Course Introduction
Crisis changes everything in an instant. Safety disappears. Predictability collapses. Emotions surge. People become overwhelmed, confused, and vulnerable. In these moments, what they need most is not answers, not advice, and not quick fixes—they need presence, stability, and hope.
Chaplaincy: Unpacking Crisis trains you to step into the most intense moments of human experience with clarity, authority, and compassion. In this course, Dr. Mike Cowen equips chaplains to understand what crisis really is, how it impacts the human system, and how to minister effectively without becoming overwhelmed, reactive, or emotionally entangled. You will learn how to prepare before crisis strikes, how to stabilize chaos in the moment, and how to reflect God’s unshakable nature when everything around you is shaking.
This is not theory. This is frontline formation for chaplains who are called to stand when life breaks open.
What You’ll Learn
In this five-session course, you will discover:
Session 1 – What Is a Crisis? Understand crisis from both a biblical and practical perspective. You will learn why crisis removes safety, stability, and predictability—and why preparation must happen before the moment arrives. This session establishes the chaplain’s role as an ambassador of God’s nature in chaos, teaching you how to maintain balance, discernment, and emotional grounding when everything feels unstable.
Session 2 – What Happens in a Crisis? Explore what occurs inside the human system during crisis: emotional overload, shock, denial, fight-or-flight, confusion, and vulnerability. You will learn the chaplain’s immediate assignment—not to fix everything, but to stabilize, ground, and bring God’s presence into the moment. This session equips you with the principle of “presence + prayer + practical help,” teaching you what to say, what not to say, and how to take one small step at a time toward safety and clarity.
Session 3 – The Chaplain Sets the Tone - Discover how your emotional state shapes the environment. In crisis, people watch your reactions, mirror your calm or anxiety, and respond to your stability or instability. You will learn how to reflect God’s nature—steady, present, and unshaken—so that fear does not multiply. This session trains you to lead atmospheres, not react to them.
Session 4 – Boundaries, Roles, and Rules of Engagement - Learn the importance of knowing where your role begins and ends. You are not a doctor, law enforcement officer, firefighter, or therapist—yet your presence is critical. This session teaches how to operate within proper boundaries, protect everyone involved, avoid burnout, and maintain long-term effectiveness through emotional discipline, self-awareness, and legal and organizational wisdom.
Session 5 – Crisis as a Lifestyle Reality - Crisis does not operate on schedules, office hours, or predictable routines. You will explore why chaplaincy is not something you “turn on and off,” but who you are. Through real-life case studies, you will learn how presence, prayer, discernment, protocol, and support systems work together to stabilize lives. This session reinforces the core truth: crisis will find you—even when you aren’t looking for it—and God will work through you when you are prepared.
Why This Course Matters
Crisis ministry is emotionally intense, spiritually weighty, and often unpredictable. Without preparation, even well-meaning chaplains can become overwhelmed, reactive, or unclear about their role. This provides a biblical and practical framework that teaches you how to remain grounded, lead atmospheres, and minister with authority and compassion—without absorbing chaos or carrying burdens that are not yours.
Course Features
- 5 video sessions with Dr. Mike Cowen
- Downloadable course overview and study guide with practical application
- Certificate of completion
- 1 credit hour toward a Warrior Notes School of Ministry degree
- Taught in the Spirit-filled, real-world teaching style you expect from Warrior Notes
If you are called to stand in hospital rooms, emergency scenes, family breakdowns, trauma, loss, and sudden disruption, this course will prepare you to minister with clarity, authority, and compassion.
Please Note the Following...
This course contains sensitive content, including topics such as suicide and violence, and is intended for adults ages 18 and older (or with parental/guardian permission). The material is presented from a biblical, Spirit-filled perspective to equip believers with wisdom and compassion for ministering in life’s most difficult situations. This course DOES NOT provide chaplaincy certification OR REPLACE professional counseling or medical advice.
Meet Mike
Dr. Mike Cowen is passionate about equipping the Body of Christ and helping believers unlock their God-given destiny. Called into ministry at 17, he has faithfully served for over 25 years as a pastor, teacher, and mentor. Mike graduated from the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry, Life Christian University, and holds his doctorate through Warrior Notes School of Ministry, where he also serves as Dean.
In addition to pastoral ministry, Mike has spent more than a decade serving as a Police Chaplain, ministering to first responders on the frontlines of crisis and helping establish chaplaincy programs in multiple cities. His experience spans crisis intervention and long-term relationship building that bring healing and hope.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to these courses?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any devices you own.
When will the payments be collected for the payment plan?
The first payment will be collected at the time of purchase. The subsequent payments will be collected on the same day of each month. The date payment is due CANNOT be altered or delayed.
Will I lose access to my course if I can't make my payments?
Yes. If the payment does not go through on the appropriate date, then we will attempt collecting payment the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day after the initial attempt. If payment is not collected by the 14th day after, you will be automatically removed from the course. We use Teachable's payment processing system, and therefore we cannot alter these rules.