William "Bill" Lotz

Reata Springs Baptist Church,
Public Safety/Community Chaplaincy, Public Safety/Community Chaplaincy
Reata Springs Baptist Church
August 12
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About My Family

My wife, Bobbie, and I have three adult daughters and four grandchildren. We live in West Richland, Wash. My wife and I have served in ministry since 1988. Bobbie is a teacher, and I work full time as a chaplain.

About My Ministry

I was a pastor for 12 years and also a volunteer firefighter and then fire chaplain. In 2000, I resigned my pastorate and went full time into chaplain ministry, serving as a fire chaplain as well as chaplaincy in jails, hospitals and hospice. Two years ago, we formed a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing chaplain ministry to fire and police departments throughout southeast Washington. I recruit, train and administer volunteer chaplains currently for 13 fire and police departments. Our chaplains are called to the scene of any serious fire or medical call in order to minister to the needs of crisis survivors. We also get to minister to firefighters and police officers as they perform their very demanding jobs.

SBC Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy is a "frontline" ministry that is vital to the extension of the local church. Chaplains reach the lost among the thousands of men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces, correctional facilities, healthcare settings, public safety, disaster relief sites and corporate environments. SBC Chaplains care for the broken, offer hope to the hopeless, and advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ in hard to reach places. The qualifications expected of a Southern Baptist applying for endorsement as a chaplain or counselor are established by the using agency and the Chaplains Commission, SBC. These qualification requirements vary according to the type of chaplaincy or counseling ministry involved but all are expected to meet a high level of ministerial competence. A basic qualification from the Chaplains Commission, SBC, is that an applicant is a Southern Baptist who is a member in good standing with an SBC church. Additional qualification requirements may involve certain age limits, educational background, ministry experience, physical condition, financial and credit history, citizenship eligibility for a security clearance, certification by certain national organizations, and other qualifications specific to the Using Agency or Chaplains Commission, SBC. If you are interested in pursuing next steps as an SBC endorsed chaplain from your church, explore the possibilities at Send me. For more information about SBC Chaplaincy, visit www.namb.net/chaplaincy.

Pray

For boldness to share the gospel as I interact with people. For receptive hearts among the people in communities where these I serve. For volunteer fire and police chaplains who can faithfully represent God's love in the most difficult crisis situations. For me to see the people of our community through the eyes of God. For God's provision to sustain our ministry. For people to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. For the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers into the field to join us.

Participate

Chaplains serve as an extension of the local church in places that other members and church staff sometimes cannot go. Explore the opportunities to extend the reach of your church by becoming a chaplain in one of the many settings where chaplains bring gospel ministry with compassion and convictional kindness. Be involved in supporting chaplains and their families. Pray for chaplains and their families.
NAMB does not provide compensation for SBC endorsed chaplains. However, a general fund is available to receive donations in support of the ministry and pastoral care to SBC endorsed chaplains. To donate, please visit Support Chaplaincy (missionaries.namb.net/projects/full/chaplaincy).
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