The Presence of a Chaplain

About the Book

To understand the purpose, the mission, and the relevance of this research titled “The Presence of a Chaplain,” I believe sharing my life story will give the reader in-depth insight and demonstrate the importance of including chaplains on multi-interdisciplinary teams. This writer believes that if chaplaincy is considered to be included in diverse systems, the student, parent/guardian, would benefit holistically, and the chaplain’s presence along would make a difference in the public and private schools, particularly but not limited to, when our children are challenged with depression, bullying, suicidal, and low self-esteem. When a chaplain is present to provide the listening ear, our children would have an outlet to share their concerns, thoughts, and problems to a credentialed, qualified, and trained chaplain. Chaplains are trained to remain available and journey wherever the child or individual maybe, reaching them with the holistic plan of care; mind, body, and soul. Being ever so mindful, to recognize when it is time to transition and pass the baton by making referrals when the matter is out of your scope of practice.

About the Author

Dr. Barbara Thomas-Reddick was born and raised in Greenville, Florida, to Mr. Kinsey Thomas (deceased) and Mrs. Matilda Thomas. She has twelve siblings. She is married to Jewell Jerome Reddick, Sr., and together, they have nine children and five grandchildren. She graduated from Greenville High School and furthered her education at North Florida Community College, Madison, Florida; Southwestern Christian University, Bethany, Oklahoma; and Covenant Bible College and Seminary, Tallahassee, Florida. She completed her two-year internship in chaplaincy at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in the Clinical Pastoral Education Program, where she received 4 CPE units, and was later accepted in the Johns Hopkins Hospital CPE Residency Program, where she received 2 CPE units, located in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a member of the Capital City Democratic Women’s Club, a volunteer chaplain of Franklin Academy, Incorporated. Dr. Reddick released her first Gospel CD in 1998, titled Walking by Faith and authored My Personal Tapestry of Life and The Presence of a Chaplain. She enjoys playing the piano, spending quality time with family, doing outreach ministry, and singing. She is presently the minister of music at her church, The Mount Ararat African American Episcopal Church, where the Reverend Margret Brown is pastor, and at The Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Monticello, where the Dr. Edward Scott II is the pastor. She is very passionate with community engagement and strongly embraces the philosophy that many great leaders believe in “the beloved community