Public Safety Ministries Inc.

A Message From a Colleague

Dan Carlson — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:02:08 +0000

Public Safety Ministries has a mission to provide and promote Spiritual Health and Fitness in all public safety professions; Law Enforcement, Fire Service, Emergency Medical Service and Military. Having spent the last 30 years working in Law Enforcement, my focus obviously has been directed at that discipline. However, the issues and challenges we face are clearly universal to all these professions. With permission, below I share a message that was written by a colleague who works as a full time chaplain serving those in the EMS profession. It contains some of the “universal truths” that I often speak of that impact those of us whose lives are embedded in the “human condition”.

Enjoy!

“Growing Into Your Profession”

by Russ Myers, Allina Medical Transportation Chaplain

Cumulative stress, critical incidents, and the emotional weight of our work are familiar to all of us whose jobs involve caring for people in crisis. We know how important it is to be intentional about taking care of ourselves and keeping our lives in balance.

So it may come as a surprise when we begin to notice that we’re not bothered as much by difficult cases as we used to be. We may wonder, “am I getting cold and calloused?” A fire fighter EMT spoke about having clear memories of a call he was on more than a dozen years ago, while the details of a more recent, equally challenging call were not so clear. He asked, “should I be concerned?” Others have made similar comments, and asked the same questions.

A family member of a patient who was coding in the ICU at United Hospital noticed that I was able to be with his loved one without appearing to be in much distress myself. He commented, “I suppose this kind of work gets easier over time.” Easier? No, I told him, it doesn’t get easier, but it does get more familiar.

In response to these conversations, I dug a little deeper into it this year. One of the things I’ve come to recognize is that our responses to critical incidents involve more than one emotion. A normal response to loss is to feel grief or sadness. A typical response to trauma is to be frightened. With experience, the “fear factor” is less than it used to be. Situations that used to scare me aren’t so scary any more. I still experience some initial anxiety as I make the mental shift necessary to respond to a crisis. I notice a heightened sense of awareness, faster heartbeat and other physical responses, but I’m not as frightened.

I believe that, with experience and support from co-workers, family and friends, we can increase our skill at coping with stress and trauma. The fear element is reduced. We have a broader base of experience to draw on, and even though the current situation isn’t exactly the same as something we’ve seen before, we gain confidence in our abilities. It’s not easier, but it is more familiar.

Should you be concerned if you don’t get overwhelmed by a challenging call? I don’t know. One way to explore it is to ask, do you experience normal emotional responses in other areas of your life? Do you tear up at sad movies, laugh, cry, and care for your loved ones in appropriate ways? If yes, this is healthy and you’re probably doing OK.

Others may interpret our lack of fear as meaning that our jobs get easier over time. We may still be sad, but not afraid. If you notice that you’re able to be in the midst of a very tough situation without feeling overwhelmed, take it as a clue that you’re growing into your profession. There will be times when your ability to cope gets stretched, and I encourage you to take advantage of support resources and critical incident debriefings. But there will be other times when you recognize that you do feel sad about the situation, but it’s within the scope of your normal work, and you’re going to be OK.

Russ

Russ Myers, D.Min., BCC, is chaplain at United Hospital and Allina Medical Transportation in St. Paul, Minnesota. In his work with Emergency Medical Services he provides staff support to EMTs and paramedics.

Public Safety Ministries In The News

Dan Carlson — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 03:31:24 +0000

This past year, the work we do at Public Safety Ministries received some media attention that resulted in a couple of short video clips. We received an award from the American Red Cross this summer and you can view the award video here: American Red Cross Award Video

We were also contacted by Comcast Media who offered to produce a promotional video supporting our ministry work. That video can be viewed by clicking here: Comcast Newsmakers Video

We want to publicly thank The American Red Cross and Comcast for their generosity and support!

The Great Minnesota “Give” Together!

Dan Carlson — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:14:32 +0000

Dear Friends of Public Safety Ministries,

Thank you so much for your continuing support of Public Safety Ministries!

