We are a non-profit, faith-based organization, which advocates for the recruitment, training, credentialing and deployment of Chaplains to Disasters, Terrorism and Extreme Events world-wide. Chaplains are "Spiritual Paramedics" who are trained to respond to the needs of others when the worst happens.


What we do:

Chaplains working with The Four Winds Foundation provide spiritual care to victims and survivors by first trying to understand and respect the faith traditions they may already have. Professionally trained Chaplains are able to work with people from all walks of life and from all religious and spiritual backgrounds.

Our Chaplains work with individuals, communities, the private sector and governmental agencies at the local, state, federal and international level. We provide subject matter experts for policy guidance, organizational development and strategic planning. Our teams are highly mobile, geographically unrestricted and immediately available for deployment world-wide.

We are currently have relationships with The International Fellowship of Chaplains (IFOC), The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Soci, The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), The National Center for Chaplain Development and others.

Special Training:

We are "present" for those who ask for prayer and spiritual support without rushing out and inappropriately trying to "convert" victims  at this vulnerable time in their lives. We may do things as simple as hand out water and help provide information to survivors and family members. Being a Chaplain and serving as a witness can be as simple as a kind word and a small gesture which people will appreciate and remember for years.

At the same time, we encourage our Chaplains to develop skills that would be helpful at the scene of a disaster such as First-Aid, Disaster Safety, Incident Command System (ICS), Stress Management, Leadership Training, Psychological First-Aid, and Pastoral Crisis Intervention (PCI).

You can begin helping others by becoming  a trained Chaplain yourself. The Four Winds Foundation would be pleased to provide information on training times and locations near you, just contact us.
 
You can start today!

There are  free, on-line courses that we highly recommend for everyone such as:   http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/IS317/  and http://emilms.fema.gov/IS100A/index.htm

How we do it:

The Four Winds Foundation contributes to the field of Chaplains in a unique way by seeking to share knowledge of our Heavenly Father in a very real and authentic manner. Chaplains should be comfortable and genuine around others. This can only happen if they understand and accept themselves as they really are, in order to do the same with others. 

A genuine, caring, approach with non-judgemental "organic spirituality" establishes the bond of trust necessary to begin the healing process. We seek to provide this "safe space" so that people are able to open up and share. We do this by learning how to listen and accept all their feelings especially those that would make others, including ourselves, normally uncomfortable. We want to allow them to tap into the worst of it, to be able to give words to this pain, while we are "holding the space" for this healing process to occur.
 
This is the most sacred place we can be with another and this is what being a Chaplain is all about. We open ourselves to them with a heart of understanding and unconditional acceptance (not attached to the outcome) so that we release them and set them free to be who they truly are in the deepest part of their being. "In the presence of safety and trust, that which is most deeply hidden is the first thing to be set free."

Not everyone has religious needs for specific doctrine, dogma, ritual or rites although some do. Yet everyone has spiritual needs. Spirituality can be understood as the inherent questions and concerns we all have: Where did I come from? Why am I here? What happens when I "die"? In the Disaster context,  the classic and perennial questions are sharply focused and take on a more striking note.  Why did this happen? How could a loving "God" allow this to happen? Why me, why my loved one, why now, why this way? Why, Why, Why?

Often there are no answers, at least not in that moment, and that may not be the "question" they are asking anyway. They are crying out in pain and all they know is they are hurting. "Be with me, stay with me, don't try to answer me just yet, only accompany me at this moment and walk along side me as a friend. For though I don't know you, I trust you." This is what a Chaplain does.

The name, The Four Winds Foundation, comes from the scripture, "...Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." (Ezekiel 37:9)

Why we do it:

We are in a New Day and in a time when truth must be declared. Our Heavenly Father created us to know Him and to have a relationship with Him. That desire is so strong at this time, that we want to share this message of hope and encouragement with all those who respond when they hear this news . Our Heavenly Father is calling out as never before to those who are in pain and despair. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture and we need to come to a fresh, new understanding of what is actually taking place on the earth at this time.

The old answers are simply not working. We keep doing the same thing over and over again and we keep getting the same results!  There is a new and vibrant, loving relationship growing on the earth today that can no longer be confined to the narrow interpretations and fear-based theology of the past. The old approach tries to appease an Angry "God" and this type of thinking results in shameful, reactionary, behaviors that have kept our people blind and in ignorance for too many generations.

We can not continue using the same old, tired and worn out religious approaches that result in this guilt and paralysis. No longer can governments and religious institutions manipulate and control peoples lives through fear. During times like these, times of disaster and crises, people are calling for genuine spirituality which provides life, gives hope and most of all, shares our Creator's love. This is a New Day!


We were meant to be set free and to have an overflowing abundant life but to most people this is a cruel mockery of what their lives are really like. This causes people to pretend "all is well" and to push their fears and confusion  deeper inside rather than openly sharing these things with those who can help. Another effect, is to focus on being rescued out of this situation or by finally escaping to a better place in the bye and bye. The abundant life is supposed to start here and now or as one fellow said, " I don't want pie in the sky, I want some ham where I am!"

How you can help:

No one seems to have a true understanding of what is happening in our world today and the authority to address it. Our Heavenly Father promised us there would always be a prophetic remnant to speak truth to power. "The days to come from ancient times have arrived and there will be an unveiling and manifestation of the Kingdom in this day. For as the candle shines brigthest in darkest places remember, as in the days of Noah so shall it be at the end."  

Our Heavenly Father longs to reach out to us and share His love and and care for us!  This is what Chaplains do, they share the strength, hope and love they have received with those in need.

 If what you've read has touched you, if you'd like to help our Chaplains, the time to do so is now. You can write, email or call us but first I'd like to ask you to pray about it.  If you feel connected with us and what we are doing, if this is something you want to be part of, then please join us. We welcome your  support and partnership.