Mike Warman, Senior Pastor of Parklands Christian Centre, sees chaplaincy as irreplaceable to young people. In his role as LCC chair of the Logan West region, he is enthusiastically involved in the lives of the eight chappies across his cluster.
“I believe chaplains save lives at the end of the day,” Mike says.
“As a pastor I see a lot, and some of the issues young people face are diabolical. Chappy is a consistent, trusted person in the school whose sole purpose is to serve and strengthen people in their community.”
Mike has been involved with the LCC for nearly two decades, and acknowledges that Logan West is an area that has its fair share of challenges. Instead of being disheartened, he sees it as an opportunity for chaplaincy to flourish.
“There are a lot of challenges in this region, so we just encourage each other around them,” he said.
“Chaplains build a bridge to the community groups that support the families of Logan West, and I’m so grateful for that.”
In the field of pastoral care, Mike is aware that while encouragement is essential, taking action is also necessary for growth.
“Every few months each of the chappies in our cluster are invited to speak at our church service. They tell us about the work they’re doing and the programs they’re running, and extend the invitation for our congregation members to jump on-board.”
“It is a personable way to promote chaplaincy and highlight the need in our community.”
Mike’s heart for chaplaincy is that it would continue to provide opportunities to support young people within schools and in turn connect them to networks within the wider community.
“I’ve learnt that when you have patience, answers are always there. With consistency, you can help people build resilience in their lives, and that is what our chappies do,” Mike said.
Mike shares 5 Top Tips for other LCC chairs:
- Encourage each other – You never know what other people are going through, and your words hold power.
- Have a servant heart – Always look for opportunities to serve, because in that the purpose of life is found.
- Be planted – Establish strong connections with your community. You’re there for a reason.
- Keep your heart clean – Let go of the things you’ve been holding on to. It hurts you more than you probably realise.
- Life is short – Be intentional about your actions and intentions. Remember, there’s no time like the present to start afresh!