In the fall of 2003, Outreach Canada Board Members and Calgary business owners, Jack & Marie van Deventer, met with Outreach Canada’s Executive Director, Dr. Gerry Kraft, to discuss and pray about their vision of providing Christian chaplains in their companies. Jack and Marie gathered other Christian business owners that were also interested in participating in the program and helping to launch this new ministry.  Much work was done in laying the groundwork, and building the ministry model.

In the spring of 2004, Dr. Kraft introduced Bruce Mitchell (a longtime educator and Christian counselor) to these company owners.  That August Bruce joined the Outreach Canada team, and would eventually become the Director of Outreach Canada’s Corporate Chaplains.

In June 2007, Corporate Chaplains expanded its reach further west to BC, with the addition of Scott Burnett, who helped launch the program in the Greater Vancouver Area.  He facilitates programs in Langley and in Abbotsford--serving over one hundred employees in two companies.

Fast-forward to 2008--the Corporate Chaplains ministry has now grown from one chaplain serving in the flooring industry, to a team of dedicated chaplains serving companies in the food service, home building, manufacturing and tourism industries in Calgary, Canmore, Banff, Langley and Abbotsford. Now just last month, timed to coordinate with EFC’s Purpose@Work conference, OC team member Alison Johnson, organized meetings in Ottawa for interested company owners and prospective chaplains. This effort has spearheaded the launch of Corporate Chaplains in the Ottawa region, with Alison serving as a regional director.  There are now a growing number of interested company owners and a stack of applications from potential chaplains.

God is doing amazing things in the workplace through OC’s Corporate Chaplains--would you like to hear more?  A short video clip, and informational brochures, are available so you can hear and read about what employees and business owners say about this program.  You can also visit www.chaplains.ca for further information.

Corporate Chaplains is ready to make a presentation to the business leaders in your church, or those who are connected with your denomination, who might like to hear more about the benefits of face-to-face care from a workplace chaplain.