Workplace chaplains discuss growing movement

Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News Alan Tyson, Director of Chaplain Services for Tyson Foods, left, met Gerard Winkle of VanDrie Home Furnishing at the Working Lunch Series Thursday at Baker College. Winkle talked about the importance of Workplace Chaplains to his employees.

CADILLAC — Not only are companies recognizing the need for corporate wellness programs, business leaders acknowledged Thursday at a luncheon held at Baker College that providing a program to meet the spiritual needs of their employees is equally important.

Guest speaker Alan Tyson, Director of Chaplain Services for Tyson Foods, Inc., was the guest speaker.

“I’ve been fascinated to discover,” he told the group of about 50, “that large industries are recognizing that people’s faith at work is an important part of life.”

Tyson, who began his career as a military chaplain in Vietnam, heads up 125 chaplains that serve in 82 production facilities for Tyson Foods.

He read letters from Tyson employees appreciative of chaplain services offered as an optional benefit that includes counseling and crisis management. In addition, Tyson stressed that many of the chaplains help care for families during times of sudden illness and death, even helping to arrange memorial services for families that do not attend church.

Ron Klimp, co-founder of the Cadillac-based, statewide ministry called Workplace Chaplains, spoke about the local support that allowed Workplace Chaplains to grow from serving 200 employees to client contracts for over 4,000 employees throughout the state.

Gerard Winkle, an owner of VanDrie Home Furnishings, said that Workplace Chaplains has played an important role in his company.

“We are concerned about the whole person,” he said. “We would like to add a spiritual dimension when it’s needed.”

Winkle recalled a recent incident when an employee’s son was rushed to an emergency room in Grand Rapids.

“This employee knows our chaplain, Rich Langton,” he said. “There’s a connection there and he can minister to them in their time of need. Their child is in need and in a health crisis. And Rich has been with them in Grand Rapids in the hospital.”

“It’s an honor to be welcomed into their life at a difficult time,” responded senior chaplain Langton. “That’s what it’s all about — being a part of people’s lives in difficult situations.”

In addition to serving as chaplain, Langton heads up the expansion of the ministry. And even though tough economic times caused some local contracts to be dropped, the possibility of a new contract with 1,700 employees out of state is currently being negotiated.

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Workplace Chaplains U.S., based in Cadillac, employs three full time and 11 part time chaplains and associates. They serve 25 businesses throughout the state that employ a total of more than 4,000 employees.

Last year Workplace Chaplains provided 4,830 hours of service time that lead to 7,124 problem-solving contacts with employees. They provided 892 home and hospital visits and 59 wedding or funeral services or contacts.

For information visit: www.workplacechaplains.us

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