Pioneering and developing a chaplaincy in transportation as a ministry and mission for travelers beginning in the urban environment of New York City with particular involvement in areas of public transportation such as planes, trains, and buses

2008·4.9 MB·English

by  Bradfield+Mitchell, Sylvia Allen

PIONEERING AND DEVELOPING 4 CHAPLAINCY IN TRANSPORTATION
AS A MINISTRY AND MISSION FOR ‘TRAVELERS
BEGINNING IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT OF NEW YORK CLrY
WITH PARTICULAR INVOLVEMENT IN AREAS OF PUBLIC

TRANSFORIATION SUCH AS PLANTS, TRATNS AND BUSES:

A THESIS
SICBMU, IED YO THE FACULTY OF

GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

IN PARTIAL FULFILL MENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

BY

SYLVIA ALLEN BRADELELD+MITCHELL.

MAY 2007
‘Copyright © 2007 by Sylvia Allen Tiradfiekt-Mitehell
All rights reserved.
Glory and thanksgiving lo Gud the Father, Sem and Holy Spirit
‘Who has traveled every road with we and guided my return co the city of Neve York with,

this mission and ruinistey.

For my sons Brian and Andiew and extended families,
‘oth those related on earth

and those who by God's grace ate related both on earth and in heuven!
‘And seek the peace ofthe city whare [have cauised you ty be carrie! nxn enplive and
pray tb the LORD for it; dor in is peace yon sill have peace,

+ Jeremiah 29:7

Now behold, oof them wens inveing that same day toa village called Rramaus

and thoy talked together ofall thes things Which had happened... While they couversod

and reasoned. .Jenus Hinslf drew near and went wih hem they didnot know VTi

He expounded to them nal the Seriptne dhe things coneerning Himself. They

constsined Hinn saying “Abide with us. and He wea in bo say sith then. Heal

the wahle with them Te tack brea, blessed and broke it and gave it to them, Then thie
eyes were opened and they knew Tim, and Te vanished fom their sight, And they said

tv ome sniher, “Wid not our heat bum within us wile Be alked with s um he road,
shite le opened the Seriplure o ws? So they rose up... found those that ware with

them... gathered together... 5

ying “The Lord isrisen indeod”, ‘They told about the
‘things that had happened on the mad.

= Like 24: 13-35. some verses partial passages

[Now then, we are amhassadors for Christ as though God were pleading dhrough us: we
implore you on Christ's behalf, be eeumeiled to Gea

== 2 Corinthians 5:20

Hallelujah!
CONTENTS
LIST OF TALUSTRATIONS.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

ABSTRACT.

Chapter
INTRODUCTION

PART I: CLARIFICATION

CHAPTER ONE TIE TRAVELING PUBLIC 18 ONF. OF THE GREAT AND
MOST UNRECOGNIZED MISSION FIELDS OF THE
21" CENTLY. 45

PART I: CONCEPTUALIZATION

CTIAPTER TWO- FOUNDA IONAJ. LITERATURE AND A COMMENTARY
ON WHAT ISTACKING

CHAPTER THREE — A SYSTEMIC/WTIOLISTIC THEOLOGICAL
FRAMEWORK FOR TIE CHAPLAINCY MV
‘TRANSPORTATION, 50

(CHAPTER FOUR- THE CREATIVE STORY OF HOW THE IDEA OF A
CTTAPLAINCY AND MINISTRY IN TRANSPORTATION
REGAN. . 6

PART Ill: CONFRONTATION

CHAPTER PIVR- LHF END RESULTS THE BEGINNING . 1
CONFRONTATION, CONCLUSION /
RECOMMENDATIONS.

a7

Appendix

A. WHERE CROSS THis CROWDED WAYS OF LIFE, a7
1B. NEW YORK CITY STATISTICS AT A GLANCE.
C. THECALL TO THECITY.

D. THE WHOLE CITY AND BEYOND.

E, ONTHE RAILS WITH THE GOSIEL..... nz
F._DFCISION MAGAZINE (NOVEMBER 2004). . ne
G. TERE 1AM, LORD" 125

BIBLIOGRAMYY eect 126
vita. . sen 30

xi
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Figurey

1. New York Transit Timeline

2. My Theolagival Me

3, Hexagon Clusters in Answer to the Questions

4. The Hexagon Teetnique
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

tn thanksgiving to God for making every arrangement to aot on
but t coraplets Elis calfing und purpose in my life

ish Uh dacurnont,

Amoug the awesome ways He has ol dang that tn provide jus the ones te peny,
jnfereed> on carth and in heaven, and too in myriads of ways the things that need to
‘happen in order to accomplish tat which Fle purposes Io da,

‘Among those amazing people He has used.... KNOW that Iuld write mare than a
thesis
vn heir lives and influence!

