
While there are many other principles that govern the way we do chaplain ministry, these are a few of the pegs that can define faithful chaplain ministry. We point people to Jesus, we love them well, and we try to see them become ministers themselves.