A MENNONITE POLICE CHIEF

Truman H. Brunk

George and Nancy had been attending the church for ten years. They made a great addition—both were well-known and respected in the community. George was chief of police, and Nancy was a nurse supervisor at the local hospital.

One morning, a call came from George explaining that Nancy had just received results from medical tests, and the diagnosis was cancer. They were devastated. Would I come and pray with them? Of course I would. I asked if I could bring along Harold, their good friend and neighboring farmer.

Together the four of us knelt to pray. We poured out our hearts asking for a miracle. As we stood together, I took Nancy’s hand and assured her of the church’s great love for the family and that we would commit ourselves to ongoing prayer. Then I added, "It would be such a blessing for you and George to come into membership in our congregation."

Even while I spoke, I asked myself, Could I be in trouble here? These folks have been attending for years, and is there a reason they have not become members?

Our church took a strong stand against guns and violence. Would a police chief belong in a "peace" church? Would the elders say I had overstepped my privileges? I was assaulted by doubts.

Two weeks later, following the benediction, George was the first to greet me at the front of the church, announcing, "Nancy and I would like to pursue membership." Surely this was good news! But what if someone objected?

In the coming days and weeks, George told me his story. When he was still a young man, the local chief of police approached him and explained, "We are looking for some clean-cut young men to join our force."

When George reported this conversation to his parents, his Mennonite father gave his consent. His German Reformed mother was reluctant, saying, "I don’t think a Christian should carry a gun."

After giving it a lot of prayerful consideration, George made a promise to his mother. He promised that, although he would have to carry a gun, he would never point it toward a human being. His parents were satisfied and gave their blessing. Forty years later, George was telling me that he had kept his promise.

George and Nancy joined the membership class, testifying of their faith in God and their desire to join themselves to Blooming Glen Mennonite Church. Their classmates heard George’s story of being an officer who kept the peace. Then the whole church heard their story.

On a beautiful Sunday morning, George and Nancy knelt in the front of the church and were baptized. Miracles happen! There were no objections—only a warm welcome from all the church family.

—Truman H. Brunk, a semi-retired pastor, lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia, with wife Betty, a retired social worker. He is currently part-time pastor of students at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. This story was first published in his new book, That Amazing Junk-Man: The Agony and Ecstasy of a Pastor’s Life (DreamSeeker Books, 2007).