Today, Wednesday, November 16, 2011 is “Give to the Max Day” sponsored by giveMN.org. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Public Safety Ministries at: http://www.razoo.com/story/Public-Safety-Ministries-1 By giving on Wednesday, Public Safety Ministries has the opportunity to win additional funding through “Give to the Max Day” promotional events.

If you are unable to give on “Give to the Max Day” please consider giving a gift before the end of December to help us reach our 2011 year end funding goals. Your financial support will help Public Safety Ministries meet the growing demand for the Spiritual Health Care Services we provide to Minnesota’s public safety professionals.

Thank you!

Pastor Dan Carlson

A Ministry Update: “A Ministry of Presence, Service and Relationships.”

Dan Carlson — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:46:23 +0000

“A Ministry of Presence, Service and Relationships.” This simple statement has been the foundation of Public Safety Ministries’ outreach efforts since we first incorporated in 2005. Due to the professional relationships established through 25 years as a public safety professional, I was blessed with the opportunity of “insider” access to numerous public safety organizations and functions.

My Presence identity in police, fire and emergency medical service communities has evolved from police officer to pastor, an active representative of spiritual health care in the workplace. In that role, the Service requests and opportunities have increased and developed into an official faith based presence at more than a half dozen monthly public safety events. I also have active Spiritual Health Care responsibilities at numerous public safety gatherings and events throughout the year. Services provided at these events include invocations, prayers, spiritual health messages, faith based perspectives, operational support and individual pastoral care. The number of organizational and individual faith based Relationships resulting from this presence and service has far exceeded our original expectations. We now are extremely active in presence, providing faith based service and building faith based relationships with public safety professionals throughout the state of Minnesota.

Because of the increase in demand and opportunity for providing Spiritual Health Care Services, the Public Safety Ministries Board of Directors is in the process of creating and implementing a new strategic plan. We are excited about our growth and the development of our focus and service identity. We have been blessed and continue to work at answering our Call to Serve!

Take Care, Dan

Dan Carlson — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:48:08 +0000

Dear Friends of Public Safety Ministries,

On September 11, 2011, I attended a Metro Wide, September 11th, Tenth Anniversary Memorial Event. It was a day long gathering, concluding with a memorial service, attended by our Governor, our US Senators, our Public Safety Commissioner, numerous law enforcement, fire service and emergency medical service leaders and personnel, as well as many members of our communities. Below is the benediction I offered at the conclusion of the memorial service, ending our day’s events. The message is also the foundation of a sermon I shared two days earlier at the funeral of Chief Donald Heikkinen of Hancock Minnesota. I have learned that in this business, much of what we do is in response to tragedy and death. The words I shared reflect some of the guiding principles of Public Safety Ministries. Thanks for taking the time to remember, to never forget, all that is good.

September 11, 2011

Minnesota, Metro Wide Public Safety Memorial Service

Dear God,

We pray to you today, for all people. I stand here in this gathering place as a Lutheran Pastor, a product of my family, my community, my culture and my faith traditions. But again I say, we pray today for all people. You have given us universal truths that we live with in this world. There always has been and always will be the truths of love and hate, peace and conflict, celebration and suffering, faith and fear, hope and despair, happiness and anger, compassion and brutality, joy and sadness, strength and weakness. The world is filled with what is good, and what is not. As families, as communities, as cultures and as faith traditions, we often want to take ownership and take credit for all that is good in this world. And we want to place blame and ownership of all that is not good on those who are different from us. Dear God, please bless us with the wisdom to understand that we all share in all of these truths, in what is good and what is not.

We are here today to remember, to never forget. As we remember the lives that have been lost, we will experience life’s truths of pain, sadness, despair and often anger. Help us heal from those very real truths that are products of loss and death. Help us move forward in pursuit of what is good in life. Help us to remember, not how these people died, but to remember how they lived. We must remember that they did not lose their lives, but that they gave their lives, through dedication to service, to care, to bringing compassion to conflict, to being human while bringing order to chaos. These were imperfect human beings, who rose to the challenge and brought what is good in this world into circumstances created by what is not. Please bless our memories of them. And please bless us, for we are them.

Now Dear God, please bless us and nourish us, in Body, Mind and Soul, with the gift of remembrance. Let us never forget, all you have given, All That is Good.

