Christopher (Chris) Ireland

Chris is an ordained Pastor of Compass Church. He also serves as a volunteer chaplain for All First Responders Matter as well as a chaplain for Pasco Country Fire/Rescue and with the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief organization. He currently works as a Medical Technologist at Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Chris is a veteran and served as a Med. Tech. with the U.S. Army Reserves. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, working in the yard, and playing with his two dogs. He lives in Palm Harbor, FL, with his wife of 30 years. They have a daughter and son-in-law who live in Texas.

Ministerial Background

Ordained and Licensed Pastor of Compass Church, Palm Harbor, FL, 2014-present (a 501c3 organization)
Licensed pastor of Fil-Am Community Church, Alexandria, VA
Lay Minister, Calvary Road Church, Alexandria, VA Teacher/Led Chapel Services, Calvary Road Christian School

Education

Master of Arts in Global Studies (Cross-cultural ministry), Liberty University
Bachelor of Science in Theology, Liberty University

Certifications

Ordained Minister, Global Harvest Ministerial Association
License to Preach, State of Virginia
Certified and Ordained Chaplain, International Fellowship of Chaplains (IFOC)
Certified and Ordained Chaplain, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief
Certified Chaplain, Pasco Fire/Rescue
Volunteer Chaplain, All First Responders Matter

Trainings

Fire Chaplaincy Certificate - Essentials of Fire Fighter Chaplains (FFC)
Advanced Chaplaincy Certificate, FD Chaplain Services
Crisis Intervention Stress Management (CISM) Individual and Group Certification
Peer Support Training, University of Central Florida
Suicide Intervention Certification, ASIST
Psychological First Aid (PFA) Trained
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Trained, Directions through Living
Emotional Exhaustion and Self Care Trained, SPC All-State Center for Public Safety
Trauma Informed Care, University of Southern Florida (USF)
Emergency Management, Incident Command System (ICS-100, ICS-200, IS-700), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Susan Ireland

Susan takes on many roles as the pastor’s wife for Compass Church. She also volunteers as a chaplain with All First Responders Matters, and the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief organization. She retired from the Federal Government after 20 years working in the financial crimes and intelligence fields. She currently works as an Adjunct Professor for Liberty University. She is a veteran and served as a Blackhawk Crewchief and Intelligence Specialist in the Virginia Army National Guard. In her free time, she enjoys quilting and making fattening desserts for first responders. She lives in Palm Harbor, FL, with her husband of 30 years. They have a daughter and son-in-law who live in Texas.

Education

Doctoral Candidate, Public Administration, Liberty University
Master of Military Arts and Science with a focus on Space Operations, Army Command and General Staff College
Master of Science in Administration, Central Michigan University
Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Certifications

Certified and Ordained Chaplain, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief
Volunteer Chaplain, All First Responders Matter
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)

Trainings

Fire Chaplaincy Certificate - Essentials of Fire Fighter Chaplains (FFC)
Emergency Management, Incident Command System (ICS-100, ICS-200, IS-700), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Trained, Directions through Living
Trauma Informed Care, University of Southern Florida (USF)

Tony Ledbetter

Chaplain Tony Ledbetter was born in Linton, Indiana where his father was a police officer for over twenty years. He is married to his wife Kim who has been by his side since their marriage in 1987. Tony followed his father, in law enforcement as he served 16 years as an officer in two departments in Indiana. He is a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy of class 80-63. After serving with the Linton Police Department for 14 years, the Lord called him into the ministry, and his last two years of service he also served as a Chaplain and Patrolman. Tony has served as a missionary in Haiti and to the Haitian people since 1996. Him and his wife lived in Haiti for 11 years before Kim’s health descended and they were forced to return to the states where they still serve the Haitian people.

In 2018 Tony became involved in Chaplaincy again through International Fellowship of Chaplains where he received his credentials for chaplaincy. He soon was promoted to Captain and Commander of the Manasota Chaplain Corps in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. He also serves as Chaplain for Peace River Search and Rescue in Collier County. In 2020 he also joined the rank with “United States Service Command” entering their chaplaincy as Captain and assigned to Law Enforcement. He also became Chaplain for the Florida Highway Patrol and serves as Chaplain with Troop F which serves 10 counties. He is also a substitute for teaching inmates at the Sarasota Jail. Tony has a heart for first responders and gives peer support to all who serve.

Recently Tony joined the ranks of All First Responders Matter as he facilitates their First Responder Breakfast in Manatee County.

Affiliations:

Sending and Church Membership: Calvary Baptist Church, Linton, Indiana (Licensed, Ordained) Fraternal Order of Police;

International Conference of Police Chaplains;
Florida Sheriffs Association (Law Enforcement Member); International Critical Incident Stress Foundation; Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers.
United States Service Command
Peace River Search & Rescue
Florida Highway Patrol Chaplain

Education:

Indiana Law Enforcement Academy
Associates Degree of Biblical Studies; Heritage Baptist University Bachelors Degree of Church Ministry; Baptist College of America Masters Degree of Theology; Baptist College of America Doctrate Degree of Church Ministry; Baptist College of America

Training includes:

CISM; Group & Individual
PTSD; Post Traumatic Stress Injury FEMA: 100,200,700,800
Traumas of Law Enforcement Training Enhancing Resilience
Crisis Care in Cultural Diversity Operational Stress First Aid Leadership Training
Chaplain Disaster Preparedness Gunshot Wound First Aid
CPR/AED & First Aid
Crime Scene Preservation
Crisis Care during Traumatic Grief

