Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy

The primary mission of the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy is to provide pastoral care and counseling for employees and families of law enforcement and emergency service agencies, as well as the general public; assist the Coroner in notifying individuals who have lost a family member in an unexpected manner; assist the Mobile Crisis Unit and SWAT teams in hostage negotiations and other local emergency situations; and to provide follow-up visitations in the home or in the hospital for victims of crimes and their families.

The Chaplaincy is a Judeo-Christian organization that works closely with all law enforcement and emergency agencies and personnel in the Charleston area to provide assistance during emergency situations. These include murders, suicides, shootings, fires, including the fire at the Sofa Super Store on June 18, 2007 where nine Charleston firefighters died, and similar critical events. From its beginning with one Chaplain (Rev. Dewey) the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy has grown to its present strength of three full time Chaplains and about a dozen volunteer Chaplains that provide pastoral care and counseling 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy:Survivor Follow Up Group
After receiving numerous requests from supporters to help carry out the mission of the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, Chaplain Rob Dewey created the Survivor Follow Up Group as a way for lay persons to become more actively involved.  Members of the Survivor Follow Up Group receive cases that the Chaplains have responded to, and they attempts to contact family members and loved ones of those who have died in an unexpected manner, e.g. murder, suicide, natural causes, automobile accidents, etc.  Members write letters, make telephone calls, and visit in person with the survivors of such tragedies, ensuring that they are receiving the support and help they need.  The efforts of this group are extremely important to the well-being of many people who have suffered a tragic loss of some kind.  Just knowing that someone is still there to help them get through one of the most difficult times of their lives provides them with a sense of comfort that they need when their lives have been turned upside down.

The Survivor Follow UP Group meets with the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy on the fourth Monday of every month at John Wesley United Methodist Church in West Ashley at 6:30pm.  They report to the Chaplains on their current cases and take on new ones.  Each meeting also includes a program designed to help the Survivor Follow Up Group with their mission.

There will be a two-part training series for new volunteers on Monday, September 21st and Monday, September 28th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at John Wesley United Methodist Church.  If you are interested in joining or learning more about the program, please call the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy office at (843) 724-1212 or email Jean McDowell at jean@coastalcrisischaplain.org.

Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy website