What is the initiative?
In cooperation with Warrior Family Ministries, we have started the Chaplain Initiative. Our ultimate goal is to build a local Company of chaplains to serve the local community, and first responders in the greater Albemarle County area of Virginia, then to grow this program beyond to other counties and cities.
Chaplain Jason Hartzog has launched as a full time Chaplain supporting the Albemarle County Police Department and other first responders. His primary focus is serving with the ACPD, Albemarle County Fire Rescue, and the Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle Emergency Communications Center to support first responders, staff, families, and community with a focus on mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Secondary roles include recruiting, training, and leading volunteer chaplains within the community, as well as being able to serve, not only locally, but nationwide as a crisis and trauma chaplain in times of natural or man-made crisis and disaster.
Who is Chaplain Hartzog?
Jason has been a resident of the greater Charlottesville / Albemarle area since 1994. After 17 years of working in distance education at the University of Virginia, he felt it was time to do something different and serve those around him within the community. Since 2011, he has served as the Associate Pastor of Youth at Northside Baptist Church in Charlottesville, and in 2020 was challenged with a new calling.
In 2020, Jason became trained and endorsed as a chaplain through Warrior Family Ministries, with a desire to serve our first responders and community. COVID impacted plans moving forward, but in July 2021 he was able to begin volunteering as a chaplain with the Albemarle County Police Department. After a year involving over 360 hours of police ride alongs, multiple call outs to various traumatic scenes, and hearing the stories of many officers and community members it became obvious that there is an immediate need for more chaplain support within this community, as well as others across the nation. This is how we arrived at the Chaplain Initiative.
January 1, 2024 – Jason transitioned to serving as a full time First Responder Chaplain.
How you can help and be a part of this mission:
First, join our prayer support team! We need people committed to praying for first responders, staff, their families, and for ACI. First responders deal with the some of the worst physical manifestations of evil that you can imagine, but ultimately, the battle is spiritual (Ephesians 6:12). Your prayers are needed and coveted, and you can keep up with what is going on via our upcoming youtube channel: Warrior Family.
Financial Support – Operational costs for this ministry and salaries require funding. Part of being a community, a family, or a church is that we are blessed as we take opportunity to bless others. Will you partner with us by making tax-deductible contributions? Please consider one of our contribution goals:
MONTHLY contribution goals:
30 individuals to commit to giving $100+/month
40 individuals to commit to giving $50+/month
50 individuals to commit to giving $25+/month
ONE-TIME contribution goals:
20 gifts of $500+
10 gifts of $1000+
6 gifts of $2500+
3 gifts of $5000+
Our needs for current funding are at least $75,000 per year for ministry expenses and to fund one chaplain, with a minimum of $35,000 needed for salary purposes. Donations can be made online by clicking HERE or from www.warriorfamilyministries.org – click the DONATE tab, click partner with us, then in the drop down for FUND select Law Enforcement Chaplain Support. Checks can also be mailed to:
Warrior Family Ministries
69 Gough Road
Rustburg, VA 24588
Checks should be made out to Warrior Family Ministries and include a note designating funds toward Law Enforcement Support. Warrior Family does not take any portion of these donations, passing on 100% of funds toward this program.
Join our team! We need people of faith, with servant hearts to step up, be trained and join us as chaplains within the community. Individuals can serve as community chaplains, chaplains to serve other chaplains, first responder chaplains, and more. If you would like to join our team, more info can be found HERE.
Finally, if you believe in the mission, SPREAD THE WORD! Refer the Chaplain Initiative to any individuals or business who may consider contributing to our fundraising.