Friday, May 28, 2010

Memorial Day 2010

A veteran - whether active duty, retired, National Guard or Reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount "up to and including my life".  That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand that. ~  Author unknown.
Operation Safety 91 thanks all the brave men and women who have fought and died for our country. We will never forget!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Ps 91 Protection of Firefighters in NY

Scott Pruiksma, Founder of Interlocking Arms
Member of Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International

I am diligently handing out the resources but would like to share this testimony with you. In April my son and I went bike riding together in NYC. After riding we decided to visit a firehouse and encourage the men. We brought some pizzas and some of the Psalm 91 resources. The men were thankful we spoke briefly then they were off on a run to a call. Two weeks ago there was a car bombing attempt in Times Square. My son was telling me that as he watched the news the company that we brought the resources too was the first company to arrive on the scene. We all know that the bomb did not detonate and the men were protected. Praise God!!!!  I went back to the house again last week and dropped off more resources and pizzas with a few friends. I shared with the guys Gods promise to protect us if we call out to Him. I shared that people were praying for them and their safety and that they are not forgotten and we are thankful for them. Mary...you should have seen the smiles and the way that they wanted the Psalm 91 Gods Shield of Protection Resources. I am thankful to God for His promises and to you and the Foundation for making these resources available to those who are on the front lines. Keep looking up.
Your NJ friend,
Scott Pruiksma
http://www.interlockingarms.net/

Monday, May 10, 2010

"Honor Them" Video

OS91 gives a huge Thank You to Chaplain Kathie DiCesare, PTSD Consultant, Senior IFOC Chaplain for this video which she made for the 2nd Annual Tribute to Honor America's 1st Responders last year! Together we commemorate Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 15th and we salute all our Armed Forces wherever you are. We love you, appreciate you and pray for you daily!
Chaplain Kathie
PTSD Consultant
Senior IFOC Chaplain
Kathie Costos DiCesare
407-754-7526
web site
www.namguardianangel.com

blog
www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com

Nam Guardian Angel is a Charter of the IFOC, (501c3)

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Testimony from Chaplain Fred Wilcoxson

I want to take a moment and tell you about Operation Safety 91 (OS91). This is an organization, no a ministry, that came into existence thanks to Ed and Mary Ganster. The original inception was to provide a ministry to Law Enforcement Officers through books, prayer, and information. God grabbed a hold of this ministry and extended it to Fire Fighters, EMS workers, Teachers, Preachers, Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Homeless shelters and friends of all these people. It began with a book by Peggy Joyce Ruth focused on Psalm 91, a psalm that promises an umbrella of protection from our Living Lord.

I have experienced the privilege of being a part of this ministry. As a Police Chaplain I have given the Psalm 91 resources provided by OS91 to police officers, fire fighters, and EMS workers. As a professional hospital chaplain I started by giving these resources to nurses and other hospital employees who were married to spouses in one of these professions. It wasn’t long before people were lined up at my door wanting them. I now give them to hospital patients and their family members.

I have found that almost everyone I come into contact with through my law enforcement background, chaplaincy, and ministry is hungry for hope. I can’t count the number of people who have come back to me and thanked me for Psalm 91. What a blessing it has been for me to use this one small tool to do such a great work in my community. The book, though, is just a doorway to an even deep relationship with all these people. It is an opportunity to share the good news of the mercy, grace, peace, and love available to any one just for the asking. I have built lasting relationships through Operation Safety 91.

I encourage you to read these books, join Operation Safety 91, help support the ministry with you time and talents, pick up a few books and give them to your friends, to those you encounter who are hurting. My bet is that you will come back time after time asking for more books. But most of all you will feel so blessed with your new ministry. It is a ministry that can change lives… yours and others.


