The vision of Community Chaplain Service was born in the heart of Rev. David Kimball, who in 1974 was led to reach out to nursing homes in New Bedford, Massachusetts. For many years Rev. Kimball had served pastorates in the East and Midwest. In May of 1973, Rev. Kimball was led of the Lord through a passage in Hebrews, Chapter 11, to resign his pastorate and return to New England. Through a year-long series of events, God trained him further in the principles of living by faith in preparation for a new ministry. Parts of the training involved the practical experience of watching God guide step by step and provide for practical needs in some very unusual ways. That ministry was initiated on April 13, 1974. Its original outreach was to health-care facilities in the area. The original vision of Rev. Kimball was to provide full-time, professional, evangelical, institutional chaplain service to hospitals, nursing homes, juvenile courts, probation departments, prisons and industry. From the outset, Community Chaplain Service has been a faith missionary endeavor, trusting God, and personal and non-sectarian in approach.

Envisioning a nationwide ministry to unreached segments of our society, Rev. Kimball began by approaching area nursing homes offering chaplain coverage. This was eagerly accepted in the surrounding communities, and Community Chaplain Service was begun. At that time however, other ministries of interest to Rev. Kimball were not forthcoming and gradually, CCS had become entirely a ministry to nursing homes. This area of ministry was confirmed by the coming of Rev. Walter Dryer, whose burden for the elderly was foremost.

From its genesis, the plan for the CCS ministry has not changed. It has always been the express desire of the CCS ministry to reach out to the elderly infirm, and to expand the ministry geographically as the Lord leads others to serve in this missionary endeavor. We take seriously the Scriptural exhortation: “Visit the…widows in their affliction…” (James 1:27).

Today, the CCS ministry graciously presses on in the same manner it did some thirty-four years prior. With opportunities to serve in assisted living, hospitals and hospice as well as nursing homes, the vision of the late Rev. Kimball is coming to fruition. From its meager beginnings of a man with a vision and a dedicated servant of God to see it through, the CCS ministry currently serves in thirteen states, has a sister ministry in New Brunswick, Canada and most recently is serving in three hospitals in the Philippines.

The primary purpose of the CCS ministry is to implement the command of Jesus Christ, as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.”

In 2007, chaplains from the CCS ministry made over 100,000 visits and had over 300 known professions to Christ. According to statistical data, in 2005 there were approximately 2,000,000 residents in nursing homes across the country. Thirty-five percent or 700,000 of these residents will never see a family member again. We feel it is our responsibility as Christian laborers to serve these desperately lonely and wonderful people. It is our hope that this may be your desire as well.