Tor you, Rochelle Lefever

To he nnmed a strong ence
As absolutely NOTHING to knack!
‘Tesus named only a few
(One that had a name like you
‘That bold anointed fisherman
‘Was about to quil fishing when.
Jeaus said-NO-GO, OUT INTHE DELP
WAY OUT THERE--THROW YOUR NETS ANT KEY
TRUE
Vo what Lask of you
Tife will meverbe the same
In anguishing dimed-—-or on a level plain,
4s an ordinary life whal we want anyway?

‘The same ol"...zhe same o” each and every day’?
‘NO-a thousand times NO, however hard il may he
‘Treasures above what you ask of think ox whatever you may see
‘All because-you dovided to live by Gad's grace!
Accepting salvation, walk fn Tis trulh und ene day you'll sec His face,
What is that wine
“Thar carne from the vine
Tlled with grapes that were crushed
Uo Eli that yoo trust?!

In. much much thanksgiving for your amazing work in helping me hy God gree.
il iea beutiful creation on paper thac is your masterpiece for Goa? ylory
and the exteusion of His Kingdom!

In joyful thonkagiving forall ¢hose whe boar God's Light
Shine Jesus Shine
through ts all in afl the world
by the power ofthe lly Spirit!
‘Amea!

(2 Cor §:20; Ps. HO)
ABSTRACT
‘The Burpose of this thesis project

1. Ta partray che immense an

intense stnoophete ofthe traveling pubic it
pootivuar gathered ro Facts about the New York Cy ae

2. To lusuate some both historic and contemporary strategic outeachss tothe
tsaveling public, To record part ofthe begining of this ministry and the challenge Wo the
‘ways an meats ofseme ofthe evangetinn autrenches ih are sing on Ineluded will
bye some allstations, poetry, stories and ails to rellect what hs huppend

3. To develop a theologioal foundation for this mission and ministry which
‘would be ured to oetwork, dseiple and exhort new participants and diseipling stategies
fr ce evangelical etforts af the Body of Christ.

4. To begin wy svaluate thewe efforts and consider in prayer, counsel and practice

bow this mission “on the Way" shave the Way in Christ may develop furthcr in boing "a
ministry of the momeut moving with the mobile a womentous ministry” and in Using.

and invite many inthe Body of Christ to be involved in “mantentous

minisiy" in whatever aur Lord Was valle each ous us da
INTRODUCTION

‘Theol church hymn in Appendix 4 paints picmure ofthe anguish of the city
and the longing fi Our Lord ta“... tread dhe vity sires ugain and inmeorporains uncither
Voice interceding for ministry partioulanly “where cross the crowded ways offife.” "We
Incas His Voice”, We catch "the vision” of Gods tears and “the true compassion of His
face” How? Because itis reflected in our voivg, in our leans inte true comnpussin on
our fxco as we tread the city sects, THERE we are His sookers after peace (Jotemniah
29:7), There we une This ambusynddary (2 Corinthians 5:20) forthe stale of
“ransforutizsion™! whereby many may be reconciled to God.”

THE RA VELING PUBLIC IS ONE OF THE GREAT, AND MOSILY

UNRECOGNIZED. MISSION FIELDS OF THE 21" CENTURY? Turny knwssledge it

‘has never been addressed as

"mission field.” September 11, 2001 has radically and
forever changed everything — not ouly shout how we travel aud funotion in that venue but
laa in hoih the upennens and the hosilly ts the Gaapel. There iv no om i the voll
‘who, to some extent or another, is not affected by what happened that cragie day.

“The irony is poople ao on the move as never before, Statistics are awesome just
{for New York City alone, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("MTA") records
2d balhon trips ny tes, subway and roifoctls that are provieedl ta News Yorkers yesry,
‘This vast wansportation network — North America’s largest — serves a population of 14.6
rmilton people inthe 5,000 square mite area famning st from New Fark City throughs
Long Island, Sovthenssern Neve York State, Camecticut and New Jersey. The three major

airports thal serve the ely John ¥. Kennedy Aigport, La Guardia A ingort and Newatk

"Word sited by the ator af es hers to unan "We ate ofa Me dats ben uxoeixmed

hy nin, pes ell