Chaplain Program

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The Frederick-Winchester Fire & Rescue Chaplaincy Program offers encouragement and support to those who are facing a loss subsequent to a fire, accident or health incident. The Chaplains assist visitors and citizens of Frederick County and Winchester City in addition to the men and women who put their lives on the line to serve and protect our community. Further, the Chaplaincy Program serves the community by meeting spiritual and emotional needs in times of crisis.

The Frederick-Winchester Fire & Rescue Chaplaincy Program provides comfort and counsel as well as referrals to appropriate community agencies within Frederick County and Winchester City. The Chaplains provide assistance in contacting family members and/or church pastors as needed. The Chaplains act as liaisons between the visitors and citizens of Frederick-Winchester and Fire & Rescue Personnel. The Chaplains do not replace the home church pastor. Communications between one and the Chaplain are considered confidential. Any volunteer or Career Personnel may choose to utilize the services of a Chaplain at any time. Any Fire Department Officer or Member who is made aware of any situation which may need Chaplain services can contact the Senior Chaplain.

Our Frederick-Winchester Fire & Rescue Chaplains are:

Ordained
Skilled in Pastoral Care
Prepared to serve in a Crisis Zone
Able to demonstrate a commitment to the Fire Service
Committed to learning the skills necessary to effectively relate to and minister to Firefighters and EMS personnel

Frederick-Winchester Fire & Rescue Chaplains

Mark Ransom, Senior Chaplain
Darrel Taylor, Chaplain
Kent Woodward, Chaplain
Reverend Victor Gomez

	Senior Chaplain Mark Ransom co-founded the Frederick County Fire and Rescue Chaplaincy Program in 2008. For the past fourteen years, Mark has held a position as Chaplain at the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center. Chaplain Ransom is also a Deputy and Chaplain with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and has even served as a Chaplain for the Police Academy. In addition to serving Frederick County, Mark is the Chaplain for Winchester Fire and Rescue and the Winchester Police Department. Mark is an ordained minister and has been the Pastor at Wesleyan Fellowship for the last five years. Chaplain Ransom is also a Captain for United Airlines and has held this position for the last twenty-six years. Chaplain Ransom is trained in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. Mark has resided in Frederick County for the last twenty-two years. He is married to Mary Ransom and has three children.

	Chaplain Darrel Taylor pastors the Blue Ridge Grace Brethren Church in Winchester, VA and has served in the pastoral ministry for 31 years. He also is a retired US Navy Reserve Chaplain. He resides in Stephens City and is a member of the Middletown Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.

	Pastor Kent Woodward is the Care Pastor at Winchester Church of God. He graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and received his Pastoral Training through Lee University/ Church of God International. He received his Chaplains training through Church of God’s Chaplain Commission. Kent is married to Susan Woodward and they have five children. His children are Wesley, Amanda, Matt, Austin and McKenzie Woodward. Kent is originally from Madison County VA and moved to the Winchester/ Frederick County Area in 1995.

	Reverend Victor Gomez is originally from Mexico and moved to the US over 20 years ago. He is an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church and has been in pastoral ministry for almost 20 years. He graduated from Shenandoah University with a Bachelors of Music and attended Seminary at Emory University where he obtained a Masters of Divinity and then a Masters of Theology from Columbia Theological Seminary. Reverend Gomez is currently a doctoral candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with an emphasis on Public Ministry. Reverend Gomez has served on the Virginia Latino Advisory Board and was appointed by former Governor Tim Kaine. He also served as the Vice-Chair. He joined the Chaplaincy Program in 2012 and currently serves Mount Olive and Old Bethel United Methodist Churches in Frederick County.