Bringing Hope & A Heart of Compassion
Empower Chaplaincy is a national nonprofit that trains, coaches, and supports rural Pastors to become chaplains to impact their communities.
Empower Chaplaincy recognizes the
unique role of rural pastors in community service. It centers around training preparation for these pastors to enter the many faith and non-faith homes, hospitals, and workplaces that are frequently a part of their regular services. It underscores the pressing need for pastors to be equipped with the skills and training to minister effectively, such as crisis intervention, grief counseling, and spiritual guidance.
Our Founder
Dr. Kim, the driving force behind Empower Chaplaincy, is deeply dedicated to encouraging, strengthening, and empowering pastors to work outside their four walls, addressing the needs of the surrounding communities. He desires to provide coaching and training for pastors to be more effective in their community outreach. When the church begins to share life with the community, is intentional about loving its neighbor, and is an active participant in the community, it starts to fulfill the ministry of presence.
Sneak Peek
Take a look at what our chaplain candidates are up to this year…
Springfield Immersion 2025
April 2025
Be part of something greater than yourself while becoming a stronger leader by joining the ranks of a
Rural Community Chaplain
Realities of Rural America
In 2020, rural regions in the US had higher unemployment rates than the cities. In the small communities, when the industry fails, social services and job opportunities become scarce. Rural residents have suffered the effects of the housing crisis as well. The risk of foreclosure is highest for rural homeowners. When the state makes cuts in school budgets, rural schools feel those effects more than urban or suburban schools. Public school teachers in the United States spend $700 to $1000 a year out of their own pocket on school supplies and instructional materials to supplement the needs of the classroom. In rural areas, these extra expenses become a hardship for our teachers.
Dr. Manuel A. Cordero
The Rural Community Chaplaincy training program is making a difference in the life and ministry of rural pastors. It teaches them to expand their view from being only a church pastor to being the pastors of their entire community. Once a rural pastor becomes aware of how they can serve their community, the opportunity for ministry increases. Consequently, the Gospel is proclaimed, the people of God are taken care off and communities are being transformed.
Dr. Don Ross
Be a chaplain! As a rural pastor, your opportunity to serve as a chaplain allows you to bring hope in desperate situations and people with open hearts. Empower Chaplaincy will train and equip you to serve well. As a chaplain, a few critical moments in the right place will make an eternal difference.”
Dr Scott McChrystal
Rural Community Chaplains have expanded access to the community through working in various settings, both secular and religious. Their ministry provides hope and healing to people experiencing pain. They help to identify and address important issues in their communities, and they offer the ministry of presence for community members in times of economic hardship. I heartily support helping rural pastors become rural chaplains. Everyone wins!
Dr Samual Huddleston
This ministry is an incredible asset to the churches and leaders I’m privileged to oversee. It will help you immensely as well. This program is a gift from God.
Vint Norris
The Empower Chaplaincy Ministry resources, equips, and strengthens local churches to more effectively reach their communities. I highly recommend that all rural churches and their leaders take advantage of this impactful ministry. In Alabama, we are already witnessing the lasting results of this training.
Tom Rees
Empower Chaplaincy is an exciting, innovative approach. This recently launched chaplaincy program is already making a difference. Rural pastors are getting the tools to step into leadership roles, connect deeply with their communities, and have a greater influence. The result? More opportunities to serve, build relationships, and step into leadership positions – like being invited to pray at local events or becoming a chaplain for local schools. This program looks beyond just church growth to catch a vision for community transformation.
Rick DuBose
It is our desire that the rural church be equipped and ready to receive people. One of the best ways we do that is through Rural Community Chaplaincy Training and Certification for those who minister in rural communities. It is a wonderful way to have a deeper understanding of the unique rural culture and is well worth the rural pastor’s effort. Wayne Gretzky said the difference between a good hockey player and a great one is determined by who is chasing the puck and who is ready and waiting for it. Let’s get ready!
Dr. Manuel A. Cordero
The Rural Community Chaplaincy training program is making a difference in the life and ministry of rural pastors. It teaches them to expand their view from being only a church pastor to being the pastors of their entire community. Once a rural pastor becomes aware of how they can serve their community, the opportunity for ministry increases. Consequently, the Gospel is proclaimed, the people of God are taken care off and communities are being transformed.
Dr. Don Ross
Be a chaplain! As a rural pastor, your opportunity to serve as a chaplain allows you to bring hope in desperate situations and people with open hearts. Empower Chaplaincy will train and equip you to serve well. As a chaplain, a few critical moments in the right place will make an eternal difference.”
Dr Scott McChrystal
Rural Community Chaplains have expanded access to the community through working in various settings, both secular and religious. Their ministry provides hope and healing to people experiencing pain. They help to identify and address important issues in their communities, and they offer the ministry of presence for community members in times of economic hardship. I heartily support helping rural pastors become rural chaplains. Everyone wins!
Dr Samual Huddleston
This ministry is an incredible asset to the churches and leaders I’m privileged to oversee. It will help you immensely as well. This program is a gift from God.
Vint Norris
The Empower Chaplaincy Ministry resources, equips, and strengthens local churches to more effectively reach their communities. I highly recommend that all rural churches and their leaders take advantage of this impactful ministry. In Alabama, we are already witnessing the lasting results of this training.
Tom Rees
Empower Chaplaincy is an exciting, innovative approach. This recently launched chaplaincy program is already making a difference. Rural pastors are getting the tools to step into leadership roles, connect deeply with their communities, and have a greater influence. The result? More opportunities to serve, build relationships, and step into leadership positions – like being invited to pray at local events or becoming a chaplain for local schools. This program looks beyond just church growth to catch a vision for community transformation.
Rick DuBose
It is our desire that the rural church be equipped and ready to receive people. One of the best ways we do that is through Rural Community Chaplaincy Training and Certification for those who minister in rural communities. It is a wonderful way to have a deeper understanding of the unique rural culture and is well worth the rural pastor’s effort. Wayne Gretzky said the difference between a good hockey player and a great one is determined by who is chasing the puck and who is ready and waiting for it. Let’s get ready!
Dr. Manuel A. Cordero
The Rural Community Chaplaincy training program is making a difference in the life and ministry of rural pastors. It teaches them to expand their view from being only a church pastor to being the pastors of their entire community. Once a rural pastor becomes aware of how they can serve their community, the opportunity for ministry increases. Consequently, the Gospel is proclaimed, the people of God are taken care off and communities are being transformed.
Community Chaplain Reflections
Read the stories of those who have gone through our program.
