Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 NIV
old Chaplaincy page
What is a Chaplain? Essentially a Chaplain is someone (clergy or lay person) who is the religious representative attached to an institution like: Prisons, Hospitals, Armed forces, University, Emergency Services, School or business. So what is a Community Chaplain then?
A Chaplain that works in the community.
Wise guy hey?! Alright then so what does a Community Chaplain do?
It can vary of course but we make ourselves available for one-on-one chats, often they centre on the tough questions and messy situations in a person’s life.
Our Chaplain/s have a focus as well on Anti-Recidivism (that is helping clients stay out of gaol).
Facilitating life skills courses (for both men and women), provides a block of time for client and chaplain to better get to know each other (in a group setting), often resulting in deeper issues being raised and worked through (after the group session).
Whilst typically chaplains are not trained counsellors, life experience and training in Pastoral Care can often help out many clients, others are referred on to Counsellors, Psychologists and Psychiatrists (e.g. Anglicare, Break the Cycle and others service providers).
Referrals to other services like Emergency Relief, Men’s Shed, Community Pantry, Mental Health nurse, Financial counselling, Gambling counselling, and government agencies (including Parole, Drug Court, Legal Aid and Centrelink) and-the-like are common.
Practical help is sometimes provided where time and resources allow.
“God conversations” are encouraged but never forced. As Christian chaplains we are always keen to share the good news of Jesus, His birth, death and resurrection. News that brings complete forgiveness of sins, that makes us right with God, through Jesus alone (not through our puny efforts).
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 TNIV
Come clients when asked “You’ve been doing life your way so far. How’s that working out for you?” come to the conclusion that “it’s has not worked out!”
When someone then chooses to try the way of the maker, they will take the courageous step to check out the God stuff by taking up one of the many invites they would have been receiving along the way.
That person is encouraged to attend a local bible based Evangelical church that is known to the Chaplain – often the same one he or she attends or runs, as people are usually the bridge into a church fellowship.
Community Chaplains
Rev. Stuart Woods, Community Chaplain - Liverpool/Macquarie Fields
Community Chaplain at Break the Cycle Glenquarie since 2012 and at St Luke’s Liverpool since 2013.
Facilitator of Sorted! life skills courses for men at St Luke’s Liverpool and Break the Cycle Glenquarie
Former Anglicare Prison Chaplain 2011-2012.
Married 1997 with two teenage boys.
A life member and former President of Ambassadors Christian Motorcycle Club since 1997.
Ordained as Deacon in Anglican Diocese of Sydney Feb 2013.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 TNIVLike Jesus I see that as a Christian (someone who has the Holy Spirit living in them) that I too, am to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind to set the oppressed free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour (Luke 4:16-21 TNIV)
“God has given me a real heart for men… In Jesus, I am forgiven, a new creation freed from the burden of my past mistakes, right with my maker and ready for Eternity. If I can share this message with other men, they too then have same opportunity to do the same.”
“When you can point a bloke back to Jesus, forgiveness can be found, real hope returns and you have a great possibility of seeing not just one man come good, and therefore make the world a better place, but Lord willing his family as well” – Chaplain Stu
Rev. Steve Thurgar, Community Chaplain - Eagle Vale
The newest facilitator in training for Sorted! life skills courses for men (the 3rd and newest location in Sydney for the course) planned start date 17th August 2018.
As a member of Eagle Vale Anglican Church since 2013 and now on staff there, Steve seeks to faithfully proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to those in the Campbelltown area and wherever God might lead him.
As the full time Assistant Pastor at Eagle Vale Anglican Church since 2018, Steve ministers to the socially disadvantaged in South West Sydney. Surrounding suburbs include: Claymore, Eagle Vale, Raby, Blairmount, Kearns and Eschol Park.
Steve has been married since 2001 with three energetic daughters.
Ordained as a Deacon in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney Feb 2018.
Bachelor of Theology at Moore Theological College. 2017.
Bachelor of Applied Science (Sports and Exercise degree) 2001.
Former Exercise Physiologist in the NSW Worker’s Comp system for 15 years.
Steve’s enjoys keeping fit, Karate and watching movies.
Copyright © 2021 Stuart Woods, All rights reserved.