Articles to Inform and Encourage
Graduates of volunteer chaplaincy program prepare to serve community
IDAHO FALLS – Twelve people in Idaho Falls will soon be teaming up with law enforcement officers to become their first volunteer chaplains.
Pastor Tim Rupp and Senior Chaplain Christa Trinchera started Law Enforcement Chaplaincy of Idaho, a nonprofit training program, earlier this year.
The Book Shelf
Books by Tim Rupp
Winning a Gunfight
Does physically surviving a gunfight mean you won? Not by a long shot. Many people survive gunfights. In fact, most people who are in a gunfight survive. But there’s a difference between surviving and winning.
Surviving means you continue to exist. Continuing to exist and winning are not the same. Career police officer and author Tim Rupp has been on both sides of a gunfight—being investigated after being in a gunfight and investigating citizens and officers who have been in shootings. Drawing from personal and professional experiences as a patrol officer, homicide detective, and police sergeant, Rupp takes you through what you’ll face in a gunfight. Before picking up a gun for personal protection or the protection of others you need to prepare yourself for what you’ll face before, during, and after a gunfight. Winning a Gunfight prepares you ethically, mentally, and tactically how to win a gunfight. Winning a Gunfight is a must read for police officers, military, and armed citizens.
Winning is More than Surviving
Police and military chaplains are called on to minister to those who kill. Violence is shunned in our society, but justified violence is sometimes necessary to stop unjustified violence. Even the wise King Solomon said, there is “a time to kill” (Eccl. 3:3).
While most of society recoils in fear at violence, some are called to enter that violent world and protect. There are warriors among us who take up arms and protect those unable or unwilling to protect themselves. But who helps the warriors? Chaplains are called to minister to the spiritual needs of these warriors. To be effective, members of the clergy need to understand the dynamics of using lethal force. Winning is More than Surviving is a supplemental guide to Winning a Gunfight for clergy to use as they minister to these warriors.
Suicide is Not an Option
America’s law enforcement officers are significantly more likely to die by suicide than being murdered in the line of duty.
For years mental health professionals have come alongside officers with treatment, assistance, and counsel. Yet, the suicide rate continues to increase. Can this ever-increasing suicide rate among these warriors be stopped? In “Suicide is Not an Option” Tim approaches suicide from a spiritual health perspective. His police experience enables him to relate the challenges faced by officers today. Using personal accounts, clear language, and practical reasoning, he argues there is meaning to life beyond the individual. A meaning so deep it transcends life on earth. Humans are not only physical and mental beings, but spiritual beings who yearn for a yet to be experienced life beyond. This eternal hope instilled in every person gives meaning to life and a reason to hope. Hope for more, hope for new, hope for better. Tim believes that this intrinsic hope is a key to reduce not only the suicide rate among our warriors, but across humanity.