For more than 20 years, the Columbus Police Department has had a chaplain to serve the spiritual needs of its officers, much like a chaplain in the military.
Capt. Fred Shelton has served as the CPD chaplain for the past two-plus years, and plans to continue in that capacity. Yet he is going to have some help, and with a unique twist.
“Now, for the first time, we will have a civilian pastor to be part of our chaplain program,” Shelton said.
As of Wednesday, the Rev. Nathan Best, pastor of Full Armor Church in Columbus, is the first civilian pastor to join the CPD chaplain program.
“Rev. Best will minister not only to the needs of our officers, he will be there for the community as well,” Shelton said.
Best said he will be available to counsel victims of a crime, as well as assist in giving death notifications to families in case of a death in an incident.
“I just want to serve. Whatever is needed from me, I just want to serve,” he said.
Shelton said having a civilian pastor like Best to help him will be an asset to the department.
“During a situation, our officers have a job to do. We want our officers to focus on the investigation, and having someone like Rev. Best to help the families during an emotional issue is going to be a big help to us,” he said.
Shelton said Best will be receiving special training in police chaplaincy sometime in March. He said Best will also fill in for him when he is sick and when he is involved with other department obligations.
Best has been involved with ministry work since he was a youngster. He and his wife, Sherry, who will soon observe their 30th wedding anniversary, have made Columbus their home for three years. Along with his church ministry and his new duties with CPD, Nathan and Sherry also own and operate Trinity Christian Supply Store and Cafe.
They have a daughter, Leah Damson, who is serving in the U.S. Navy along with her husband. They have provided Nathan and Sherry with two grandchildren.
How did you find out about the Police Chaplain Program?
I was enrolled in the Citizen”s Police Academy, and I got a feeling of what these officers do. I wanted to see how I could serve them. Capt. Shelton and Chief Joseph St. John approached me and thought enough of me to have this opportunity.
How old were you when you became involved in ministry work?
I was 12 years old when I made the decision through a friend of mine from Chicago who was a child preacher. I was born in North Miami Beach, Fla., and grew up in Cincinnati. After much prayer and fasting, I decided to get involved. I am 49, so I”ve been in it for 37 years. I feel this is a call.
Are you the only one in your family who is or has been in the ministry?
My dad, Nathaniel Best Sr., was pastor of a church in Nashville, and my grandfather, Thomas Henderson, was a pastor in Braddock, Pa., near Pittsburgh.
What similarities/differences will you see from your regular church ministry and working with the CPD chaplain program?
I do not see much difference in these two roles. I am a pastor, and I am here to serve people. As long as there is breath in my body, I want to serve the Lord and help people.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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