The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry: When Cops Need Back-Up

Thursday, February 19, 2009

When Cops Need Back-Up

Fellow Sheepdogs:

First off, don’t forget that this week’s meeting is TOMORROW (Thursday, February 19th) from 1830-1930 at Calvary South Denver in Littleton . As such, we will NOT meet this Saturday as I’ll be on duty. Our next Saturday get-together will on February 28th from 0900-1000+.

Last week’s meeting at Calvary Aurora went very well as we took a look at what it means to truly “BELIEVE” in God.” Some estimates state that more 90% of Americans “believe” in “God.” Does that simple belief mean that they are “saved” (Christian)? We contend that it most certainly does not. In fact, James 2:19 tells us that even Satan and his demons “believe” in God! Rather, the Greek word for “believe,” pisteuo, literally means to “place one’s trust in another” and occurs over ninety times in the Gospel of John alone. Its use and meaning is far different than simply to “believe” that something exists. In fact, the proper use of the word is CENTRAL to our very salvation as shown by the following amplified passages using the proper context of pisteuo:

"Jesus said to her, I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me, although he may die, yet he shall live" (John 11:25). "For God so greatly loved the world that He gave up His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Clearly, to “believe” in Jesus is to “believe” in His person and to TRUST Him completely for salvation. Many of Jesus’ contemporaries “believed” in His miraculous powers but they would not believe in Jesus himself (John 6:23-26). Others wanted to believe in a political Messiah but would not believe in the One who suffered for their sins (Mark 15:32). Rather, we MUST be careful to believe and trust in the Jesus of the Bible, in the Son of God who sacrificed His life for our sins (Gal. 1:3, 4; Phil. 2:5-8).

So do you just “believe” in God or are you rather a truly saved BELIEVER? What must one do to truly BELIEVE and be saved? Go to http://www.pofci.org/knowJesus.htm to find out more!

This week’s message will expand on this concept as we get back to basics in our PeaceKeepers study by learning about “Getting Connected with God” (aka, “When Cops Need Back-Up”). Hope you can join us!

PRAYER REQUESTS (As always, send us your prayer needs and I’ll post them here as appropriate.):

(1) On Sunday, former DPD officer/current DPD chaplain Manny Hays and a number of Centurion Ministry supporters will be attending a memorial dedication in remembrance of Denver PD Officer James Szadaj. James died last year after a long battle with stomach cancer and this will be an opportunity for Christian officers to reach out to their colleagues. Please pray that powerful seeds will be planted.

(2) The Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO) will be holding their national conference in Colorado this fall and is attempting to have Lt. Col. Dave Grossman as a keynote speaker. Please pray that the details can be worked out.

(3) NMDPS academy instructor Mary Mabry asked that we be in prayer for the family (he leaves two sons behind) and colleagues of NM State Police Agent Patrick Gonzales who was found dead in his Santa Fe home last week. While Pat is reported to have died of natural causes, no doubt the rigors of what we do for a living contributed to his untimely (age 42) death. I knew Pat from my time in New Mexico and found him to be a true warrior.

(4) A brother at our Aurora meeting last Saturday asked us to pray for his son, and Aurora PD officer who does not know Christ as Savior. Pray this or fellow warrior comes to truly “BELIEVE” in Christ as Lord.

(5) Continue to pray for me and this ministry. God is beginning to use me in new ways (pastoral studies, ministry leadership, etc.) and I covet both your prayers and seek ongoing accountability concerning same.

Finally, check out this short video from Police Pulse (formerly Police Facebook): http://www.policepulse.com/video/video/show?id=1931776:Video:151426&xgs=1

Don’t forget – this week’s meeting is Thursday (2/19) at Calvary South Denver! Hope to see you there.

Our Core Verses

COPS -- God's ministers for good and a terror against evil. We do not bear the sword in vain.

(Paraphrase...for full text, see the Bible in Romans 13:1-4)

Psalm 82:3-4

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.ressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.he widow.

Colorado Law Enforcement Ministry Meeting Schedules

The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry (FCPO-Denver)

On the local front (meaning Colorado Front Range) we typically meet for iron sharpens iron fellowship and Bible study every 2nd and 4th Tuesday evening of each month at Calvary Castle Rock. Email me for details at thecenturionministry@gmail.com or give me a shout at 720-371-1022

Men of Courage Law Enforcement Ministry

Buena Vista (CO) PD Sgt. Dean Morgan is leading a law enforcement fellowship/Bible study in Chaffee County and the surrounding area. Contact Dean at interceptor@policeone.com for more info.

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TCLEM Mission Statement

The mission of The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry (TCLEM), is to educate law enforcement officers (police, deputies, troopers, investigators, parole/probation, corrections, military, etc.) about God's unique call on their lives as outlined in God's word (Bible) and to lead officers and their families to a saving knowledge of and close personal relationship with our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Through same, we also seek to positively impact our profession by raising up Christian servant-leaders and reduce our historically high rates of divorce, alcoholism, depression, suicide and related issues.

