Police Chaplain to speak at Vienna Assembly of God Church Nov. 22

By Laura Schiermeier, Staff Writer
Posted 11/18/20

VIENNA — Clifford Wagner, who is pastor of the First Assembly of God Church in Vienna, which is also known as the Vienna Christian Life Assembly, has invited a police/law enforcement chaplain …

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Police Chaplain to speak at Vienna Assembly of God Church Nov. 22

Posted

VIENNA — Clifford Wagner, who is pastor of the First Assembly of God Church in Vienna, which is also known as the Vienna Christian Life Assembly, has invited a police/law enforcement chaplain from Farmington to come and speak at the Vienna church on Sunday, Nov. 22 starting at 10 a.m. Wagner said families can practice social distancing inside the church.

Kappler is with US Missions Law Enforcement Chaplaincy. His mission is to help police officers deal with the many stresses they come in contact with while working with the public

Wagner met Kevin Kappler, a fellow pastor, at a meeting of religious leaders and they become acquainted.

Kappler gave up his  job and pay as pastor of an Assembly of God Church in Farmington to attempt to work with law enforcement workers in dealing with the terrible things they see and deal with. He decided to work with law enforcement workers and attended the academy in order to better serve them as one of them. He saw it as a way to help officers and to build a bond of  trust among them. The academy opened the doors of opportunity for him to pursue this ministry. He is their chaplain and he helps them deal with the high stress level of their police jobs. There have been documented increases in suicide among police and at times they are under tremendous stress. He gave up his church to help them.

Wagner said Kappler will minister in music and song and will speak to those who attend about “what God has laid on his heart.” Wagner said Kappler will be given the whole service on Nov. 22.

As a law enforcement chaplain, Kappler is called out when bad things happen. He told Wagner he has seen the strain and at times fear law officers are under, even before the pandemic and the division and the civil unrest they must deal with today. Kappler saw his work as chaplain as another opportunity to help a lot of people.

Kappler works with law officers and also goes into the jail and talks to inmates who’ve been arrested.

An offering will be taken that day.

There will be a loudspeaker outside the church for people who don’t want to come inside the church because of the coronavirus. They can hear Kappler’s words and songs from the security and comfort of their own vehicle.