Photos by Nicole Vyverman

Calvary Chapel Kalamazoo Valley Senior Pastor Roger Ulman’s work was just about to begin as the sun set over Kalamazoo, Michigan, when many pastors in the city were settling into their typical evening routine. He enjoyed a warm supper with his wife, Lisa, donned his bulletproof vest, and grabbed his Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) Chaplain badge before heading out the door.

Roger described what a police officer ride-along is like, especially early in his ministry with an officer who might not yet know him or what he does as a chaplain. “So, let’s just be honest,” a KDPS officer said as the two walked to a cruiser. “Being in a real police car is neat, I get it. So, you’re here for the thrills, huh?” He smiled and glanced over at Roger as they both took their places and buckled in. Roger met his gaze with kindness and replied, “Actually, I’m here for you.”

While Roger didn’t know this officer well, he knew after going on more than 300 ride-alongs that the job can be very stressful for the men and women in the department. “Who knows what we are going to see tonight,” Roger continued, “but hopefully I can just be present for anything you might need.”

Not knowing quite how to respond, the officer paused for a moment and looked out the windshield, visibly surprised by Roger’s response. He glanced over at Roger again, who just raised his eyebrows and smiled. With that, he started the car, and the two set off into the city streets.

A Challenging Mission Field

Kalamazoo has the largest public safety department in the country, Roger said. Police officers are trained not only as law enforcement, but also as firefighters and medical first responders. This allows every police officer to be ready for any dispatch. They see it all. But who sees them? Who is there to care for them when they spend shift after shift responding to the worst of humanity?

Public Safety Officer (PSO) Jacob Vyverman was a young Christian when he met Roger for the first time. Jacob knew very little about God or the Bible and admitted that the job began to slowly tear down his faith. “Day by day and call by call, I allowed the sin and darkness of the policing culture to drown me,” Jacob recalled. “The effects of other people’s problems, my own sin issues, and trying to impress worldly leaders destroyed my trust and hope in God.”

Roger expressed, “It’s a mission field that is untapped. It was very difficult for the first couple of years—I had to earn their trust, so I just showed up.” If there was a murder, he was there. If there was a fire, he was one of the first on the scene. He was simply present. “I didn’t cram Jesus down their throat. I just rode with them.” When the police officers realized Roger Ulman was not some phony “cop wannabe”, the walls came down, and they now consider him a critical part of the force.

According to Jacob, Roger’s authenticity and commitment played a significant role in his return to Christ. The two were riding together one shift when the young officer began to be vulnerable with Roger, admitting his anger and expressing issues he had with the church. Roger gently and lovingly reminded him of the truth from God’s Word. “I’ll never forget what he told me,” Jacob shared. “He said he understood how hard my job was, and he knew I was upset because the lawlessness of society was overwhelming my mind.” PSO Vyverman recounted how Roger reminded him that God doesn’t have any clause in the Bible for officers to live like the people they deal with.

Jacob summarized: “Literally because of this man’s commitment to the Lord and to KDPS, that conversation sparked a fire of faith that I’ve never experienced in my life. Since that talk, I began searching the Scriptures, combing through them daily to know my God and to know His expectations. The Bible came alive to me. As I read, it was like each word was erasing and recoding my mind to the Truth. The Lord healed me of the slavery to sin, and I’m daily submitted to the slavery of obedience.”

“As You sent Me [Jesus] into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 17:18

On the Front Lines

“I have become a resource for the city, going to humanity’s greatest need,” Roger stated. Remembering some horrific scenes he has witnessed, he shared how he had the opportunity to minister to a woman whose car had flipped over, trapping her. He helped her remain calm as the Jaws of Life were used to free her from the wreck.

Roger knows that as a chaplain, his role is to be present for citizens in need. More than anything, however, his primary focus on every scene is the officers and other emergency personnel. He prays for them, hugs them, and is there to listen if they need to share. It means so much to the officers to see him present at shocking or troubling incidents. He wants to see what they see so that he can minister to them more effectively.

