September 2026 - Joy in Serving

While much of the work we do is serious, the chaplains continue to bring joy and hope to every circumstance. We thought you might enjoy seeing the Rochester Police Chaplains having fun during the most recent Family Academy.

Pictured above (left to right): Salt & Light Chaplains

Reimer, Cape, Kyeremeh, Molina, and Beech

New Officers

This month, both the Austin and Rochester Police Departments welcomed in a new group of officers to their departments. It is an honor to be part of their professional journey from the beginning. The photo on the left depicts the new Austin PD officers with their chaplains (Goetz, Wyse, Meilke, and EC Cape). The photo on the right shows the new Rochester PD officers with their training officers and the RPD chaplains (Reimer, Cape, Kyeremeh, Molina, and Beech). 

Family Academy

As part of new officer onboarding, Salt & Light helps present a family academy for each department. We are so thankful to have a wonderful group of volunteer family members who lead the RPD's and APD's Family Readiness & Outreach Groups (FROGs) and show up along with our chaplains to share and educate the next generation of law enforcement families. It is an opportunity to get to know the officers and their families and share with them the work we do to help them in their professional journey.

Pictured above are two of the Austin Police FROGs leadership team (Shelby Hullopeter, Sam Hansen) and Chaplain Goetz presenting to the new Austin officers' families. The pictures below include three of the Rochester PD FROGs leadership team (Heather Tesdahl, Tiana Pond, Rachel Kusick) as well as the RPD chaplains presenting to the new Rochester officers' families.

Thank you to St James Coffee!

We are grateful for our many community partners who support us with prayer, finances, and fellowship. For the second year, St. James Coffee donated the proceeds from their July tip jar to Salt & Light Partners. How wonderful is that? Thank you! Please consider grabbing a coffee at St. James to show them your appreciation for their support, and tip generously to this month's nonprofit. 

Pictured are EC Cape, St. James Manager Melissa, and ED Beech

Scramble Fun

Our first annual golf scramble is in the books! The weather held, and we had a wonderful time. With 13 sponsors, 12 raffle items, 15 volunteers, and 32 teams of golfers, it was a fun-filled day. While there was not a prize planned for best dressed, we spontaneously decided to award it to the "Three cops and a pastor" team pictured above! (Levi Wilkins, Grant Reimer, Tim Hook, Nate Hauke)

George and Christine Beech were on the course and had a chance to greet each team of golfers as they came through. The picture below is with the "Powers for Mayor" team (Mark St Peter, Wes Emmert, Brad Becker and Joe Powers).

By the Numbers

So far this year, our chaplains spent 3163 hours with our first responders and responded to 218 critical incidents. That is over 6 traumatic events EACH WEEK so far this year!

As a result, in just the last 9 months, over 200 families in SE MN have benefited from our chaplains showing up to support them during the worst day of their lives and continuing to walk beside them in the days following. 

It also means that our chaplains were there to support the first responders who showed up at these scenes and ensure they were able to process and navigate what they experienced as well.

This is the core of what we do - even if there are no photos to acknowledge that part of the work. 

Giving Back

Did you know? Pinnacle Catering has a program that allows you to volunteer to help serve meals at the Mayo Employee Appreciation event and in return they donate back to the nonprofit of your choice.

We are very grateful for everyone who decided to volunteer on behalf of Salt & Light Partners and to Pinnacle for their donation!

Picture below shows Shari Cape, Christine Beech and George Beech during their volunteer shift.

Continuing to Grow

For the second month in a row, we'd like to introduce you to three new chaplains! This month, we brought on 3 Rochester-based chaplains: Paul Langmade and Tim Lambert, who will both serve with the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office, as well as Georges Montillet, who is pending placement. 

Please help us welcome these new chaplains! 

Pictured here, left to right: (Langmade, Montillet, Lambert, and EC Cape)