The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry: So What Kind of Cop are You?

Thursday, September 23, 2010

So What Kind of Cop are You?

Dear Fellow Servant-Warriors:

I previously announced that retired DPD Officer Mark Roggeman would be giving one of his patented cult presentations at this week’s Denver meeting. Unfortunately, Mark is still in North Carolina caring for his ailing father (see the updated September 17th post here on our website). As such, I will be teaching as usual.

Reference same, I can’t take full credit for this week’s study inasmuch as I’m adapting it from the message that Hamilton County (TN) Sheriff Jim Hammond delivered at First Baptist Church of Gulfport during the FCPO National Conference. Entitled ”Dumb, Dumber & One Smart Cop,” Jim’s profession-relevant message centered primarily on II Kings 1. For all those who live outside Metro Denver or can't make tonight's meeting, I'll post my usual detailed recap in next week’s newsletter – stay tuned!

Website Updates!

I’ve added some great new links as well as some of the photos from our recent FCPO National Conference in Gulfport, MS. In addition, take the time to review the updated prayer requests (please join us in praying for these pressing needs) and local meeting schedule.

Courageous Update: A battle to fight…a cause to stand for!

One of this year's FCPO conference highlights was the update we received on the soon-to-be-released film Courageous -- produced by the same great folks who put out Fireproof (the #1 independent film of 2008) and Facing the Giants: Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, GA. The film, which centers on the lives of four police officers (S.O. deputies) and their families, is expected to be truly life-changing! FCPO is playing a role in this production and we’re asking that you start praying now for a wide distribution when it is released next year. Check out the latest via the Courageous website: http://www.courageousthemovie.com/index.php (the videos are a “must see”).

SUPPORT for The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry!

As most everyone is aware, I am not given to asking for support for this ministry (first time via this venue). That said, as our outreach expands, Diana and I are finding it more and more difficult to do it on our own. Inasmuch as our Lord directs us to ask, we do in fact welcome your financial and prayer support with the assurance that anything the Lord chooses to give us will be used biblically and in keeping with James 4:2-3. Donation information is posted on the bottom left corner of our website -- thanks in advance.

Christian Cops in the News!

(1) USAF TSgt. Dennis Kuritz at Los Angeles AFB in El Segundo, CA sent the following:

I watched an amazing interview last night on CBS 2 News in Los Angeles. They interviewed Sgt. Steven Gomez of the LAPD. He was one of the responding officers to the North Hollywood shootout in 1997 and is preparing to retire after 30-plus years with LAPD. Steven spoke about being a CHRISTIAN, how he was blessed everyday of his life, and that he is proud to be a member of the LAPD. Gomez allowed the media to film him in his patrol car with his Bible on the front seat, and he spoke of reading it daily and would read more if he arrived early to a meeting or event. I looked for a video of the interview on the stations website and found none. I will be digging into this more but I thought it was great to hear from a true “Sheepdog” about his walk through life with the LAPD.

On a side note, IF you see any of the footage of the shootout, he was the SWAT officer in shorts (he was running at the academy and his patrol vehicle was the furthest away so he decided “I just do this in shorts”) who took out the last shooter (Matasareanu) and was awarded the LAPD Medal of Valor (one of nineteen given for actions that day).

(2) Streamwood (IL) PD Sgt. “Dino” Heckermann sent the following:

Here is a great article on "Faith in Uniform". It has some powerful testimonies from cops from NY to LA. FCPO is mentioned in the article. http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/features2/481-christianity-on-the-job/9732-faith-in-uniform.

I've posted a link to this story here on our website.

That’s about it for this week. Please join us tonight if you’re in the area and, if not, stay tuned for my newsletter and website updates each and every week (don’t forget to pass ‘em on to your colleagues, family and friends). We also strongly encourage you to be part of you own local fellowship of Christian officers (see http://www.fcpo.org/ for a chapter in your area). If a fellowship is not close by, we’ll be glad to help you start one. Stay strong in Christ and watch each other's "six!"

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.

_______________

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.