Built Right | The VEC Podcast
Built Right is VEC's podcast on our company, our culture and the construction industry.
Built Right | The VEC Podcast
Corporate Chaplains of America
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On this episode of Built Right, The VEC Podcast, Tricia sits down with Gary Frost, our corporate chaplain. Gary talks about his path to becoming a part of Corporate Chaplains of America (CCA) and how he helps companies like VEC.
So we have a fun segment today. We have our corporate chaplain, Gary Frost, with us. He is with the Corporate Chaplains of America, and I thank you for your time today.
SPEAKER_02Thanks for the invitation.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, thank you. Just kicking it off here, what led you to become a corporate chaplain?
SPEAKER_02Wow. Well, I I've pastored for over 20 years, uh 18 years in Youngstown and five years in Brooklyn, New York. So uh pastoring, uh that shepherding of lock, that kind of uh um uh desire, passion has always been with me. And so when I learned about corporate chaplains, I I couldn't believe such a ministry existed, you know, because I love to talk to people, I love to interact. Um in college, my um uh degrees in psychology, my graduate degrees in psychology. So that means, you know, you kind of like interacting, trying to understand how people operate, how they function. And um, but hopefully for the purpose of helping them to do better, not just to make them guinea pigs to figure them out, but uh really provide some solutions or lead them in directions that are gonna be helpful.
SPEAKER_00And I know we've had you, you're our third corporate chaplain that we've had from CCA. And um, what does a typical day look like when you make your rounds to the VEC locations?
SPEAKER_02Oh, I I look forward. No, I normally Tuesdays are my uh uh BEC day. Um you have three locations that I visit, and each one seems to have its own kind of culture and dynamic, but uh it's always friendly and um you know conversant. You know, everyone is receptive, you know. I I try to be sensitive when they're busy. You know, you can kind of tell when they're busy, you're busy. And you just kind of I I leave cards, uh yeah, um talk for the day. And um uh, but I you know, of all the companies, I do six different companies. I would put you guys right there at the top of the list, um, just in terms of being, you know, uh receptive and open and um um sharing and even to some extent um sharing some things that probably they couldn't share with other co-workers. Uh and uh it it I'm honored to feel that they feel comfortable enough to open up and talk with me about those things.
SPEAKER_00Well, we are honored to have you. Um maybe some don't know uh what a role of the corporate chaplain is to a company or a corporation. Um could you describe your role in what you bring to a program like CCA?
SPEAKER_02Well, what we try to bring to the table to the um to the conversation is caring. We want to care for uh uh the uh employees' uh meet meeting needs. Um a lot of times people are going through life-threatening situations or emotional issues or family problems and things of that nature. Uh run into a lot of uh, unfortunately, uh not specifically here at VC, but within the companies that we service of divorce, of course, there's constantly death of uh very close relatives or distant relatives. And um, we even attend funerals and so forth, and I've even done uh a few funerals. So um uh we're there and available um during the difficult times, but also I've been to a few weddings. Matter of fact, uh been to a couple where you were there, and uh so uh it it's um it's very similar to me uh to pastoring. Uh given kind of my makeup the way I made it up, uh I enjoy people. And um pastoring, you know, uh in Youngstown as well as in Brooklyn, the pastor almost has like a free pass to a person's life. You know, um almost an automatically member of the family, where you can come and you can just be engaged, and many times it's just in silence, it's in quiet, just your presence. You know, um I've learned early in my ministry that uh no one's wanting me to give my advice and opinion on everything, but your presence makes can make a difference, you know? And uh so that's what we try to do. Try to, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, we know when you're here, your presence is felt, and we appreciate that. So we know the CCA program offers different levels of support. Um what is a one-on-one experience? Um, I think you've kind of touched a little bit about what that might look like outside of how their day is going. Um, you know, if there is maybe an urgent uh matter of a family. Um what does that look like? Can they do you do you help the employees, family members?
