END OF YEAR NEWSLETTER

As the year 2022 reaches its end, we have a lot to report of the growth and development of WVFRC, but before I do, first I want to say “thank you” to all our supporters, donors, and sponsors, who make a real-time impact in the lives of our Chaplains and First Responders.

As we approach our 5th Anniversary (March 2023), I look at our current list of Mission Partners and see a handful of friends who chose to join us with only a vision, a hope, a desire to serve, right from the very beginning. Now here we are almost 5 years later, with a team, an office, and a whole lot of service engagements being fulfilled. Thank you for your trust in me and faith in Him!  

I have said many times, that this mission has been the most challenging, the most difficult, the most-lonely, and the most painful experience of my life. And yet, it has also been the most peaceful, the most satisfying, the most rewarding, and the most important experience and work of my life. I take it to heart that our First Responders deserve to have Chaplains behind them, fighting for them in the light, fighting with them in the darkness, and advocating for them at every other opportunity. I am thankful to have been called to this special mission field, and know without doubt why God built me, and why He is building this team!

~ Chaplain Dean Aithwaite

We began this year knowing we needed massive financial investment. As our mission continued - and continues – to grow, and the needs of those we serve increase year-over-year, we have not received an increase in donations, maintaining an average monthly income of between $9,000 - $11,000 per month. Knowing we needed to hire one Assistant Chaplain, two Staff Chaplains, one Office Manager, and to house the chaplaincy operation itself we needed an office building, we were praying for a Foundation to catch the vision and understand the mission field we are in, who would choose to partner with us.  

In March, we were blessed to find such a partner, who gifted us with a Grant of $210,000. The Foundation wishes to remain anonymous, and we gladly honor their request. Receiving this Grant was the rocket fuel we have been desperate for, as we sat on a launch pad, waiting to be fueled. We are now high up into the stratosphere! This Grant funds one Assistant Chaplain and one Office Manager for 1 year, and covers rent for our new office space for 3 years. 

Following the 2021 Grant of $65,000 received from the Wildfire Relief Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation (used for staffing), at the beginning of this year we received an $11,000 Grant from the Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation (BEKF), which was given for the purpose of the general fund. Trusting we would have an office building at some point this year, the Grant was allocated to be used for office furnishings.

In March, we also welcomed Chaplain Jeremy Phelps to our team as Assistant Chaplain. Chaplain Jeremy comes to us with a background as an Airborne medic, Ordination in the Anglican church, and hospital and hospice chaplaincy. He also has  vast skills in other endeavors which you should ask him about!

April 1 we moved into our new office, and every particular operational need we have is met within this building. It is a fully remodeled 4000sq.ft. building containing 4 offices, conference room, volunteer room, reception, kitchen, storage room, training room, quiet/prayer room, family room and lounge, all set on 2 quiet acres of wetlands inside the city of Albany. It is perfect for our service in every way. Using the BEKF grant, we were able to furnish the offices and volunteer room immediately, along with part of the training room.

We bought a 2005 Ford Expedition retired from Stayton Fire Department earlier in the year. Some work invested into what is now WI allowed us to have our first fleet vehicle. We have been very blessed to receive two donated Ford Expeditions this year: a retired 2007 Ford Expedition (now WII) from our Linn County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and a retired 2010 Ford Expedition K9 Unit (now WIII) from Stayton Police Department (SPD). Chaplain Jeremy already has WII in service, and we are working to get WIII in service for Chaplain Mitch and therapy dog Tiger.

In April, we also welcomed Hannah Keister to our team as Office Manager. Hannah comes to us with a BA in International Studies and French, along with experience in administration by way of being a legislative assistant to a State Representative, and within the business world. When you meet Hannah, you will see her big heart for people and a gift of servanthood, and someone who truly holds the fort down for the Chaplains to be out in the field.

July we held our first Open House, to celebrate our Lord’s provision, thank our donors and sponsors, lift up our First Responders and to simply enjoy good company. We had over 250 guests join us, and we look forward to making it an annual tradition.

August saw our brother Chaplain Freddy Moran leave our team to focus his chaplaincy efforts with the Polk County volunteer chaplaincy group. We have already joined up in service on a critical incident, so will continue to work with him, and we wish Chaplain Freddy and his family well as they continue to seek out and pursue the Lord’s calling upon their lives.

Our team of Chaplains now includes: Chaplain Sherry Sperling, Chaplain Lynn Mireles, Chaplain-in-Training Pam Brost, and Chaplain-in-Training Kali Higgins, along with Assistant Chaplain Mitch Warren, Assistant Chaplain Jeremy Phelps and Chaplain-Emeritus/Senior Instructor Jim Crowley.

By the end-of-summer we grew in the number of agencies we serve. We now serve 5 agencies in Linn County, 4 in Benton County, 7 in Marion County, along with supporting several other agencies informally, and First Responders from wherever they come from. We are unable to formally add any further agencies at this time, as we do not have enough Chaplains to provide service.

Our hopes and prayers for 2023 is to continue to provide the very best chaplaincy services to our local First Responder agencies, First Responder families, and the public we encounter in crisis, with a growing team of First Responder Chaplains, and Community Resource Chaplains.

We would like to add 6 Volunteer Chaplains in the next 12 months, where we will  train our volunteers with internal training, along with utilizing the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC) and the Federation of Fire Chaplains (FFC), in addition to the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF).

Given the logistical needs and operational requirements, we  hope to be able to purchase two ¾ ton pick-up trucks, equipping the vehicles for full-service and response in all weathers, in all locations (from the coast to the mountains), capable of keeping our Chaplains safe, and being a resource on-scene to serve the needs of our First Responders and public in crisis. We would also like to get a side-by-side UTV which would be very helpful to use on Search & Rescues and other large-scale events.

If you would like to learn more of the Chaplaincy Mission, please stop by the office, or contact us by email or phone to schedule a visit or phone call with you.

If you would like to support WVFRC with donations, all gifts are tax deductible (Tax ID #83-0633502). You can visit our website at WVFRC.org and click the “Give Now” button, or mail a check.

From our whole team, we wish you a Merry Christmas and THANK YOU greatly for your support and prayer covering!