Are you truly a Chaplain?

v A Chaplain by design and calling is expected to be a clergy or cleric of any religion, who is in the leadership cadre of his/her religion or faith group.

v A Chaplain is expected to be a man or woman of integrity.

v A Chaplain is expected to be honest report, and therefore must shun any form of deception or falsehood.

v A Chaplain is expected to be a professional in his/her field of specialization and not professional or career liar.

v A Chaplain by design and calling is expected to help proffer solutions to knotty problems of humanity, not compounding or creating problems for people.

v A Chaplain, globally is expected to carry the endorsement of his/her faith group as well as that of his/her Chaplaincy organization; never a presidential endorsement, do not be made a fool of this day.

v A Chaplain is a very busy professional, and not a busy body, peddling rumours and falsehood. You must therefore shun this if you are truly a called Chaplain or you desire to be a Chaplain.

v A Chaplain is expected to be kind hearted as a professional care-giver not one making merchandise of the people they are called to serve.

v A Chaplain is expected to rekindle hope in the hopeless and traumatized; and not giving people false hopes or make them promises that can never be fulfilled.

v A Chaplain is expected to demonstrate highest professional skills in reducing or eliminating the suffering of people of our world not playing politics. You must stop playing politics with precious lives of human beings forth with.

NB: Make a check list and see where you fall; truly a CHAPLAIN? Please get cracking and showcase Chaplaincy profession rightly.

WHAT CAN CHAPLAINS DO TO EARN THE ADMIRATION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC?

1.   All Chaplains must be encouraged and be motivated to engage in professional Chaplaincy practice that is beneficial to general public.

Have you ever come across a Mechanic who repairs no motor or bike? How many of you will be prepared to release your vehicle to such a mechanic for fault detection and maintenance?

2.   Practicing professional Chaplains must be mobilized to offer professional care and good service delivery to the general public with the views of helping to reduce sufferings of the populace.

Have you ever seen a Nurse, who is not interested in giving injection and administering drugs to patients? How many of you will want to entrust your lives or lives of your family members to such a Nurse for treatment?

3.   Chaplains must learn to make the needed advocacy on matters of national issues and concern to the general public.

How many of you will desire to put your monies in wonder bank, which will away with your hard earned money?

4.   Chaplains must learn to conduct themselves with the highest decorum and integrity as they offer people services in professional practice.

5.   Chaplains must maintain high level of professional competence and proficiency in practice.

How many of you will want to go for care in a hospital or clinic where people who go there alive never come back alive?

Chaplain Prof. David Mike-Jacobs JP, AP, CBC, CPC.

I AM A PROFESSIONAL CHAPLAINS AND I AM HAPPY TO BE ONE BECAUSE…..

I 1. Iam opportune by the Almighty God to be involved in life transformation industry.

22.     I am in mind mending industry.

33.     I am in family building industry.

44.     I am in pain reducing industry.

55.     I am in conflict resolution industry.

66.     I am in the conciliation industry.

77.     I am in chaplaincy education industry.

88.     I am in the negotiation industry.

99.     I am in mediation industry.

110.                        I am in arbitration industry.

111.                        I am in behavioural change industry.

112.                        I am in attitudinal modification industry.

113.                        I am in the counseling industry.

114.                        I am in spiritual care industry.

115.                        I am in the religious industry.

116.                        I am in the emotional care industry.

117.                        I am in the pastoral care industry.

118.                        I am in an interfaith industry.

119.                        I am in fostering resilience industry.

220.                        I am in a hurting reduction industry.

221.                        I am in care-giving industry.

222.                        I am in marriage building industry.

223.                        I am in relationship building industry

224.                        I am in hope raising industry.

225.                        I am in pluralistic setting, making provisions available to the general populace of our nation and the world.

NB: Dangote, Otedola and their alikes are involved in various industries that will bring satisfaction to humanity in physical and economic manner. In which industry are you engaged? Speak now or never!

Chap. Prof. mike-Jacobs

CLARION CALL FOR CONFERENCE OF ALL CHAPLAINS IN NIGERIA

Beloved Professional Colleagues,

Greetings in God’s Name. Amen.

It is a known fact that people of the same profession (men and women) of the same profession do come together annually or bi-annually to;

a.   Celebrate success attained by their profession.

b.   Chart a new course or direction for the profession.

c.   Sensitize members of the need for professionalism.

d.   Targeting a particular challenge of their age with the views of finding a lasting solution to such.

e.   Marking memorable occasion in the history of the profession.

f.     Chart a new course for the development and advancement of their profession as well as their members.

g.   Demonstrating relevance in the in the socio-political and economic development of their nations.