SPEAKER_02Sure do, yeah, yeah. We we try to be um holistic in that regard to um talk with the family member. Um we've had situations, and once again, this isn't VEC specific, but where there's been suicide, uh either there's been a suicide or there's been someone who's suicidal, um, someone who's depressed, things of that nature, who is a member of the family or a friend of uh a member of uh of one of the employees. And so we've we you know we take the bridge to them as well. And so uh it's not confined to just, you know, having the membership through uh corporate chaplains with the company, but but all the uh connecting factors as well. So we try to be inclusive in that regard. And um uh so it's you know, uh I didn't know didn't include you know birth of children, you know, that's always a fun time, but there's also been times when that's not turned out well. And so you want to minister to those needs as well.
SPEAKER_00How often are you available? Are you a 24-7 always on kind of? 24-7.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah. And um this doesn't directly relate to that, but confidentiality is very uh very important. You know, I learned that prior to be becoming a corporate chaplain um as a pastor. Uh people, I mean, it's amazing how open people can be when they share uh what's going on in their lives. And they'd be totally, you know, after a person becomes comfortable to a certain extent, they really can open up and talk about things that, you know, you know they can't talk with anyone else about. So your confidentiality is so important. And I assure them, when I know that they've kind of spilled their guts about something that is really sensitive and maybe even embarrassing, I assure them, I said, I don't even talk to my wife about these things. You know, I talk to you and I talk to the Lord. And so um the only time when I would um violate that is if a person was self-destructive or uh destructive of someone else. If they were going to her harm themselves or if there is evidence that they're harmed someone else, then you know, by law, I I have to have to report that. Got it. But um, anything short of that, you know. Yeah, right. Appreciate you sharing that. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um community outreach outside of VEC and the other five organizations that you support. Um, where are your heartstrings? And would you like to share anything with what you do outside of CCA?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, well, I mean, my heart strings. Well, first of all, I I like to find opportunities to talk about my children. I've got six children, got five sons and a daughter. Two of my sons are adopted. My wife and I uh have taken in like 48 foster children over like a 15-year period. So children have always been very high on our um as as importance uh for us. Um right now um there's a few things. I I go to Africa uh every year.
SPEAKER_00You just got back from a trip, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I just got back. And we're going this um this summer in July. We're taking about 10 to 15 people. We're gonna go do some um work in an orphanage in Nairobi. We're gonna visit some schools in Nairobi. And something I've never done before, we're gonna go to a prison in Nairobi, which should be interesting. Then we're gonna go south uh till to an area called Ambasselli, and where we're gonna, it's more rural, and um the lions are there, the the elephants. I was just talking to on WhatsApp to one of the pastors, he says, you know, when we're bringing children to this one entity, he said, gotta watch out for the buffaloes and water buffaloes and for the elephants. I said, You mean they're actually in danger? He said, Yeah, they've been known to stampede children. So, you know, it's a whole different dynamic. You're looking out for elephants, not dogs, but elephants and things of that nature. But we'll we'll be there. Um, but but more close uh close to home. Um uh I'm on the board of Valley Christian School, and I'm the president of the uh Valley Legends Sports Complex. So great work there. Oh, it's it well, slowly but surely, uh City of Youngstown has uh um finally sold us the property behind the South High School, and um our goal is to bring South, um uh bring that up uh to the place where we can inhabit it with our high school, Valley Christian High School. We'll move there. And uh, but we're gonna uh develop a um sports complex which will be not only uh football and track, but but also softball and and soccer and some other things in that whole area, Southside. We want to be a part of a um transformation of the South Side. I mean, as you know, Market Street is a primary corridor to Youngstown, and we want to enhance that that corridor, and hopefully it'll it'll be a catalyst to building some houses, some residential, affordable housing. Uh affordable housing, you know, that gets into a, you know, we not not not a house like it's built in Poland, but not a house like it's built other places either, you know. But affordable, but well built and good, solid. So we so what one of the things we feel that is a struggle in Youngstown is community. Just developing community. When I when I grew up, there was just a strong sense of a village, a community, you know, um uh people on the streets that I knew were like parents to me. And that that dynamic doesn't exist the same way anymore.
SPEAKER_00I was just gonna ask you, my next question was what needs are you seeing today, maybe compared to growing up um in the community that you did? Any difference in needs that you're seeing uh standing out more than others?
