Chaplaincy
Called to Care. Equipped to Serve. Commissioned with Christ’s Love.
When hearts are hurting, chaplains bring hope.
Crisis leaves more than broken homes—it leaves broken spirits. Christ In Action chaplains are specially trained volunteers who step into moments of loss with prayer, presence, and the love of Christ. When called upon, they serve not only during disasters but also throughout the year, bringing emotional and spiritual care to hospitals, prisons, schools, VFW halls, biker clubs, and local communities. Each chaplain is commissioned to meet people where they are, offering peace, hope, and strength when it’s needed most.
Compassionate Care
Meeting people at their point of need with presence and empathy.
Spiritual Guidance
Helping survivors process pain and loss through faith and prayer.
Community Presence
Churches and leaders equipped to meet needs.
Faith-Centered
Rooted in faith, chaplains serve across all beliefs.
Chaplains bring faith and hope into life's deepest hurts.
Commissioned Across the Country
Christ In Action has commissioned chaplains serving in 13 states across the U.S.—ready to respond in disasters and everyday life alike. Together, they form a growing network of compassion and hope, meeting people in moments of need and reminding them they are never alone.
Commissioned to Care, Called to Serve.
The Path to Commissioning as a Chaplain
Becoming a chaplain is both a calling and a commitment. Here’s how you can begin the journey.
Step 1
Complete Prerequisite Training
Start with the foundational courses that prepare you to serve — three Faith-Based First Responder trainings and two FEMA certifications.
Step 2
Apply & Prepare
Submit your application, references, and lifestyle agreement. Each step ensures chaplains are ready to serve with integrity and compassion. Request more information
Step 3
Be Commissioned
Join a network of volunteer chaplains serving year-round in local communities and in times of crisis—bringing emotional and spiritual care wherever it’s needed most.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
– Isaiah 61:1
IMPACT
STORIES
Denny & Sandy Nissley — Founders, Christ In Action: On the Front Lines of Hope
When crisis hits, Christ In Action chaplains step into the chaos—mud on their boots, compassion in their hearts. “Chaplains have dirty hands,” says founder Denny Nissley. “We’re out on the front lines, meeting people where they are.” From tornadoes to wildfires, they bring more than relief—they bring the presence of Christ into places where pain runs deep.
Many they meet have been hurt by the church or have never walked through its doors. Chaplains bridge that gap, offering prayer, listening ears, and a steady presence that speaks louder than words. “It’s emotional,” Sandy shares. “People just need someone to listen—and we get to bring Jesus into that space.”
For Denny and Sandy, chaplaincy isn’t a title—it’s a calling. One man named Charlie saw that love during a deployment in Virginia. After watching the red-shirt team serve joyfully through heat and rain on his land, he said, “If that’s Christianity, I want it.”
That’s the heart of chaplaincy—showing up with the best message at the worst time, and trusting God to do what only He can do.
Press play to watch how Christ In Action chaplaincy brings hope to those in crisis
“We want to be there with the best message at the worst time in their life.”
— Denny Nissley, Founder, Christ In Action
Lives Touched by Chaplaincy
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![Portrait of Christ In Action chaplain Dorothy Stanfill, who shares how ministering to people in need has been a blessing and calling of service.]()
“Serving as a Chaplain with Christ in Action and ministering to folks in need has been an honor and a privilege. God always puts us in the right places to listen to what people have experienced and to offer our prayers and support.”
— Chaplain Dorothy “Dottie” Stanfill, Badge #250, Terre Haute, IN
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![Portrait of Christ In Action chaplain Scott Primrose, reflecting on praying with those in crisis and reminding them they are not alone.]()
“When I called, she said she’d been lying on the floor crying out to God when the phone rang. She remembered Christ In Action and thanked us for all of our help. After we prayed together, she told me I was sent by God to her today. She said it was exactly what she needed, and that she’s now even more encouraged that Jesus will see her through this. Hearing her faith reminded me that we’re not just responding to disasters—we’re answering prayers.”
— Chaplain Scott Primrose, Badge #228, Warrenton, VA
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![Portrait of Christ In Action chaplain Janet Smith, who offers encouragement and spiritual care through her full-time ministry role.]()
“I minister to others in my current full-time position through encouraging and coming along side others. This is needed tremendously in the workforce today."
— Chaplain Janet Smith, Badge #274, Remington, VA
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![Portrait of Christ In Action chaplain Lynne Walter, who finds purpose in comforting and restoring hope to people during heartbreak.]()
"I've talked with so many wonderful people in heartbreaking circumstances and I've seen our amazing Lord comforting and restoring people in the midst of it. I'm truly privileged and blessed to be a small part of their lives."
— Chaplain Lynne Walter, Badge #276, Bloomer, WI
Answer the Call to Chaplaincy
Step into moments of crisis with the peace and hope of Christ. Whether serving survivors, first responders, or entire communities, chaplains carry God’s presence into the hardest places. Is He calling you to serve?