road home chaplain service

the vision • director’s note • program outline • financial projection

THE VISION — Program Outline

ARTIST CHAPLAINCY DEFINED:
A “chaplain” is defined as one that ministers to a particular group of people gathered together in a setting outside of their “normal” schedule and church life at home. Chaplains serve police departments, fire departments, branches of the military, truckers, professional sports teams and recently in industry and business. Artist Chaplains minister to traveling musicians and touring groups.

Volunteer chaplains minister, serve and help traveling musicians in all aspects of spiritual life while on the road. Chaplains are available 24/7 on an as needed basis to provide guidance, counseling, teaching, encouragement and the performing of on-site worship services for traveling musicians, their families and those associated with them. Chaplains serve on the basis of need and desire through the invitation of traveling musicians. Artist Chaplains are not intended to, nor do they replace the local church or local church pastors. Rather they contribute to and work in partnership with the local church. The ultimate goal is to support the spiritual, emotional and relational health of our artists.

CHAPLAINCY SERVICES PROVIDED:
1. Ministry of presence.
2. On-site chapel and worship services.
3. The sharing of meals together for fellowship and the discussion of spiritual and personal matters.
4. To provide support while artists are on the road, not only to the artist, but to the artists family.
5. To “ride-along” between connecting cities for fellowship, Bible studies and one on one time together.
6. Attending performances, sitting in the audience, praying for the artist, their family and spiritual life.
7. To provide confidential counseling and a listening ear.
8. To provide crisis counseling where needed.
9. To provide services of reconciliation, mediation and peace-making where appropriate.
10. To provide friendship, accountability and prayer support.
11. Chaplains are available to pray before the start of a tour with a band / artist / touring group.
12. Chaplains shall seek to network “unchurched” artists to churches that are in their locality without regard to denominational issues.
13. Chaplains will be available to help meet the Artists practical needs whenever possible, including food and shelter on the road, help in emergencies, and so on.
14. All services are provided only at the request of and with permission of the artists and musicians.

OTHER SERVICES OFFERED
1. ELECTRONIC / WEB BASED Devotional, Teaching and Worship Materials
  1. Web Site Headquarters
  2. Daily email devotionals
  3. Weekly Bible Studies, Feature Articles, Essays, etc
  4. Audio Teaching MP3s (streaming and downloadable)
  5. Chat-room / Message Board / Forums
  6. Book recommendations and access
2. BROADBAND HOTSPOTS / “Connection Oasis”
  1. Free access for email / web
  2. Based at churches and chaplains homes or offices nationwide
  3. Front Page sign in requires free password gotten via registration of email. Welcome page highlights available Road Home services and materials – daily devotional is available for download right there.
  4. Coast to coast – as many as possible.
3. Referrals
  1. Pre-approved Host Homes
  2. Licensed Personal and Marriage Counselors
  3. Legal Advice
  4. Psychologists
  5. Others
4. Hotline / Helpline
  1. Toll Free
  2. Forwarded To On-Call Chaplains
  3. Available For Crises / General Questions 24 / 7