Law enforcement is a God-ordained ministry of service and protection for our society as outlined in the Bible in Romans 13. Inasmuch as our very authority as peace officers is given to us by God, TCLEM seeks to affirm our calling as servant-warriors ("sheepdogs") and leaders while at the same time developing the our spiritual, family and personal lives through Bible study, peer fellowship, and group accountability along with active involvement in a solid Christ-centered/Bible-based church. We also seek to infuse our profession with godly leaders who will in fact LEAD (serve) from a biblical world view.

What We Believe (Statement of Faith)

(1) WE BELIEVE the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ's sacrificial agape love, which is greater than any secondary differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.

(2) WE BELIEVE in all the fundamental doctrines of orthodox evangelical Christianity as detailed in God's word (Bible).

(3) WE BELIEVE the sixty-six books of the Bible (i.e. Old and New Testament) comprise the totality of Holy Scripture and is inerrant in the original text, and remains God-breathed/God-inspired and infallible in all its substance, and therefore, it is the supreme and final authority in faith, theology, and life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:11, 89, 105.

(4) WE BELIEVE that our Lord has called us to share the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to an individual's life and, in particular as it relates to our service in the God-ordained calling of law enforcement. We also believe that it is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to seek to make growing disciples. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8.

(5) WE BELIEVE there is only One true, eternally existent God. He exists in three co-equal persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The triune God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and is worthy of worship and obedience. Deut. 6:4-5; Genesis 1:31, Luke 3:21-22; Matthew 28:18-20, Rev. 4:11.

(6) WE BELIEVE in one God who is Creator of heaven and earth, Spirit, personal, transcendent, sovereign, life, love, truth, almighty, simple (i.e. one without parts), timelessly eternal, unchangeable, wise, just, holy, relational, dynamic and infallible in all things.

(7) WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, possessing two distinct natures which are co-joined in one person, that He was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless and miraculous life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vicarious substitutionary death on the Cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, physically ascended back to the right hand of God the Father in heaven, and lives to make intercession for us. After Jesus ascended to Heaven, He poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem, enabling them to fulfill His command to preach the gospel to the entire world, an obligation shared by all believers today. John 1:1-3,14; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:11.

(8) WE BELIEVE that all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered as a gift by the Lord Jesus Christ to all based on His grace alone. When a person sincerely repents of their sin and enters into a life-saving/life-changing personal relationsship (not "religion") with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, they are immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all their sins are forgiven, and they become a child of God -- changed, and destined to spend eternity with Him. John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21.

(9) WE BELIEVE in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures, and that they are valid for today, and should be exercised within scriptural guidelines, seeking to exercise them in love that the whole Body of Christ might be edified. John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9,11; Titus 3:5.

(10) WE BELIEVE in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, and we believe that the physical second coming of Christ with His saints to rule on the earth will be personal, premillennial, and visible. This motivates us to holy living, heart-felt worship, committed service, diligent study of God's Word, regular fellowship, and participation in the two ordinances the Lord gave the church - adult baptism by immersion and Holy Communion. Revelation 3:10, Thessalonians 5:9.

(11) WE BELIEVE there is a real personal devil of great evil, cunning, and power, who seeks to tempt, kill, steal, and destroy, yet his power is limited by God to only what God permits him to do; that the devil has been defeated positionally at the cross of Christ, and will be defeated practically at Christ's glorious second coming which will ultimately eventuate in the quarantine and punishment of the Satan (aka the Devil, Beast, and False Prophet, etc.) in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone where they will be tormented day and night forever (what has been traditionally called "Hell"). Luke 10:18; Matthew 4:10; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11, etc.

(12) WE BELIEVE that our Lord is clear that there is ONLY ONE WAY to Christ and that is through a life-changing personal relationship with the Risen Savior. Jesus told his disciples, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). He did not merely point the way to God. He himself claimed to be the only way to the Father and the source of eternal truth and life. The way to God is through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Intellectual acceptance of Christ is not enough. You must come to him determined to turn from what displeases him, with a total trust in Christ's saving power for you.

Are you ready to receive Christ today? If so, scroll up towards the top of this page to the links under How Can I be Saved (AKA True "Officer Safety"). Please feel free to contact me if you need help in this area -- it would be my honour to lead you "home" to Christ!

If you sincerely put your faith in Christ, God promises not only to forgive you, but also to receive you into his family. It's the greatest discovery you will ever make!

Donate to the Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry

We do accept donations to support our ministry and outreach, including but not limited to leading officers to Christ, support for wounded officers; "officer down" outreach; chaplain and counseling services; speaking engagements; website expenses; ministry apparel, etc. Donations can be made out to The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry and mailed to

P.O. Box 630854
Littleton, CO 80163

That said, support your church first...and then donate if the Holy Spirit inspires you to do so. Thanks in advance for your support.