Lucian Baker receives national humanitarian award at Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

Lucian Baker has been serving the people of Knox and surrounding counties for more than half a century.

The senior pastor at Christ the King Church has also been serving those who serve others as part of the Mount Vernon Association of Police Chaplains. For his efforts, Baker was awarded the Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Humanitarian Award on Sept. 17 during the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

“He’s such an asset to us. He’s our director of curriculum, so all of the training and ongoing credentialing we need, he does,” said Andy Burns, Mount Vernon Police Assistant Chief and member of the police chaplains. “He’s such an important person, not only to me personally, but to our chaplaincy and our community.”

He was once the director of cardiology at Knox Community Hospital. Baker was also instrumental in bringing back the Explorers of Knox County, Burns said.

Jared Smith, CEO of the Muskingum Valley Council for Scouting America, spoke of the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor and why Baker was such a great recipient of the humanitarian award.

“No tradition of American society is more precious to or more characteristic of our culture than voluntarily reaching out to neighbors in need,” Smith said. “Such selfless service is part of both our civic and our religious heritage. The Chapel of Four Chaplains, a national nonprofit, is founded upon one shining manifestation of our heritage. … Today, the Chapel serves in the memory of these brave men and carries their message of interfaith cooperation and selfless service to every part of our great country.

“To recognize and encourage acts of heroism, volunteerism, brotherhood and sacrifice among Americans of every age and every stage of life, the Chapel of Four Chaplains has established the Legion of Honor program. Among the awards is a humanitarian award, which is given for a lifetime or career of outstanding humanitarian service, which has profoundly affected the quality of life in one’s community, state and nation. This award is very rarely given and I’m honored today to give it to one of your own – Lucian Baker.”

Along with Baker, Burns introduced the 17 chaplains that are part of this organization. They included Josh Brady, Chelsi Burns, Laura Coykendall, Bob Durbin, Rick Graumlich, Jerry Scott, Marvin Haught, Willie Rose, Doug Pummell, Bruce Butler, as well as himself, and reserves Bob Butler, L.J. Harry, Roger Tickle and Jon Whisner.

“There are so many things they (chaplains) do that none of you ever hear about. They operate as a ministry of presence to our officers. They want to serve those who serve us. What they’re doing, most of the time, is behind the scenes. It’s things we’re probably not going to put in our annual report. What they’re doing that you may not realize is they are doing things for first responders – fire, police, EMS, corrections, dispatchers – that to me I’m very proud of what they do,” Burns said. “These chaplains work tirelessly to do things – not just for the first responder community, but for people in the community that those first responders come into contact with.”

The event is, of course, the mayor’s breakfast, and Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr gave the keynote address. Starr spoke about putting on the armor of God, but first he spoke of the association of police chaplains, their work and how they affect the community.

“There’s something very special going on in this community and I can’t say enough about that. The chaplaincy plays a significant role in that,” Starr said. “You only got a taste of what they do. There are so many things they do behind the scenes that’s so important and just makes this place hum like a well-oiled machine.”

Starr’s keynote address was “Putting on the Armor of God.” The primary bible passage for the full armor of God is Ephesians 6:10-18, which instructs believers to put on the complete spiritual armor to withstand spiritual forces of evil. The pieces of this armor are the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God).

Starr said Ephesians’ Chapter 6 is one of the most significant passages of the Bible and explained how our battles in life are spiritual.

“Enemies work through lies, fear, temptation, discouragement and division. If we try to fight that battle using only human strategies, we’ll be overrun. That’s why Paul tells us to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil,” Starr said.

He explained each piece of the armor because it represents truth, discipline and the gift God gives us so that we can stand firm.

“God has given us everything we need to stand firm and face the challenges of life. For many of us, that starts the very first moment that we wake up in the morning,” Starr said. “How you begin your day matters more than you think. The first word you speak to yourself, the thoughts you allow to take root. Even what you choose to read when you wake up. All of it sets the tone for what follows.”