Roger also shared about responding to a tragic teen suicide. “Anything with children can cause officers to hit the wall,” he said, referring to the emotional weight of such an encounter. “We’ve seen children terribly abused and sometimes even murdered.” When officers see such evil, they turn to Pastor Roger, who offers a voice of comfort and reason. “We are living in the dark Last Days,” Roger commented, “and many of the officers know it.” It means so much to the officers when they realize that even the chaplain doesn’t have all the answers, he confirmed.

The spiritual battle is very real at every scene, and none more so than those involving violence. Roger fully believes, however, that God has a plan for all of our lives and that we are immortal until that moment He calls us home. “There are times where I’ll be on scene, and I’m shocked that I’m standing around with gun shots going off all over the place; here I’m standing knowing that God has me in His hands. It’s a wonderful place to be.”

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Ministering to First Responders’ Families

At the end of the day, police officers go home to their own families, where the emotional weight of their work can have a deep impact. In 2016, CC Kalamazoo Valley started cooking food for police officers at their headquarters, and now they serve not just the officers, but their families as well.

On the fifth Thursday of every quarter, the church serves tacos to police officers and their families. They serve meals from noon to 10 p.m. so they can minister to as many as possible before, during, or after their shift. It is an opportunity to build bridges in the community, as officers who do not know the Lord will usually be present at Taco Thursday for the free tacos.

The meals have been such a success in building bridges with KDPS that members of CC Kalamazoo Valley will recognize the officers around town. On Sunday mornings, several police officers and other emergency personnel have begun to attend church with their families. Also, on-duty officers will often attend, sitting in the back and monitoring the radio in their ears during the service. “The fire trucks will line the street,” Roger observed.

Jacob Vyverman truly enjoys these meals and described how his coworkers love it. “Cops desperately need love from their community,” he stated, “and the more love shown to them, the better they are at their jobs.”

The Pastor & the Policeman

When pastors consider joining their local police force as a chaplain, Roger indicated that first and foremost the pastor must be called by God to it. “Desire is one thing, but calling is another,” he emphasized. He added that the pastor must be willing to get dirty by entering into very difficult scenes.

“You are going into the world, and many Christians can’t handle that,” Roger noted. Chaplains go to a call not knowing what they will encounter, and they must be willing to go into it without complaining. “You are ministering to human beings at their worst possible moment.”

Having the support of your spouse is also important. Roger has been married to Lisa for 39 years. He admits that his wife can be naturally nervous, but when he goes out the door to a call, it doesn’t bother her—she has a real peace the entire time. “I’ll tell her what I see, and it doesn’t bother her. She is a tremendous support!”

According to Roger, every officer also needs a supportive spouse. The demand for perfection, the emotional weight of the job, and the everyday stresses of life make the loving support and prayers of a spouse critical. Roger recognizes that officers are human too and can have rough home situations. His work as a chaplain allows him to offer prayer and counsel as needs arise.

CC Kalamazoo Valley is in the heart of the city. When the George Floyd incident took place in 2020, Kalamazoo was impacted by riots. Roger prayerfully and gently declared from the pulpit that he supported the local police. He is aware of real examples of police officers who make poor choices, but noted that most officers truly desire to serve and protect their cities and communities. Roger’s willingness to support his local police in the midst of political upheaval made a tremendous impact on the officers. They felt supported, loved, seen, and understood.

“I’ve had several police officers tell me over the years that the jobs of pastors and policemen are very similar,” Roger shared. “We both deal with the mess of the world.” As PSO Jacob Vyverman put it, “Cops thirst for truth and justice; and in my own anecdotal experiences, when one man isn’t afraid to talk about his faith and live his faith out in front of them, others follow quickly!”

Grace at End of Shift 

At the end of the shift, Roger and his companion officer returned to the station after responding to several calls across the city. The officer took careful note that never once during the ride did Roger lose his calm demeanor. After dropping Roger off, the officer continued on to his home, remembering something Roger said to him during the shift: “God is a God of second chances.”

He pulled into his driveway and paused for just a moment to take a breath. “Second chances,” he said to himself. Scene after scene played in his head of some of the worst incidents he had been called to. He even briefly considered his own life. It was in that moment that a still, small voice whispered in his heart, “Yes, and second chances even for you.”

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. Psalm 103:8

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