Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers
| Motto | Reaching the Law Enforcement Community for Christ |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1971 (incorporated 1974) |
| Type | Christian evangelism and discipleship organization |
| Focus | Law Enforcement community |
| Location |
|
Key people | FCPO-USA: Paul Lee (Executive Director) Del Walinga (President) FCPO-Canada: Ronald Mostrey (President) Marvin Massecar (Executive Director) |
| Website | www |
The Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO) is a nonprofit Christian ministry organization of men and women from all areas of the law enforcement community. Through local chapters across the United States and Canada, FCPO is dedicated to ministering to the spiritual and emotional needs of those serving in law enforcement. The FCPO-USA national home office is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, while FCPO-Canada is based in Ottawa, Ontario.
History[edit]
Beginnings[edit]
The ministry of FCPO began in October 1971, when two Los Angeles Police Department officers went to Long Beach, California to attend a Bible seminar, unbeknownst to each other. Having recognized each other at the event, along with a number of other LAPD officers, they began meeting regularly to read and study the Bible.[1] They also began to pray as to how they could effectively share Christ with lost officers around them.
News of these meetings spread through the department and ultimately, to the general public. At one point, Dr. J. Vernon McGee asked the citizens of Los Angeles, on his Thru the Bible radio broadcast, not to call the police between noon and 1 pm because the officers were having a Bible study.[2]
Originally calling themselves the Fellowship of Christian Policemen, the group changed their name to the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers in 1972 to include members from all areas of the law enforcement community.[3]
Incorporation[edit]
The Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers was incorporated as a nonprofit ministry in 1974, and by 1978 had its own logo and newsletter, The Christian Peace Officer. News of the ministry spread, and other Christians in the law enforcement community with a burden for lost officers began to form local chapters.
FCPO-Canada[edit]
The Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers-Canada was founded in 1983, following a joint meeting between FCPO leadership and a number of interested officers in Canada. Hosting a number of FCPO chapters across Canada, the Canadian officers initially joined the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers as associate members but eventually recognized they needed to be their own entity. A national office was established in Tillsonburg, Ontario and they began to reach out to officers across Canada with the message of FCPO. The national office subsequently transitioned to Woodstock, Ontario and is currently in Ottawa, Ontario.[4]
Although operated as separate entities, FCPO-USA and FCPO-Canada partner together from time to time in various ministry endeavors. Of particular note, the two organizations together provided $150,000 and much-needed manpower to the Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in 2005.
Relocation[edit]
With the ministry in decline by the late 1980s, the decision was made in May, 1988 to relocate FCPO-USA's National Office from Los Angeles, California to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in partnership with the Christian Business Men's Connection and the Maclellan Foundation.[5] In 1992 the organization hired its first full-time director and installed its first computer system. The first FCPO-USA website was established in 2004.[6]
FCPO Today[edit]
Today, the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers-USA has a membership of over 4000 officers, with nearly 250 local chapters across the United States while the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers-Canada is organized along provincial lines, with chapters in larger cities
Sister organizations[edit]
- The Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers of Canada
- UK's Christian Police Association and Christian Police Family
References[edit]
- ↑ "History Timeline". www.fcpo.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
- ↑ Martini, Stephen (2011). Onward & Upward: A History of the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers. Dry Ice Publishing. p. 39. Search this book on
- ↑ Martini, Stephen (2011). Onward & Upward: A History of the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers. Dry Ice Publishing. p. 41. Search this book on
- ↑ "Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers Canada - About Us". fcpocanada.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
- ↑ Martini, Stephen (2011). Onward & Upward: A History of the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers. Dry Ice Publishing. pp. 102–105. Search this book on
- ↑ Martini, Stephen (2011). Onward & Upward: A History of the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers. Dry Ice Publishing. p. 139. Search this book on
External links[edit]
- FCPO USA's website
- FCPO Canada's website
- Christian Police Assoc UK's website
- Christian Police Family UK's website
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