SPEAKER_02The need is colossal. And and what I said, when I was growing up, you know, we first of all lived in a very diverse uh neighborhood. Um there are probably as many blacks as whites that lived in our neighborhood. And I can't think of one household that didn't have a mother and a father married. You go into communities now, it's just it's just not there. And so it's not a criticism or a put down, but the reality of it is uh a child, I mean research has found a child is much more capable of being successful, advancing when they have uh both parents there, and particularly when a father is present. Children do better academically, athletically, in the arts, in everything. When just the very presence. And so one of the things we really hope to do with Valley Christian School is to stimulate more and more um parental engagement uh to be present and uh actively engaged in the kids' lives. So uh God's gonna have to help us with that one. He has to help us with all of it, but that's one that, you know, there's been billions of dollars that have been thrown at this from federal governments, state governments, city governments. And I'm not sure if it's made it better or worse, you know. Um, but I believe that um people of faith have the potential to help people develop character. And so it's a character issue, and we want to be a part of helping them do that.
SPEAKER_00With your mission and being connected to so many and through programs like the corporate chaplains of America with mental health today, um, how important and relevant is it that you're able to connect with people, provide support, um, or even what you're you're hearing in the Youngstown community? Um, how important is the mental health uh situation?
SPEAKER_02Well, you know, you touched a sore spot for me right there. I my um I worked as a um my my background is the psychology. I worked at the mental health center. It was a child and adult mental health center, became Parkview, and I think it's turning point or something now, but it's right near St. East. So I was a supervisor there over the crisis intervention department. Um the sore spot for me is it seems like society and even politics is working against the very thing they're trying to solve. And take, for example, being this marijuana thing. It probably I am puzzled, almost discouraged. It is known. There's there's no question that the the the report the science is in. It creates mental disturbance. It creates it stimulates schizophrenia, paranoia, all of that, particularly for kids that are um kids up through 25 to 30 years old because the brain is still uh developing up into maybe for some people up to 30 years old. And it is known. I I had to appear at a um at a hearing in Columbus when they were doing this marijuana vote thing that lost. And um, but any and I just said, marijuana makes you dumber. I mean, actually, reports have shown people lose IQ points. When you compare people to use marijuana with people who don't, there's they have there's dumber. No other way to put it. So we have gambling. I I just met uh a young man. I was in Florida with my son lives in Florida. I've I met my first teenage gambling at it. I mean, this kid, he was the entire time I was there, um, all he could talk about was, you know, how he's gonna place his bets and all the rest of this thing. And my my son and I just looked at each other. He was so happy. Uh he won $400 on some kind of football gambling and lost $600. But he was still happy. And we said, um, I won't mention his name, you lost $200. But the thrill of losing, winning the $400, the $600 it does. So I guess what I'm saying is I I see sometimes the government and folks speaking out of both sides of their mouth. Promoting gambling, promoting marijuana, and who knows what other drugs they're gonna legalize down the road, and fighting mental health disease. That's that's a paradox, perplexing, that's a good word. Yeah. So that was uh so that's my ventilation. So I see a lot more um over the years, I see a lot more um anxiety, I see a lot more depression. I think I sound like uh just uh a hater, I don't know. But social media has done no favors. I um uh I I frequently recommend people watch this um Netflix um documentary called Um Social Dilemma. Have you ever seen that?
SPEAKER_00I don't think I have.
SPEAKER_02Oh. Former former uh um uh executives from Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, who now have left are saying we won't even let our kids use it. Because we knew what our objective was to actually grasp the mind of young people. And they show charge for girls particularly, uh, 13, 12, 13-year-old girls in uh the the time I don't have the dates, but the time when um use of social media began to escalate, the suicide rate for those girls just skyrocketed because of the whole issue of image. You know, um all young people, um male and female, struggle with identity as a teenager. But girls more so. You know, they're just a little more sensitive to how they look and and to criticism, you have big ears, you have whatever, sure, your your eyes are crooked or whatever. I mean, when and when you're become that sensitive and you know, and you think people are laughing at you, it creates a lot of problems. Yeah. And so off of a tangent there, but that that's kind of my burden. Um I I try to, you know, I have five, um, excuse me, I have eight, just got one more. I have nine grandchildren. Just got one on Valentine's Day, you know.
SPEAKER_00Oh, congratulations.
