The Cove Hosts Chaplain Training Conference

Attendees leave equipped and refreshed

June 26, 2009 - During June 15-18, the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove hosted the annual Chaplain Training Conference.

by Joy Allmond

248 pastors, chaplains and church leaders completed International Critical Incident Stress Foundation courses and heard riveting evening messages from Bishop Joseph Wiley of New Orleans and Preston Parrish, Executive Vice President of Ministry for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Attendees learned how to appropriately share God's hope and comfort in times of crisis and how to be involved with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team as a chaplain.

Courses taken by trainees included: Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support; Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention; and Group Crisis Intervention.

"This was my first time here and everything was beyond my greatest expectations," said one trainee. "Everyone had a joyful servant’s attitude. This was a highly organized and well-run event.”

Attendees were not only impressed by the training they received. They were also blessed.

“God’s love and compassion were right here for my entire stay," reflected one person. "I really enjoyed learning and meeting people with the passion to serve in this ministry."