ESTEVAN — Michael Hoffort says he always wanted to be a police officer, but then he felt the call to be a pastor.
Now the senior pastor at Estevan's Living Hope Community Church has found a way to continue with his work while helping out with the Estevan Police Service as the EPS’s chaplain, filling a role that had been vacant for several years.
“When I felt called into ministry, I put that [policing] dream on hold, never expecting to really do much with it. But now I see chaplaincy as a way to fulfill both roles, to be a chaplain for the police officers … not to live vicariously through them, but to be able to minister to them and help them,” Hoffort said in an interview with SaskToday.
Hoffort recalled it started when he asked EPS Insp. Tyler McMillen if they had a chaplain or if they were interested in the role. It took a little time to get it going, but earlier this year, he stepped into the role as a volunteer.
“The officers have ongoing, daily issues that they end up with in their calls, and I just wanted to be a support to them,” Hoffort said.
He also spoke with EPS Const. Geoff Thiessen about the role. Thiessen was the EPS chaplain while he was the senior pastor at the Estevan Church of God. He also thought Hoffort's involvement was a good idea.
It’s been a good experience getting to know the members and their stories, Hoffort said, and he hopes to be available if and when they need to talk to somebody.
“There’s a lot of chatting, getting to know each other, getting to know where they’re from, getting to know their favourite hockey team and such,” said Hoffort.
The members have been receptive, and have been happy to get to know Hoffort and ask questions. He said it leads to good conversations when he has been at the police station.
Police Chief Jamie Blunden said this is part of the EPS wellness program that hadn't been in place for several years.
“We’ve done a lot for our wellness program with respect to physical fitness. We have a financial wellness program going on. We’ve got the mental health program that we have available, but we never had the spiritual part where somebody’s available to listen to somebody,” said Blunden.
Blunden had conversations about bringing back the program so it came together well.
Hoffort has now met everybody on the EPS, he’s talked with them when it’s been convenient and Blunden said it opens up an avenue for members if they need to reach out to somebody who isn’t inside the police service.
“It’s just about someone there to be able to listen and give you a little bit of guidance, like what pastors do. They listen to the individuals in their congregation, and that’s what we’re asking him to do here is just be here for our members if the time comess," said Blunden.
The schedule is flexible, Hoffort has been accommodating and Blunden said it’s been well received.
