Representatives of several Oklahoma City-area churches and officers from divisions of the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) recently met to get an update on the success of a ministry called Faith & Blue, and were encouraged to expand the ministry aimed at supporting law enforcement officers. The group included Metro Baptist Network Associational Mission Strategist Mark Walters. Churches represented included Cherokee Hills; Portland Avenue; Southern Hills and Quail Springs (QSBC).
The ministry began in 2020 and has blossomed into a growing relationship between QSBC and the 114 officers assigned to the Hefner Division of the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD).
Wade Crews, QSBC senior adult minister; QSBC member Sharon Willis; OCPD Community Relations Officer Sgt. Bob Skalla, a member of Del City, First Southern, and Police Chaplain Clyde Caldwell have been the driving force behind the ministry.
Since that time, the senior adults at Quail Springs have ministered to the officers in a multitude of ways, including converting a report taker’s office at the station into a wellness room where officers can unwind, rest, read, grab a cold drink and snack, or complete paperwork; painting blue stripes on the church parking lot, giving the officers a secure place to park their cars while filling out reports or stopping for a quick lunch or snack without being interrupted; conducting a first-responders appreciation service at the church, which included lunch for the officers and dedication of the blue stripes area, and bringing snacks and bottled water to the officers on a regular basis.
“Our motivation is to be there for you,” Crews reminded those at the luncheon. “We believe this is a valuable ministry. After all, who contacts hurting people first? You guys do. So, we have this partnership. For us, it’s a partnership in ministry; for you it’s a partnership in community service.”
Crews pointed out the simplicity of the concept.
“The ABCs of doing this are, be Available, Build the relationship, and Commit to the work of the partnership,” he said.
“My encouragement today is this all started five years ago when one of our members said we ought to do something for one of the Hefner Division officers who was going through difficult times. But, with my background, I said, no, we really need to embrace the entire division. Our dream and desire are that this grows into the other divisions and into other churches across the city.”