SPEAKER_02And um I try to, you know, do my best. I don't try to be their mom and dad, because they got a mom and dad, but I do my best to I say, CJ, uh we're talking now, put that phone down, you know? You know, we're it's an addiction. And and it's made to be an addiction. That's what these executives said on this uh documentary. Yeah. It's designed to addict people. And it works. I've been, I've been, I have to push myself. I mean, I they they determine what you want to see in the news and they'll feed it to you. Just, oh, you mean that? And you're going to store all this thing. And before long, you're there, an hour, two hours. It's an addiction. Easy to go down that road. So coming all the way back to your question, I I think those are some of the issues that are almost almost solvable. Um, there are there's hormonal challenges people have where they need medication, psychotropic medication, things of that nature. And uh with schizophrenia, with um, you know, paranoia and so forth. So, but some of those matters can be resolved by changing behavior.
SPEAKER_00So well, we always share that in addition to human resources and our employee assistance program, that you're always available as a resource for when time in need. Sure. Um, so definitely want you to know that um we push that out to the team, that if they're in uh a situation just to have a have an ear to speak to them we're mentioning uh.
SPEAKER_02Let me also add, um there's some people, and what and I'll I'll definitely say this, not here at VC, but other companies where people have had um alcohol and drug addictions. And over a period of time, if you talk to them long enough and you start picking up some things, um I remain confidential on that too. Sure. You know, because that'll that'll get you fired pretty quick. Um but at the same time, there's this balance because some of the companies I work with, they handle very delicate I mean, overhead trains and things of that nature. That can be, I mean, innocent people can suffer from people who, and so that's where it's struck, you struggle to, you know, you try to get this person to get help and whatever else. But if you see they're still trying to function and endangering other people, you know.
SPEAKER_00So you've shared some stories, and we know the impact that you can make. We feel it here and we see that. What's one moment that reminds you why your work matters?
SPEAKER_02There's one employee here at um uh Valley Electrical. That's he's he's become my my buddy. He's a gruff, tough dude who if I talk too much, you'll know what I'm talking about. But I love him. I just love him. You know, I've been a part of uh weddings. Uh he and his wife have both had some very serious medical issues. But um uh he's just he's my friend. And um I just look forward to seeing him as a friend, not as someone who's trying to counsel him or trying to even pastor him. Just, you know, um there's even some things offline that that we've done. Together. And so I'm by nature a relational person. I want to preach the sermon to you, but the only thing we're going to take to heaven with us is relationships. I'm not taking my bivalves, my glasses, my relationships, my relationship with God and my relationship with my brothers, sisters, and so forth. That's all you take with you. And so that's why it's so valuable. And so I look forward to, you know. And the other thing is being in ministry and also trying to be, I won't call myself a social activist, I'll call myself a social engager, particularly as it affects children. You've been very helpful, you know? You and Rachel and Rex have been very helpful with some projects that I try to make sure I don't come across like I'm manipulating trying to relationships for this or that, but but um just the friendship and the ability to share with you some things that we're doing, the EC stepped in and did some things. Awesome. And so we appreciate it. Yeah, that's a great relationship.
SPEAKER_00Um how do you see corporate chaplaincy evolving from when you first started to where we are today and maybe in the future? How do you see that changing?
SPEAKER_02Well, the one thing that's changing is um the um we have telechat now where a person can um contact, make a phone number, and I wish I had that with me. Um, but they can call and they can speak with the chaplain, and it's even more anonymous, you know. It's it's um, you know, but it's one of our chaplains, it might be somewhere else in America, um, that they can talk to on a regular basis, and if necessary, that telechap, and they need personal one-on-one engagement, they'll contact me with permission, and um then um I would follow up with that person. So that's that's that's an evolving process. Um one of the other things is, you know, like any other quote, business, we want to expand. We want other companies. And there is a time when um we were able to, you know, do uh like marketing mail, emails, and so forth, but AI has kind of felt all that up. So now we rely more on relationships. So if we know a company or or like someone like you, um this is almost a pitch right now. Matter of fact, I think you Valley became a client through relationship with, what is it, um one of the other companies.