Amen

Pastor Dan Carlson

Public Safety Ministries

One Year Ago Today ……

Dan Carlson — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:15:42 +0000

One year ago today, I was ordained as a pastor of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It was the day I became the occupant of a new office, “The Office of Pastor”. The previous office I held was the “Office of Police Chief”. Most people I talk with consider the transition a drastic change, but there are more similarities than differences in the two positions.

A lot has happened with Public Safety Ministries since I was ordained by Bishop Craig Johnson (pictured above) last year. I have learned a lot as I’ve walked this ministry path, and that learning has been greatly enhanced by walking it holding the new office of Reverend. From that vantage point I have some new authority and a new credential, but it also comes with a much greater responsibility. There is no official “probation” period for pastors like there is for new cops, but old habits are hard to break and I consider today as the day I completed my probation. Now, after a year of holding the office, I know one thing for sure. Public Safety Ministries is here to stay.

In coming days I’ll be sharing more of what we (yes we) have learned here at Public Safety Ministries this past year. I am excited about what the future has in store!

I’ll leave you this morning with a picture from a recent trip I took to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area this summer. It was my first trip to the BWCA but definitely not my last.

Take Care!

Reminder: “NO” June Spiritual Fitness Gathering

Dan Carlson — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:48:28 +0000

Hello All,

Just a reminder that we will “NOT” be gathering in June.
I hope to see you when we reconvene in July!

Take Care, Dan

May Spiritual Fitness Gathering: “How We Share Our Faith”

Dan Carlson — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:47:46 +0000

“Spiritual Fitness Lunch Gathering”
Wednesday May 25, 2011. Noon to 1:00
Oak Knoll Lutheran Church
600 Hopkins Crossroad
Minnetonka MN 55305

Hello Everyone,

I have received several messages from folks that are interested in attending this month’s gathering. I am excited by the interest from people representing different aspects of the public safety professions. I thought, since we may have some new attendees this month, we would discuss and share stories of “How We Share Our Faith”. I have not met some of you who are now on this email list, so I’m attaching a link to a video about our ministry work. I was honored this past week with an award from the Twin Cities Chapter of The American Red Cross. One of the benefits of the award is the production of a short video on the award recipients by Comcast. My intentions are not to be self promoting with this video, but are definitely intended to be “Ministry Promoting”. I love sharing the message of how the public safety professionals of Minnesota have such strong faith lives and often do not have the opportunity to share that part of their life.

Red Cross Award video link
You may want to check out some of the other awards videos, several are given to those in the public safety professions.

Feel free to forward this message to anyone you feel may be interested in attending. All are welcome.

As always, coffee and water are provided. Feel free, or not, to bring something to eat for lunch.

Take Care, Dan

March 2011 Spiritual Fitness Gathering “Field Trip!”

Dan Carlson — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:51:34 +0000

Hello All,

This month we will be changing our venue and format for our gathering. I have been asked to speak at the “Vocatio Chapel” at Augsburg College on our regular meeting date. So I figured we could make this month’s gathering be a “field trip” of sorts if people were interested in attending. I have attached the poster (the PDF is rather large so I’ve also attached a web link if that is easier to view) that Augsburg created for the event with additional details and information. It will be held at Augsburg College in Mpls during their regular chapel time, Wed. March 23, 2011,10:20 to 10:40 with fellowship time following. I will be delivering a short message telling of my vocational calling and its relation to body, mind and soul. Feel free to contact me if you’d like more information.

Take Care, Dan

poster web link: Vocatio Chapel PosterMAR

January 2011 Spiritual Fitness Gathering

Dan Carlson — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:28:54 +0000

“Spiritual Fitness Lunch Gathering”
Wednesday January 26, 2011. Noon to 1:00
Oak Knoll Lutheran Church
600 Hopkins Crossroad
Minnetonka MN 55305

Join us as we discuss: “Vocation: Answering Your Call”

Time and time again, I hear public safety professionals refer to their professions as more of a calling than a job. This is particularly common when then they are questioned about their choice of profession in times of critical incident response. Join us as we discuss the idea of vocation and calling in our profession.

As always, you can bring your own lunch, coffee and water provided.