From: "Barb Kavouras (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: CLIMB: Chaplain Field Report 10/3/01 Date: Friday, November 02, 2001 12:54 PM Field Report 10/3/01 Dear Friends, Though I am back in Cleveland, my chaplaincy work has not stopped. I have been very busy, spending time with the Cleveland Police and Fire Divisions, but mostly with the FBI, because they are the first line of investigation and defense from further attacks. Today there were several interesting occurrences. I spoke with one agent this morning, a young lady of Orthodox background, who told me a few weeks ago that she had become disgusted with her church and had not attended Divine Services in many years. But after talking with her chaplain, and in the light of our immanent national peril, she went back to church last Sunday. She told me that she didn't really know how to pray, but listened intently to the liturgy and just kept asking over and over again, "Jesus, save me;" and for the first time in many years she received communion. When I talked with her this morning, she was quite distraught because she had heard a "Christian radio" broadcast on the way in, telling how all these things are predicted in the Bible and how the end of the world was very near. She wanted to know what I thought of that. I told her that there has been a contingent within Christianity taking that tack for 2000 years; that their theology and interpretation wasn't true then and that it's not true now. I told her that these signs have been with us from the beginning; that Revelation was a "vision" and had to be interpreted as such by its own admission "sent and *signified*; and that we must all be prepared for our own personal "end" at all times. Based on these questions and her return to the "shepherd and bishop of her soul" I preached the Gospel to her. I told her that the Son of God bled and died for her sins; that on the cross, He washed her clean from all transgressions and that in baptism, she was crucified, buried and resurrected with Christ, and that He would never leave her, not in life and not in death. I told her further that in receiving the true body and blood of her Lord in holy communion, that Christ came to her to make it all as personal as it can ever get. And she seemed to find great comfort in that. The Greyhound bus matter in Tennessee has the FBI tuned to an even higher state of alert - if that's possible. Things are tense. Though the person who did this was a Croatian, many Croats are Muslim. It is unknown yet whether or not there is a connection to 9/11. Because of the extra stress, as I walked through the office greeting and chatting with folks, one of the secretary's indicated that she wanted to talk a bit. She's a widow with two growing children and is quite upset by the events of the day. She just wanted to tell me that as she was driving into work today, she was thinking about me, and hoping I'd stop by. These folks seem to find great comfort in the fact that a man of God takes interest in them and in their work. We didn't talk about anything too serious, but I did notice that the booklet of Bible verses I gave her two weeks ago was still open on her desk to Psalm 46. But just to keep me humble, the Lord had a little test for me to take. One of the senior agents handed me a flyer for an "Interfaith Prayer Service" to be held on October 11th at St. John Cathedral here in Cleveland. He said that they specifically requested an FBI chaplain to take part in it. Part of the brochure reads ".all are invited to participate in this interfaith service. Readings from the Sacred Scriptures and *Sacred Books", Prayers and Hymns" While other parts of the brochure had some very noble sentiments, this part was like a red flag. At first I balked, asking him to contact another chaplain. After being informed that this particular chaplain was busy, I asked him if he had a few minutes to talk. I asked who would be taking part, specifically if there would be people of non-Christian religions. He said there definitely would. I told him that I must decline; that in good conscience I cannot do this. That while I stand arm in arm with these other people as men and as Americans we have diametrically opposed faith and that I wouldn't give theirs credence by my presence. I told him I hope he understands that I'm not a nut-case or sectarian. He's a seasoned veteran of the FBI and a fine gentleman and he assured me that he did understand, and that he would try someone else. May I suggest that all of you plan and publicize a "memorial" or "prayer" service to be held in your church on 10/11. Ask your members to come and to invite their friends. And preach the Gospel there as it hasn't been preached in public yet. Rev. Dean Kavouras, Chaplain FBI, Cleveland Cleveland Safety Forces chap7953@multiverse.com "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, and He will exalt you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be sober and alert, for your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you! and make you strong! firm! and steadfast!" 1 Peter 5:6-10 + + + Confessional Lutherans in Missionary Boldness + + + The CLIMB e-letter brings you unedited, uncut reports directly from the mission field, whether in South America, Africa, Europe, inner-city, rural, or collegiate America, or military installations and battle sites around the world. It is our contention that those who truly hold to the ~Book of Concord~ as the pure exposition of Holy Scripture and the true confession of the Christian faith are also the most zealous supporters of the preaching of the Gospel in every corner of the world and, as such, ought to be kept thoroughly informed of how those endeavors are faring and shown how they may be rightly carried out without the destruction of orthodox doctrine and practice that some within the pale of Lutheranism now advocate. 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