In a relay race, runners carry a baton until it is time to hand it off to the next runner on their team. A part of Braveheart’s growth has been adding additional chaplains and equipping them so that they can respond by themselves to various crises with the appropriate knowledge and skills.
Pastor Craig Nissen has joined the Braveheart Chaplain team as our newest member. On Monday morning, he and I conducted basic training focused on chaplain responsibilities at general scenes. Included were some details on how to handle specific situations.

Our training session ended at 12:15 p.m. By 5:30 p.m., I had become aware of a suicide situation that needed a death notification to be done. Craig was available and interested in joining me and the coroner in conducting one of the most difficult tasks that chaplains and coroners face.

Upon arriving, the surviving family member was outside having just read the note left by the deceased.

As Craig and I made the 15-minute drive to the meeting place with the coroner and on to the home, I quickly conveyed the basic elements of a death notification as this had not been included in the morning’s equipping session. This included the coroner’s role versus ours, possible responses by the family, and how to arrange follow up. Upon arriving, the surviving family member was outside having just read the note left by the deceased. She already knew of the tragedy, but our arrival confirmed its reality.

While the coroner shared details and provided the necessary information, Craig and I consoled the spouse. We provided everything from tissue, notification to other relatives at the same location, prayer with the surviving spouse, and arrangements for Craig to follow up with both family and the individual who discovered the deceased.

Craig demonstrated in every way that he is well suited for this type of ministry and that he will soon take the training baton from me and run on his own!

We thank the Lord for bringing him to the Braveheart team.