December Edition
December marks the anticipation of the traditional Christmas Season and the advent of the New Year. Caliatra and I are looking forward to delivering food baskets to the residents of Woodland Care Center and spending time with family and friends.
In November we launched and named our weekly home worship gatherings as the Ekklesia at Spirit Lane Community. We have an identity as a safe place to worship, pray, and fellowship in the Spirit. Information about our gatherings has been added to the First Place Ministries website: www.firstplaceministries.com
We also hosted a Surviving the Holidays seminar for 10 widows at the Hawthorne House in Woodland, WA. November 16th. A widow-care support group will be established and led by Caliatra beginning in January. Advocating for the care of widows is Caliatra ’s platform for the Ms. Senior USA Pageant in which she will participate in 2023 as the representative as Ms. Senior Washington USA. She will also be representing Ireland as Ms. Senior Universe. You can follow Caliatra on her new website at www.CrownPageantProductions.com.
We hope that you have a wonderful and safe Christmas holiday.
Merry Christmas,
Rolland
FAITH:
As people who find their identity in the declaration of Yeshua found in Matthew 16:18, “upon this rock I will build My ekklesia (community)”, we embrace opportunities to be salt and light, and serve the Kingdom of Adonai by serving our communities at large in various capacities. I have interviewed ekklesians who have or are servings on school boards, teaching in public or private schools, on city councils, nurses, and launched public school alternatives. More recently I have become aware of the various chaplaincy programs and opportunities throughout the USA.
My wife was involved in chaplaincy around 2014 as a chaplain to the local Police and Fire & Rescue. Then she transitioned to serving as a chaplain to the elderly and end of life hospice care with Woodland Care Center in Woodland, WA. I recently applied for, and was accepted into, the chaplaincy with Nursing Home Ministries, Inc.
I am highlighting the chaplaincy career option this month as there are many other avenues for men and women who have a call on their life to build Adonai’s kingdom. While many of the chaplain organization are volunteer, there are paid chaplaincy programs with the military, elder care centers, police and fire fighters. Chaplaincy serves a critical need in emergency situations and end of life scenarios. It is a time to provide hope and comfort in critical situations. As a volunteer, there is no need for a seminary degree or ordination or licensing. The most necessary quality is having a heart of compassion for the elderly.
Here are a few statistics as compiled by Zippia:
- There are over 7,768 hospice chaplains currently employed in the United States.
- 33.4% of all hospice chaplains are women, while 66.6% are men.
- The average age of an employed hospice chaplain is 51 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of hospice chaplains is White (72.5%), followed by Black or African American (10.8%), Hispanic or Latino (8.5%) and Asian (6.2%).
- In 2021, women earned 98% of what men earned.
- 20% of all hospice chaplains are LGBT.
- Hospice chaplains are 82% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
Just a few observations about the statistics. There is a lot of opportunity to be light to a generation of people who need to know about the love of Yeshua. Chaplaincy is 2-1, men to women in ratio. More women are becoming chaplains. There is a lot of opportunity for people ethnically to share the gospel. This ministry is more about heart than theology.
I hope you will share the video with someone who might be considering Chaplaincy, particularly as a volunteer.
I hope you will share the video with someone who might be considering Chaplaincy, particularly as a volunteer.
A ministry of Spirit Lane Community
to the widows of Lewis County.
This ministry of compassion is being launched and led
by Caliatra Wright in January 2023 for widows only.
Home base will be established in the Hawthorne House.
Please watch for details, dates and time via this page.
John serves as the Executive Director of Nursing Home Ministries.
I invite you to listen to John’s heart for the Lord and the elderly.
He has served as a chaplain for over 25 years.
Click here to watch the interview with John.
Website: Nursing Home Ministries
If you would like to donate to First Place Ministries, please click the link below. All proceeds help to keep the ministry running.
First Place Ministries is not a 501c3 organization.
Spirit Lane Community
Spirit Lane Community is a gathering of the Ekklesia in Woodland, Washington and the surrounding region.
We gather to worship, pray, study the Word of Adonai (God), receive instruction and communion, and fellowship together.
We gather at 4 pm Sundays at 2428 Lewis River Road,
home of Rolland and Caliatra Wright.
If you have questions about Spirit Lane Community, please contact us via Rolland@firstplaceministries.com
Get our new book!
Choose Life Journal
First Place Ministries is seeking to help you establish a daily time with the Scriptures and the Spirit! Available now on our website or through Barnes & Noble or Amazon, is our latest book, Choose Life Journal.
o If you have never read or studied the Bible for yourself, this book is for you. The how and why of personal Bible study time is contained in this book.
o If you have used devotional material before, please consider journaling and discover how the Holy Spirit will mentor you.
o If you have participated in inductive Bible study with directed questions, please consider journaling and allowing the Holy Spirit to direct you into all truth.
o If you have sought a deeper walk and relationship with Adonai, the Choose Life Journal plan is the study aid for you. Each chapter is designed to equip you with the skills to participate in the inductive method of Bible study, journal at the leading of the Holy Spirit, and create an action plan for applying the Word of God.
I have utilized the inductive method of Bible study for over seventeen years. Your thoughts, your actions, your attitudes will be challenged by the Word of God. You will see the transformation which your interaction with God’s Word causes as you become conformed to His image. The Bible is a powerful book! It is “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword…and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).” I challenge you to try the Choose Life Journal study methodology for 21-days through the book of John.
Books are available via Barnes & Noble and Amazon.