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The chaplain serves as a Christian counselor for inmates and staff. This counseling includes grief counseling, crisis counseling, marital and pre-marital counseling, addiction counseling, and counseling for mental or emotional problems. The chaplains receive hundreds of weekly requests from inmates that say, "I really need to speak with the chaplain." They also receive emergency counseling requests from the administration to inform inmates of deaths or serious injuries in their families. The chaplain does his best to see as many of these as is possible. His volunteer staff helps greatly with this counseling load. Jail staff also comes to the chaplain with their questions and problems. The chaplain has the unique opportunity to be the only official "spiritual" person on the staff. Just as with Daniel in the Old Testament, often when all others have failed them (the soothsayers, astrologers, and wise men) people turn to the chaplain because they know that he has "connections" with the one true God. The chaplain then has the opportunity to help people make a connection of their own with God through salvation in Jesus Christ.
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