QUALIFICATIONS FOR ROAD HOME CHAPLAINS:
1. All volunteer chaplains must be in good standing with their local church and sending organization.
2. All volunteers must be qualified to serve as “elders” according to the qualifications found in 1 Timothy and Titus.
3. All volunteers must have a minimum of three years experience in areas related to elding, pastoring, counseling, leading and guiding others in spiritual growth.
4. Volunteer chaplains need to show godly compassion, understanding and a love for people.
5. Volunteer chaplains must hold to the highest levels of spiritual and moral standards.
6. They must show a broad base of experience and professional maturity, emotional stability and personal flexibility.
7. The chaplain must in no way under any circumstance use the position for personal gain. The chaplaincy is not a “get in the concert free” card, but a humble service under the Lordship of Christ.
8. All chaplains must agree to ongoing training as provided and required by “Artist Chaplain Service.”
9. It is not necessary for a chaplain to keep up with musical trends or to enjoy the musical styles of those they are ministering to. The chaplain is not in the receiving, but on the giving end of ministry to the musicians. What is required is a love for the artists and a commitment to them and their families.
10. The chaplain is committed to being available when they are needed.
11. Sincere love for and pursuit of Jesus Christ demonstrated in regular personal worship, meditation on the Word, and prayer.
12. Demonstrated fullness of the Holy Spirit, faith, and wisdom.
13. A perception of leadership not as position, or title, or power, or authority, or respect, or privilege...but an obligation to service and self-sacrifice.
14. Trustworthiness, with the ability to resist being bribed or bought.
15. Willingness to be a `team player' and to help one's pastoral associates to succeed.
16. A strong, loving marriage in which both the husband and wife sense the call to minister.
17. Capable and respected, mature in the faith, and with proven ministry ability.
18. A willingness to be judged by strict standards and to accept reproof.
19. Love for Jesus and His people, without desire to benefit personally at the expense of the sheep.
20. A commitment to doing excellent work, taking responsibility seriously, being proactive, planning and executing well.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND CODE OF ETHICS
1. All chaplains are committed to the highest level of confidentially in every conversation, public and private with the artists.
2. Under NO circumstances should a chaplain EVER speak to the press, fans, audience or anyone else on behalf of or about the artist. Chaplains are to keep absolute confidences. The slightest violation this principle can result in the immediate dismissal of a chaplain from the chaplaincy.
3. The chaplain behaves professionally in all circumstances at all times.
4. The chaplain is NOT part of the touring team, the band or the production company.
5. The chaplain is to serve in the capacity as a minister of Jesus Christ and not a denominational minister. The chaplain shall not promote denominational distinctives, nor try to correct the denominational distinctives of the artists.
6. The chaplain is not to use the position as way to personally benefit themselves through seeking to acquire free merchandise, tickets, backstage access for friends or any other perceived or real personal benefit. The chaplain shall avoid even the very appearance of evil or personal gain.

TRAINING:
1. Training consists of two major areas:
  1. Training for chaplains as mandated by the Director and guided by the Board of Advisors.
  2. Training for musicians and artists in growth skills in the area of family, finances, relationships, spiritual growth and personal discipleship. All training for musicians is strictly voluntary on the part of the artists.

ORGANIZATION / BUSINESS PLAN:
1. Structure of Organization
  1. Director
    1. The director shall have general supervision, direction and control of the business and day to day affairs of the corporation.
    2. The Director shall approve and appoint all chaplains in various regions.
    3. The Director shall mobilize and network chaplains and artists.
    4. The director shall be compensated adequately with a reasonable living salary.
    5. All expenses for the directors duties shall be adequately covered included phone, travel, lodging and supplies as needed.
    6. Compile and catalog field reports from chaplains.
    7. The Director does not need to operate in the capacity of a chaplain, but may do so if desired.
  2. Board of Directors / Advisors
    1. There will be at least five directors
    2. Preferable mix of pastors, artists, industry people
    3. HOW LONG DOES A BOARD MEMBER SERVE? For life unless otherwise requested
    4. Initial board members are appointed, thereafter nominated by board member or director, ratified by a vote
  3. President of the Board
    1. Appointed by the Director, ratified by members
    2. Presides at meetings (yearly or bi-yearly – probably bi-yearly at first) putting together the agenda, arranging time and place.
  4. Book-keeping Services (out sourced)
  5. Board Members
    1. Provide wisdom, leadership, support, oversight, accountability, vision, financial responsibility.
  6. Volunteer Chaplains

FUNDING
1. Shared responsibility between Board and Director
2. Funded by people who love the artists and benefit from their work
3. Funded by churches, ministries, industry, promoters, record companies, etc that care about the spiritual, relational, emotional and family well being of the artists on the road.

OPERATIONS:
1. A constant ubiquitous presence at all festivals and industry gatherings
2. A constant networking
3. The developing of seminars and classes specifically related to the spiritual, emotional and relational needs of traveling musicians, as well as daily devotionals and bible studies that the artists can use on the road.

ACTION STEPS
1. Pray & decide if it is the Lord’s will to go forward
2. Share the vision
3. Assemble Initial Board
4. Fundraising Plan
5. Appoint the Director
6. Appoint Chaplains
7. Start to consider Teaching, Training, Seminar Topics and those that would lead them…and where.
8. Build and launch web site to present vision and to deliver daily devotions and on-line Bible studies via the web, IM, text-messaging, email, Blackberry, etc.

site design and programming by
Gyroscope Arts, Inc.