Chaplaincy profession is not an exception in the practice for there are national conferences of Chaplains in many nations of our world and world conference of Chaplains. We are of the opinion that Nigeria should not be an exemption of the rule.

Thus, we are making this clarion call to all Chaplains in Nigeria to let us come together for a “National Conference” of all Chaplains. Corporate existence, identity and team work should be our pursuit in Chaplaincy profession in Nigeria.

The era where a Chaplaincy organization and outfit in Nigeria claims to be the only Chaplaincy organization is over and should be put behind us. Reality must be dawn on us that unity in diversity is what our situation is calling for.

The International Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Week is there for us to mark and celebrate. The invitation is open to all Chaplains and Chaplaincy organizations.

Please note that no appointments have been made and no positions filled. Please contact Chap. Prof. Mike-Jacobs JP – the Covener - 0809260117; 07055287861

STEPS IN PREPARING TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL CHAPLAIN

1^st Step:

Having a Theological Degree or Divinity Degree or Mission Degree or Practical Ministry Degree from a recognized Seminary at the completion of the course of studies of your choice.

2^nd Step:

Getting an ordination from your religious faith group, denomination or sect to become a cleric or clergy of your religion.

3^rd Step:

Enrolling to study in a college of Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy for Pastoral Care and General Chaplaincy studies until graduation.

4^th Step:

Obtaining a professional Chaplaincy studies in any field or area of specialization of your choice for nothing less than 50 to 120 hours.

5^th Step:

Obtaining the needed endorsement from your faith group indicating that you are in good standing with your faith group.

6^th Step:

Commissioning as a Chaplain by the commissioning authority/Chaplaincy organization.

7^th Step:

Requesting for and obtaining board certification for Chaplaincy practice.

8^th Step:

Engaging in professional Chaplaincy practice and service delivery to the people either in public service, private or corporate services as one is licensed to practice Chaplaincy.

Only at this juncture can one claim to become a professional Chaplain, ready to render the needed service to humanity and as years go by one begins the journey of developing competence in practice.

On daily basis of professional practice, the Chaplain begins to accumulate experiences and in no time will develop the needed proficiency. As the professional Chaplain cares to remain relevant in his or her choice profession, and become engendered to his or her clients.

Roles and Duties of Professional Chaplains

1.   As inter-faith ministers, they have the mandate to minister to all in their diversities, in a pluralistic setting irrespective of their religious, political and philosophical leanings.

2.   Professional Chaplains have the mandate of their professional to provide care to all people, who need such services without intimidation or partiality whatsoever.

3.   Professional Chaplains have the mandate to provide pastoral care to the hurting and the down trodden in societies of our world.

4.   Professional Chaplains have the mandate to identify with the neglected ones in the society of our world and giving voices to the voiceless.

5.   Professional Chaplains have the mandate to provide religious care to all and sundry as clerics and clergies of religions.

6.   Professional Chaplains have the mandate to give religious care to the sick and the dying.

7.   Professional Chaplains have the mandate to provide palliative care to the terminally ill as well as those in hospice.

8.   Professional Chaplain have the mandate to provide spiritual care to all people with the intention of helping the obtain wholesomeness, wholistic care and wellness.

9.   Professional Chaplains render the needed spiritual care to clients, making such clients have meaning in life.

10.   Professional Chaplains have the mandate to work on people’s minds with the intentions of mending their minds or help change their attitudes and behaviours for better in life.

Chaplain Prof. David Mike-Jacobs JP, AP, CBC, CPC.

CRISIS FREE LIFE AND WORLD IS AN ILLUSION

The president and all important dignitaries present on this occasion; all protocols observed. It is important at this inauguration to emphasize and bring to the notice of all Chaplains that we are called to mediate, intervene and resolve crisis situations and reduce human sufferings.

It is pertinent for us to know that there is no crisis free life and world any where until the return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  It is a known fact that crisis free life is an illusion and unrealistic. We have enough evidence at our finger tips to prove that crisis is part of normal life:

1.   The challenges of life are there to make life what it is.

2.   The difficulties in life are there to make life what it is.

3.   The problems of life are there and normal part of life to make life what it is.

4.   The world we live in is saddled with a lot of problems calling for urgent attention and solutions. Crisis free world is an illusion and has also become unrealistic.