SPEAKER_00Not coming to mind. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um but I th but there's uh with the companies I work with, there's this interconnection uh that I've seen. So so what we're relying more on is just personal, if you know someone who owns a company, and um we are we're unapologetically Christian, but we're not in your face. We're not trying to, you know, uh turn or burn. We're not we're not there. But but we just we want to be available because we we believe that relationship with uh Jesus Christ is is essential. And um, you know, I I my my background as Baptist. Um I went to I I worked at St. Eve's Hospital, which is Catholic. I went to a Church of the Brethren seminary. Um I was led to Christ through Pentecostals. I graduated from um uh Methodist College. So I I'm I'm kind of ecumenical in that regard. So I'm not trying to make anybody Baptist or Methodist or Pentecostal. Uh I just, when the opportunity arises, I just talk about Jesus because he, you know, regardless, even if you're not spiritual or even religious, you gotta agree Jesus was pretty phenomenal, right? Pretty phenomenal. Anyone whose life we measure time by, it is 2026, right? Because of the birth. That guy has to be pretty phenomenal. We need to know something more about him. So either it's not for the sake of the your spiritual transformation, just for your moral foundation.
SPEAKER_00Well, I know I not recalling the company that connected us, but I know Rex, my father, um very important to him that we were able to share um a program that you're a part of and how important that is to the team.
SPEAKER_02Right. So we we function, I would say very similar to how chaplains function at um like uh a Catholic hospital. We're there and um available. And particularly, you know, in hospitals, you you find yourself at more life issue moments with people, you know, with when there's sickness, when there's death. And so uh, of course, they get a different kind of access to talk with people. Um but that's kind of how we function. We're we're just there, we're not pushing anything, we're just we want to care for you and your family, help you to make it through.
SPEAKER_00And that for sure we have felt.
SPEAKER_02Yes, we have.
SPEAKER_00So, what advice would you give to companies considering implementing a corporate Chaplain of America program?
SPEAKER_02I would say that um many of your employees are going through life change issues and adjustment, and and they may feel they can't open up and talk in that environment. Um even, you know, when you when it's somewhat sometimes the way offices are even set up, you can't get into deep conversation. And then there's always the fear it could come back on the record or whatever else. What we provide is um um the service of caring and listening. You know, it's when I was uh working at the Mental Health Center um uh in the crisis intervention, it's it's amazing how I would just sit there and listen. And what you do is you just ask questions, you know, just help a person to sort through. And in most cases, when you ask the right questions, person pretty much comes to the to the right solutions themselves. Because, you know, it's almost you're like a mirror feeding back to them. Um and I've had I've I've had situations where all I did was, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, but did you try this? Mm-hmm. Whatever. And after 45 minutes, they want to hug me. You you've changed my life. Um I didn't even think, I just listened to you. And sometimes people simply need someone to listen without judgment. Listen without I got a recommendation or plan for you. Yeah, just listen. And that's what we try to be. Awesome.
SPEAKER_00Well, thank you for that. Um, I'm gonna leave the session with four questions, and we're gonna call it rapid fire. Uh-oh. Okay. Coffee or tea?
SPEAKER_02Coffee.
SPEAKER_00Best part of your job.
SPEAKER_02What I'm doing right now. Awesome. Talking to people. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Uh, one word that describes our team.
SPEAKER_02Congenial.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00Love it. Yeah. And a book or resource you would recommend for personal growth?
SPEAKER_02You know I have to give you two. One is the Bible. Number one is the Bible. But there's a book by Andrew Murray. It's called Humility. It's a little book. It's called Humility. And it just helps us understand. Well, I'll preach just a little bit. When Jesus shared who he was, his personality. Here's what he said in Matthew 11, 28. Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. Then he says, For I am meek and lowly in heart, you will find rest unto your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. He described himself as humble. So in that book, Andrew Murray, he says, by Andrew Murray, he makes this statement. He says, Humility isn't one of the virtues. Humility is the soil out of which all virtues grow. And I thought that was profound. That is very profound. So humility isn't thinking lowly of yourself, it's just not making yourself the most important matter in decision making. And so, um Yeah. Humility by Andrew Murray. Awesome. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And on that note, as you always do, thank you, Gary Frost. Thank you.