Editor’s note: As part of National Faith & Blue Weekend, volunteer chaplains with the EPPD and EPFD have written blogs to give our residents a better understanding of our chaplain program and how it serves our residents. Today’s blog is written by Chaplain Paul Nelson who has been a volunteer chaplain since 1998.

I have been blessed to serve as a pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie for the past 25 years and one of the great gifts I have experienced during this time is the privilege of also serving as a volunteer chaplain for our Eden Prairie Police and Fire Departments. Even as we as a society strive to improve how law enforcement protects and serves everyone in our communities, I believe it is helpful for us as a community to acknowledge the good work of our police and fire departments. Affirming the faithful work public servants provide our community, often difficult and dangerous circumstances, provides a better perspective of our community, especially in these turbulent times.

Eden Prairie has been blessed with public servants who strive to do their work with professionalism and compassion. I have watched officers in stressful situations respond with patience and kindness, de-escalating threats and bringing peaceful resolutions. The women and men in our police and fire departments take their role as public servants seriously and I have learned from their professionalism.

It is the role of chaplains to responds in crisis, working side by side with first responders in some of the most difficult and frightening moments of people’s lives. I am inspired by the care and compassion shown by our public servants in incredibly stressful situations. On our behalf, they hold hands, answer questions, provide guidance and provide help in some of the worst moments in people’s lives. Time and again I have been witness to how these public servants are committed to providing our community with the best care they can. I am thankful to be part of this work and to live in the community in which they serve.

I have often shared with my congregation my experiences with our excellent police and fire departments, how we are blessed to have dedicated people who make our community better through their faithful service. I am glad to have the opportunity to share this insight with my community as well.