Fred Wilcoxson is ordained Episcopal. He is a Board Certified Pastoral Counselor and Clinical Chaplain, CPSP, Certified in Stress Trauma Care, AACC, and USVA PSTD training. He is a certified Professional Christian Life Coach, AACC. Fred serves as a Chaplain for the Orlando Police Department, Honorary Chaplain for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and a Victims Services Advocate for M.A.D.D. The Rev. Dr. Fred D. Wilcoxson, PhD is a retired Orlando Police Officer, also retired from Walt Disney World as a Security Manager. He has been in some kind of Pastoral Care ministry most of his life.  He is currently the fulltime Supervisor for Pastoral Care at a local hospital. www.wilcoxson.com

OS91 Partner FCFI introduces Ps 91 resources to Federation of Fire Chaplains

At the Federation of Fire Chaplains' training http://firechaplains.org/ all the books were excitedly accepted. Ed Stauffer (President, FFC) just ordered 10 cases of each for his Oct. training. We ordered 10 cases of each for Chicago for the local chapter outreach and International Fire Chief Conference in August.

Got a call from my friend in Bakersfield,. CA  Sheryl ordered several pallets of books for ICM to take in their sea train to Africa. Our Mexico director is also ordering Spanish books (probably a pallet of variety) to take into Mexico.

God is On The Move
Sue Reynolds
Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International
http://fellowshipofchristianfirefighters.com

Orlando Firefighter News


In May of 2009, the Orlando Firefighters held a Rally at the City Hall to urge the City NOT to lay off 48 firefighters, but in spite of the public outcry, the lack of budget won out, and they were laid off.  Ed & Mary Ganster, Founders of Operation Safety 91, attended that Rally last year, and Ed was interviewed and shown on TV news.  His point was that when he had his 4 different heart attacks, the 1st Responders were on the scene within minutes, and Ed has fully recovered.

On Friday, May 7, 2010, it was announced that a Federal Emergency Grant of $8 million was just awarded to the Orlando Fire Dept, and they can now re-instate those 48 lay-offs.  Orlando now has been restored to its full complement, assuring that its people are again adequately covered for all emergencies.


Operation Safety 91 applauds everyone who voiced their concerns about the 2009 cut-back, and shares gratitude that our voices were not for naught. Firefighters - like ALL 1st Responders -deserve our total support and thanks as they are at risk  24/7 to protect all of us.

OS91 honors New Eagle Scout, Jeff Cox

New Eagle Scout, Jeff Cox
OS91 offers heartfelt congratulations to new Eagle Scout, Jeff Cox of Troop 6, Windermere, Florida. Ed and Mary were invited to attend by Jeff's mother, Margaret Cox. Present to participate in the award ceremony were Jeff's devoted parents, Jeff's brother Tyler who became an Eagle Scout when Jeff was 4 weeks old, Mayor Gary Bruhn, Scout Leaders, Chaplain and fellow Scouts, family and friends. Patriot Guards and FL West Coast Riders attended and presented the flag line.
Jeff's special project for Eagle Scout was the "Windermere Never Forgets 9/11 Memorial" which is a 3' x 4' piece rusted steel from the Twin Towers made into a beautiful, poignant reminder of the horror of 9/11, now surrounded by peaceful gardens in the center of town.


OS91 Founder Ed Ganster with Jeff's brother, Tyler Cox,
ten year Firefighter for Brevard County    

Friday, May 7, 2010

OS91 Partners, FCFI, at annual Convention

Gay Reynolds, President 
Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International
The latest from OS91 partners, the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International:
April was a blessed and busy month of travels...First, we attended the National Fallen Firefighters' nmeeting and Federation of Fire Chaplains' training prior to FDIC. We felt like members of the jet set as we drove to Indy, flew to Tampa for a Fallen Firefighters meeting, and back to Indy.  Wednesday we opened our booth and it was non stop fellowship and outreach from that point on. Members helped in the booth, stopped by and visited, and many conference attendees came for information, prayer, support, and of course, fellowship. We went through many boxes of materials including Bibles, Psalm 91 resources, prayer books, Bible studies, and memorabilia items. We were thankful for those who looked us up specifically and had heard of FCFI through members and the web page.  God is awesome.
FCFI sharing Ps 91 resources with Military

Saturday, May 1, 2010