The Nebraska, Hall County Chaplain Corps
What’s Going On in Hall County, Nebraska
The Hall County Chaplain Corps, formerly the Hall County Public Safety Team, has been reconstructed. This upgrade was born out of a simple but powerful calling: to ensure that no first responder or their family member ever has to face a crisis alone. What was once a quasi volunteer team of 4 or 5 helping with death notifications and an occasional invocation is now a competent, committed team of 9 volunteers with an added paid lead.
In 2024 conversations began. As the needs of those who serve on the front lines became more visible, the importance of providing competent, compassionate, confidential and consistent care also became more visible. Brainstorming led to a vision, that when shared among agency leaders quickly developed into a unified effort. These efforts resulted in a collaboration, likely the first of it’s kind, bringing together trained chaplains from diverse faith backgrounds and 7 City and County agency heads. They unanimously shared a common mission, the need for care, presence, and support for “the first there”. The Hall County Chaplain Corps was rebranded and then trained with new intention: to collaborate with these 7 agencies to serve without agenda, offering hope, encouragement, and stability in moments of trauma, loss, and uncertainty.
The 7 agencies include Hall County Emergency Management and Dispatch, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Island Police Department, Grand Island Fire Department, Hall County Attorney’s Office, Grand Island Rural Fire and Hall County Corrections. It is our vision to build a firm foundation for the Corps by having a part-time paid leader for the first 2 years. To gain community buy in and minimal budget impact for the city and county, we approached our community faith leaders and private donors to commit to pay for this paid position for 2 years. At our “Coffee with the Chiefs” we received commitments totaling over $30,000 a year for 2 years. At the end of the 2 year period, we hope to have the data to validate the need for a full-time Lead Chaplain, advocating that the city and the county divide the cost between the agencies. We’re dreaming big! So……
We dreamed! We prayed! We casted a vision! We rebranded! We needed to develop competence. So we trained! With the help of Dr. Barry Young of Serving Heroes and Kevin, Ashley and Jeff of Rocky Mountain Police and Fire Chaplains, we stand ready, competent and committed to serve. On November 19, 2025 we became official with the first ever pinning and swearing in ceremony for the Hall County Chaplain Corps!
The Hall County Chaplain Corps stands as a partnership between 7 public safety agencies, the local faith community and private donors, rooted in trust, service, and compassion. Our foundation truly reflects the heart of Grand Island and Hall County—we take care of the “first there” so they can continue to take care of us. We are guided by faith and committed to walking with our first responders through their most joy-filled moments and their most difficult moments.
Hall County Chaplain Corps: “We care for the first there.”
