An Interview With Bud Kelley On Christian ministry to cops, the criminal justice community, and Fire/Rescue.

MBaker: Hi, Bud, thanks for this opportunity to discover what the Lord has going with you, your Wife Effie, and this ministry!

BKelley: Thank you Mike. I appreciate this opportunity to share the Law Enforcement Ministry with you.

MBaker: Let's start at the bottom and work our way up. How long have you two been married now, and how long have you been Christians?

BKelley: Mike, Effie and I have been married 47 years and we worship at the First Baptist Church of Riverside, Effie accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized at the age of 14. At the age of 10, I accepted Christ as my Savior and was baptized, however, as happens all to often, I wandered away from the Lord, but re-dedicated my life to Him 14 years ago.

MBaker: How long was you career in law enforcement, and who did you work with?

BKelley: I was a Police Officer and Detective with the Riverside Police Department for 30 years, retiring in 1990.

MBaker: How long were you a Christian as an active duty cop?

BKelley: Mike, I have considered myself a Christian since the age of 10, however, I did not live the life of a Christian as a Police Officer. It seems that as many of us do, I only called upon the Lord in times of need, stress and danger.

MBaker: What were some of the more memorable moments on the job that impacted you in a profound way?

BKelley: I do not recall any moments that did not impact me in some way as to my career in law enforcement. I would have to say that the loss of five of my friends who were killed in the line of duty impacted me to the extent that I started realizing the depth of man's inhumanity to man and that the only answer was the love of God through His Son Jesus Christ, yet even then, I did not act on those feelings.

MBaker: In light of your experience, what do you feel are some of the immediate needs and challenges, mentally and spiritually, the active duty cop faces in the field? Likewise, the challenges to their personal lives, marriages, and family lives?

BKelley: In doing research in preparation for this ministry, I learned that 80% of law enforcement marriages are ending in divorce. Alcoholism and suicides are increasing in the field of law enforcement. These are the immediate needs and challenges that need to be addressed mentally and spiritually. Because of these tragic statistics, it cannot help but impact, in a terrible way, our law enforcement families.

MBaker: You are retired now. When did the Lord prompt you and Effie to start up this ministry?

BKelley: It is rather difficult to be specific as to a time that the Lord laid this ministry on our hearts. I do know that only by and through the forgiveness and love of Jesus Christ, our marriage has remained intact and I am not an alcoholic. It is because of God's grace that Effie and I felt that we could be of help to other law enforcement families, having walked the road that many of them are walking today.

MBaker: What is your vision for this work and ministry; rather, what is the vision the Lord has placed in yours and Effie's heart to impact the field of professional law enforcement for good?

BKelley: Mike, I feel that Lord had laid on our hearts, an endeavor to reach out to law enforcement connected people and their families, active and retired, that might be hurting and are experiencing the same problem that we did. Law enforcement is unlike any other profession with its stress, dangers, and temptations. For far to long, the law enforcement profession has been neglected spiritually, and it is our prayer that this ministry, through God, will answer these needs in some small way.

MBaker: In light of current current events and the war on terror, what do you feel will be some of the more profound exterior challenges facing the men and women of this critical field in the future?

BKelley: I feel that the need for Jesus Christ in the hearts of our law enforcement people, active and retired, and their families is needed now more then ever before. The duties of the officer of today are far more hazardous, in some respects, then in my day, but the need for Jesus Christ is just as important, as He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

MBaker: Looking back over the last year, what has the Lord accomplished through this fledgling ministry, and what more do you feel needs to be done?

BKelley: Mike, our first ministry meeting was in October of 2003. There were five people that attended our first meeting including my wife and myself. Since that time, we are averaging 12-14 people at the meetings. We have addressed several problems of our ministry members through prayer and fellowship. By God's grace, it is our prayer to enlarge the ministry through outreach programs, involving but not limited to the reaching of law enforcement families and in particular, the children. We are also reaching out to other local churches who have many law enforcement members in their congregation and who have no active law enforcement ministries. We are prayerfully , without ceasing, hoping that these members will join our ministry.

MBaker: You volunteer in a hospice program. How did you come to be involved in this?

BKelley: I took note of a need for voluteers through an article in our church newsletter, and made the call. I just felt that the Lord was calling me to do this. Also, in my thirty years as a police officer, I witnessed many people leave this life alone and/or without knowing Jesus Christ as their Savior. I felt that in visiting these people who are in the sunset of their lives, I might provide some encouragment to them and, most importantly, that God might open the door for me to present our Savior to them. I have found the work very uplifting to me. I pray that my visitations are uplifting to the people that I visit.

MBaker: Great! Thanks for this opportunity to share with the community and the law enforcement community at large what the Lord has going on in your life and ministry. We look forward to seeing the Lord strengthening and establishing you and Effie within the law enforcement ministry family in the years ahead.

BKelley: Mike, thank you again for this wonderful opportunity to spend some time with you and discuss the ministry and what we hope to accomplish.

~ In the memory of Michael Curtis Kelley ~

The Law Enforcement Ministry of Christian retired PO Bud Kelley. It is with regret and necessity, that I must announce the ending of our Law Enforcement Ministry. After three years of the ministry, our attendance is not what we had hoped for and interest has been waning. Speakers have been increasingly hard to find what with their committed schedules, etc, and this is understandable. I truly know the words of our Lord as "when two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them". It was just felt that it is time to move on to other endeavors. It is also said that when one door closes, another one opens, and it is my prayer that the Lord will show us in the ministry, this door. It is from my heart that I wish to thank all of you who have supported this ministry the past three years. I wish to especially thank Pastor Steve Ballinger, Dave Tolford, and Harvest Church for their loving and unwavering support of the ministry. Also, my heart felt thanks to Chaplain Tony Miano of Ten-Four Ministries and my dear friend Steve Evans, without whose help the ministry would not have functioned. I wish to personally thank the members of the ministry for being ever present with my family and me during a tragic time in our lives. Your love and encouragement will never be forgotten. During the course of the ministry and by the grace of God, we point to some achievements, primarily a major role in the establishment of the Chaplain's Program at the Riverside Police Department. Our deepest thanks to Chief Russ Leach for his support and encouragement as to the Chaplains program. We are also aware that several law enforcement marriages were strengthened and given encouragement, through the ministry. It is my hope that all of you will join me in becoming part of the Shield of Faith ministry at Harvest Church, led by Pastor (and Chaplain) Steve Ballinger. Thanks to all of you and may God bless you and all those you hold dear. Bud Kelley An Interview With Bud Kelley On Christian ministry to cops, the criminal justice community, and Fire/Rescue. [Re-deployed] God Protect The Protectors ~ God Bless The Cops Salem The Soldier's COPS Page Supports This Ministry!

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  All personal articles © 1999-2008 Michael A. Baker. This material is copyrighted to prevent altering or reproducing for profit. Permission is granted to the reader to forward all writings from "Salem the Soldier's Homepage/Michael A. Baker," without altering, to friends, groups or other ministries or to copy for similar or personal use. Retired officer Bud Kelley can be reached at his email for assistance!