If you ask any person what they know about the chaplain's job, you are unlikely to get a satisfactory answer.What’s unique about the work of the chaplain? How about this answer: a chaplain is a person who joins someone on their journey of life. When looking for a more systematic definition, we would say the following: Chaplains are cleargy who have been professionally trained to offer faith-based guidance to these individuals when they are suffering physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
From September 18 to 21, 2023, 46 chaplains and interns met in Bogenhofen, Austria for a Chaplaincy training course. The training was organized by Chaplaincy Ministries of the Inter-European Division. Representatives from Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Romania, Portugal and Germany took part in the training.
Ivan Omana, the Chaplaincy Ministries director of the General Conference was the main speaker. On the first day participants were taught about foundation, history and Policy of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries and also how to deal with grief and use it as Gospel opportunity. Chaplains are pastors who have specialized in various areas of public and denominational ministry and work on the front lines. The film "Tuesdays with Morrie" was shown in the evening, and during the following days the participants discussed its content and themes relevant to their ministries.
Tuesday afternoon was the time for excursion. Burghausen is supposedly the longest castle in the world, located only 30 minutes from Bogenhofen. With its length of 1000 meters, it was the perfect place for a relaxing walk and socializing, as well as making new friends.
On the third day, Ivan Omana and Ventsislav Panayotov presented the topics of Compassionate connected care and Faith development. After them, Klaus Schmitz from Waldfriede Hospital presented the work of the chaplaincy team at the Berlin hospital. A very important part of the program were the two afternoon sessions during which the chaplains had the opportunity to talk about the real challenges in their ministries and seek solutions.
On the last day, participants confirmed their commitment and reaffirmed the validity of the word of Jesus in their lives and ministry: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’” Matthew 25:35–36
