Two years ago, “Five Minutes” interviewed church planter Jon Fiester from Renewal MB Church in Rapid City, South Dakota. The Rapid City Police Chief had presented him with a community service award for the church’s positive impact in its neighborhood. Now Fiester is making news again. He has been selected and is in training to become a police officer working full-time for the department that recognized him. He will continue in his pastoral role at Renewal as a volunteer.
What prompted you to make this change?
We were at a place where we had to figure out how to keep going financially. We’re a small church in a lower-income area. The people coming to church are generous but don’t have enough to support the cost of ministry. My friends in the force said, “Hey, did you ever think about joining us?”
What will you be doing in your job with the police force?
The first three years, I’ll be a regular patrol officer, driving around in a patrol car, pulling people over for violations, responding to calls—what most people think of as a police officer’s work. After that, there are quite a few different positions possible, like a student resource officer in a school, street crime units (or) youth outreach teams.
How will your police work intersect with your role as pastor?
Our church already includes people on both sides of the law. We have police officers, and we have people on probation. In fact, on Sundays, we transport people on release from a county-run rehab program who use their community service hours to go to church. They help with cleaning and setup, participate in the service and wash dishes afterward. Whether people have their life together or are in chaos, we try to have a big pile of grace for each other and help each one take the next step toward Jesus.
Do you anticipate a conflict between your pastor role and officer role in the community?
When I was being interviewed for the job, they asked if I could arrest someone from the church if necessary. I told them what I would say if it came to that: If I have to arrest you, I won’t be mad at you, but I will be disappointed. And then I will walk with you through the consequences. But please don’t resist or fight me. I don’t want more paperwork, and you don’t want more charges.
Are there ways that your police role is an extension of your pastoral role?
In some ways, I’ll be doing the exact same thing with a different title. One of the most unique things about police is they’re interacting with people on the worst day of their life. They’re in a crisis moment. If I can bring a glimmer of Jesus in those moments, it is a unique opportunity.
Kathy Heinrichs Wiest is a freelance writer who loves the smell of whole wheat bread in the oven, the feel of an orange being plucked from the tree and the view from her front porch in Kingsburg, California. She and her husband, Steve, own Dovetail Remodeling. They have two grown daughters, one son-in-law and a precious granddaughter.