Accommodations:

Distinguished Service Award (IFOC)
Doctor of Humanities (USSC)
Pioneer Command Award (USSC)
Chaplain of the Year 2021 (USSC)
Chaplain Service Award (Law Enforcement Chaplain)

Kennon Wiley

Kennon was ordained as a Pastor and into the work of gospel ministry in 1998. He served as chaplain with the Polk County Sheriff’s office prior to relocating to the Tampa Bay area in 2007 and has always had a heart and passion to advocate for, support and serve First Responders. He has served as a volunteer chaplain at the Pinellas County EOC/911 Regional Center, and currently serves as a volunteer chaplain with All First Responders Matter. His call to serve First Responders is consistently lived out through the privilege to serve as an active chaplain for both East Lake Fire Rescue and Clearwater Fire and Rescue. He has a K-9 partner, Dixie who is a working therapy dog that provides care and relief to area First Responders through station visits and outreach events and can be deployed to area and regional scenes where K-9 compassion support is needed. He currently serves on staff at Calvary Church in Clearwater, FL. Kennon has over 25 years of pastoral and ministry experience, having served churches in both Central and West Central Florida.

He has been married to wife his Heather for 27 years. They love the Appalachian Mountains, sports and dream of owning a Bed & Breakfast one day. They have three amazing children and two crazy dogs. He lives in the Palm Harbor area of beautiful Pinellas County, FL.

Ministerial Background

Ordained Pastor of the Gospel Ministry 1998

Pastoral Ministry of 27 years

Certificate of Church Ministry, New Orleans Theological Seminary

Ecclesiastical endorsement for Chaplaincy - Calvary Church, Clearwater FL

Certifications

FFC Member: Chaplaincy Credentials through the Federation of Fire Chaplains (FFC)

Essentials of Fire Chaplains - Federation of Fire Chaplains

Certificate of Completion - Fully Involved Chaplaincy (FD Chaplain Services)

Departments/Agencies Served

Polk County Sheriff’s Office

East Lake Fire Rescue - Current Lead Chaplain

Clearwater Fire & Rescue - Current Associate Chaplain

First Responder Advocacy Group Involvement

Volunteer Chaplain – All First Responders Matter 501c3

Nicole Wrobel

I am a Chaplain serving Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department where I provide pastoral care to both those incarcerated and deputies. Along with a heart for ministry and serving local first responders, I hold a Masters in American Religious History from Florida State University and a Masters in Divinity from the University of Chicago. I have completed training in clinical pastoral education with Bay Care and Tampa General hospitals as well as the Essentials of Fire Chaplaincy with the Federation of Fire Chaplains. I am eager to continue serving those who serve others and volunteer time to provide proper care for those in need.

Edward Kellum

Edward Kellum is an Ordained Elder in the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and Co-Pastor at First United Methodist Church of Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Edward holds an M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, and a B.A. from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

A native of Texas, Edward also holds a Lifetime Certification in the State of Texas in Secondary Education (English). He has lived in Texas, Japan, Kentucky and Florida.

Edward worked for the Japanese Ministry of Education in a teaching exchange program, and has had a variety of chaplaincy experiences and training, including an ACPE Certified chaplaincy internship at a Central Baptist Hospital

in Lexington, Kentucky, and an ACPE Certified chaplaincy internship with VITAS Hospice in Ormand Beach, Florida. Edward has also served as chaplain with LEO and FD as well, and his newest chaplain experience has

allowed him to serve with 911, EOC, and EMA in Pinellas County, Florida. Edward is trained in several FEMA courses, and has also been trained in a nationally accredited fire chaplaincy course.

Edward is thankful to be part of All First Responders Matter, and helps to facilitate All First Responders Matter breakfasts in Pinellas County as well.

Edward is married with two children.

Daniel Persinger

Dan has a long-time passion of being involved in the first responder field for 10 + years. His dream job was to be a career firefighter but was cut short due to a medical diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy. Dan found Chaplaincy work with his hometown fire and police departments. Dan holds a BA in Religious Studies from North Central College Class of 2021. Dan’s big push and passion is helping to change the culture over time of first responders around the stigma of mental health especially around the epidemic of suicide which has a correlation with addiction issues. Dan is also an advocate for encouraging first responders to feel and process their griefs and losses both from the job and off the job.

Christopher Jones

Chaplain Christopher T. Druce Jones serves as Director of Chaplaincy for Rosecrance Health Network, providing spiritual leadership to Substance Use/Mental Health residential adult and adolescent clients. He provides spirituality care services through weekly spirituality lectures, individual spiritual counseling, special worship services, and spiritual support to staff. In addition to spiritual care services, he also facilitates groups on grief and loss and vicarious trauma. Chaplain Chris has extensive experience in administration, organizational management and leadership, as well as, leadership development and group facilitation. His areas of specialization are grief and loss, vicarious trauma, and organizational leadership and revitalization. Chaplain Chris is a former United Methodist clergy of 20 years. He pastored churches within the Northern Illinois Conference. Chaplain Chris is a United States Army/Army Reserve veteran. He earned a BA in Philosophy and Religion from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana and a Master of Divinity from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.