Contemporary world we live in is playing with:

1.   Political problems.

2.   Industrial problems.

3.   Social problems.

4.   Health problems.

5.   Psychological problems.

6.   Emotional  problems.

7.   Mental  problems.

8.   Relationship problems.

9.   Unemployment problems.

10. Economic problems.

11. Immigration and migration problems.

12. Religious problems.

13. Terrorism and associated problems.

14. Environmental problems.

15. Marital problems.

16. Adolescent and youth problems.

17. Family problems.

18. Gender problems.

19. Status and class problems.

20.  Cultural, tribal, racial and ethnical problems.

21. Cross-cultural problems.

22. Behavioural problems.

23. Contractual and legal problems, to mention but a few.

These enumerated problems of our society, world and humanity are calling for the attention of those who care to make themselves available in providing the needed solutions to them.

We as professional Chaplains should be grateful to the Almighty God who hath called us with a calling of proffering solutions to unending problems of humanity and also gave us the Chaplaincy profession. Praise God!

Chaplains have the professional mandate to seek to proffer the needed solutions to the numerous problems of the people of our world, and thus have the opportunity of becoming;

1.   Crisis managers.

2.    Behavioural and attitudinal change agents and consultants.

3.   Problem solvers.

4.   Conflict management and resolution experts.

5.   Professional mediators and arbitrators.

6.   Professional care providers.

7.   Home and Family menders.

8.   Hope rekindlers etc.

NB: God in His own wisdom and power hath provided Chaplains to who the people of our world can turn to when problems, difficulties and challenges of life seems to overwhelm them for sucour.

Chaplains should therefore comport themselves in such a way as to help alleviate or reduce the sufferings of people and make the life they live more meaningful in all ramification.

Chaplains must therefore endeavor to shun compound people’s problems or do anything that will cause confusion amongst the people who they are called to serve. 

In professional practice, the opportunity we have and enjoy in serving the Almighty God and humanity must be taken seriously. From now on it must be a national action for all Chaplains to take service delivery to the nooks and crannies of our nation. Let us realistically say to the people of our world that we are adequately prepared to make us proffer solutions to their problems in the most professional way, thus enhancing profitable and fulfilled meaningful lives for the people.

In our efforts to give people meaning in life, as we practice our profession, we must seek to;

1.   Help the hurting.

2.   Reduce people’s sufferings.

3.   Identify with the in their various situations and conditions.

4.   Help the build their coping capacities.

5.   Provide the needed care.

In summary, we learn to depart from the past deception, mediocrity, individualistic tendencies and inaction, mounting higher from now to tae Chaplaincy in Nigeria to the professional status it enjoys all over the world.

Professionalizing the Chaplaincy profession remains the audious task that must be accomplished by all of us together if we do not want to stand to be ridiculed amongst the committee of nations.

Let all of us take this to be the threshold of professional development as we mark our thirty-fie and half decades of existence.

Long live Civil Chaplains of Nigeria.

Long live Chaplaincy Profession.

Long live our nation Nigeria.

Speech delivered by

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs JP, AP, CBC, CPC.

@ The Official Inauguration of Civil Chaplains of Nigeria Inc.

April 29^th -30^th 2016AD, Redemption Camp – Lagos

GOING DOWN THE MEMORY LANE.

An article for the maiden bulletin of the Civil Chaplains of Nigeria Inc.

The first 12 years of civil (public) chaplaincy existence in Nigeria was used by the first generation Chaplain Sir Dr. Ige Olumide of blessed memory to chaplains as soldiers of Christ, May 1^st 1981 to Sept. 1993.

In the year 1993AD, Dec. 6^th to be exact, the Civil Chaplains (Non-Military Chaplains) in Nigeria had an opportunity to visit the Army chaplaincy conference in Lagos held at Abati Barracks – Yaba, where the Civil Chaplains had her first recognition for existence or received recognition for existence by the military authority.

This opportunity and recognition, made the military authority advised us to coordinate the group in the most appropriate and professional way.

The Civil Chaplains in Nigeria as at 1993AD, were all under one umbrella, enjoying the unity we were endowed with; with NECA (National Chaplaincy Advisory Council) put in place for the supervision of all Chaplaincy activities in Nigeria and CECA (Chaplaincy Executive Council for Africa) to take charge of the African command.

The granting of chartered affiliation to some organizations in the year 1993 became the breeding ground for the individualism we are presently witnessing and an erosion of the unity in diversity we had earlier before now.

