Can Police Be Ambassadors of Hope?

An excerpt from Tez’s upcoming book, Debriefing: Meditations of Hope for Those Who Protect and Serve.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared 

to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope 

that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15

“I’m going to walk into the woods and kill myself, Chaplain.” Jay Decker* was unemotional and resolved as he spoke into the phone.

As his chaplain, Kyle’s relationship with Decker brought them to this moment of trust in the midst of crisis.

“I’m in my car out here in the forest, with my gun, Chaplain.” 

“I imagine you’re feeling overwhelmed under the weight of everything. I’m sorry.” Kyle said, “You wanna talk about it?”

A few years earlier, Decker was a police officer and had responded to a call for an infant in distress. Sadly, after performing mouth-to-mouth he was unable to resuscitate the child. By the time EMS arrived, the baby was dead. 

The incident caused Decker to spiral into an ever-increasing abyss of post-traumatic stress disorder. First it was nightmares and cold sweats, then insomnia and drinking. Officer Decker sought counseling which helped a lot. 

But the degree of his illness became painfully obvious to everyone at work one day when he removed his shirt in the locker room revealing a large tattoo across his chest. 

It was a tattoo of the infant’s name.

When Chaplain Kyle saw it, he knew he had to talk with Decker. Over the next few years their relationship developed into a deep and trusted friendship. Kyle walked with Decker through his drinking problem, a divorce, promiscuity, domestic abuse, suicide attempts, and finally the loss of his job. All the while, as an ambassador of hope, Kyle continued to point his friend to Jesus, the only person who could bring Decker truth and healing. 

Now Decker had called him to say goodbye. “Life blows. I’m done, Kyle.”

“Jay, you know this isn’t the answer.”

“I can still taste that baby’s death in my mouth.”

On the other end of the phone Kyle was silent in the wake of those powerful words.

“How do you do it?” Decker continued. “Where’s the hope? How are you so peaceful and—”

“Jay, do you really wanna know?”

Once Kyle convinced Decker to empty his gun and lock it in the trunk, he proceeded to share with his friend how Jesus changed his own life. Decker was finally ready to admit his desperate need for a Savior. Over the next few years, Kyle discipled his buddy and watched him grow in his new walk with God. 

Decker was able to overcome alcoholism and other vices. Now, he’s remarried with six kids and passionate about his relationship with God.

You don’t have to be a chaplain or some other clergy to be a light in someone’s hour of need. If you believe in the power of the Almighty, you are an ambassador of hope for everyone around you. You might never see or hear how you affected others—that’s ok. Just be that tower of peace, ready to point them to God, when they ask where your hope comes from.

*all names and locations changed for privacy

Dispatch:

• Hebrews 10:23
• 2 Corinthians 5:20

Investigate:

Find out more about what it how to follow Christ. Go to https://tinyurl.com/54mfyhce

Debrief: 

Heavenly Father, use me to be a witness for you. Give me divine appointments with people so that I might be a light to others. Cause me to be ready when asked, to give an answer for the hope in me . Amen.   

Tez is a former LEO and chaplain. For more encouragement for law enforcement, check out his YouVersion reading plan, “Hope for Police Officers.”