In the year 1994, the first generation Chaplain moved the profession a little forward as the advanced training of chaplains was introduced for first Degree programme in “Spirituotherapy.”

By 1995, the graduates from the institution had become “Clinical Chaplains” or “Spirituo-therapists,” who were qualified to engage in clinical practice in hospitals, hospice and chaplaincy centers.

Chaplaincy centers were established at Agege and Ikeja where Chaplains were to have their practice and tutelage in professional practice.

This was to be the beginning of professional Chaplaincy practice in Nigeria which was only on the drawing board, for the unity we had enjoyed was dashed as chaplaincy body became fragmented and broken into segments. The present day multi-chaplaincy outfits we have are as a result of the fragmentation.

In the year 2005AD, Chap. Prof. Mike-Jacobs began the work of reunification amongst various chaplaincy organizations. In the year 2008AD, Gen. Dr. Yakubu Gowon put together a meeting of Chaplains in Abuja at the defence headquarters after he was appointed chaplaincy general for Africa by American World-wide Chaplaincy organization.

This meeting ended up in chaos as there was power tussle for supremacy between men of IIPEC and CFN which made the military authority withdraw the recognition earlier granted civil chaplains.

Individual chaplaincy organizations began the race for securing recognition and identity with various arms of the military. The military authority refused to yield to pressures and directed the Director of Army Chaplains Service to have nothing to do with any chaplaincy organization until we all come under one umbrella.

By the advice of the Director, Col. Dr. D.D. Danfulani, we came together to incorporate Civil Chaplains of Nigeria whose official inauguration is being celebrated today as we mark 35 years of civil (public) chaplaincy existence.

God of the second chance is giving us in this nation another opportunity to put chaplaincy profession on the right path, and restore to us all lost glories and recognition through Civil Chaplains of Nigeria Inc.

The clarion call to all Chaplains is for us to imbibe the spirit of team work, embrace the principle of working together to advance chaplaincy practice in Nigeria, building upon solid foundations laid by the first generation Chaplain – Late Dr. Sir Ige Olumide and making it a stepping stone to professionalizing chaplaincy profession in the most appropriate way in line with international standards.

Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Long Live the Chaplaincy Profession!

Long Live Civil (public) Chaplaincy!

Long Live Civil Chaplains of Nigeria Inc!

From the desk of the Secretary General

Chaplain Prof. David Mike-Jacobs JP, AP, CBC, CPC.

PROFITABLE MAN-POWER, UNHARNESSED BY GOVERNMENTS IN NIGERIA AND THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA.

As there is an increase in the call for man-power development in nations, especially developing nations of our world and continent of Africa; it is surprising that there is a group Professionals (profitable man-power) unrecognized or unharnessed by various governments across Africa, even though their functions and their relevance permeates every sector of the economy.

This group of professionals whose relevance and need in national economies cannot be swept under the carpet.

The group of professionals is Chaplains, Counselors, Therapists, Pastoral Counselors and Care Providers, who have make so much investment in their developments and have been rendering services to humanity; identifying and proffering solutions to numerous problems in our world.

This group of unharnessed, unrecognized professionals have amongst them;

i.             Professional Counselors, such as;

a.   Addiction Counselors.

b.   Behavioural Counselors.

c.   Marriage and family Counselors.

d.   Psycho-social Counselors.

ii.            Care –Givers:

a.   Palliative care-givers and providers.

b.   Professional care-givers.

iii.           Therapists, such as;

a.   Psycho-therapists.

b.   Marriage Therapists.

c.   Family Therapists.

d.   Spirituo-Therapists.

e.   Logo-Therapists etc.

iv.          Chaplains such as;

a.   Industrial Chaplains.

b.   Hospital Chaplains.

c.   Prison Chaplains.

d.   Port Chaplains.

e.   University Chaplains etc.

v.           Psychologists, such as;

a.   Clinical Psychologists.

b.   Psycho-analysts.

c.   Psycho-theologians.

This group of professionals is known to provide the following services to the general public and individuals in all sectors of the economy.

i.             Various counseling services.

ii.            Providing the needed care to the sick, aged, terminally ill, mental retarded people, spiritual care for all people etc.

iii.           Providing needed therapies for treatment and resolution of problems.

iv.          Conducting researches into problems of our world.

v.           Providing conflict resolution and professional mediation and negotiation.

Chaplain Prof. David Mike-Jacobs JP, AP, CBC, CPC.