Chaplain Tony

Impacting Our City
The Role of Community Service Chaplains

We break down barriers by helping people of all ages
 to understand their value, see their potential and
connect to encouragement and support

Being at a high school  for about 7 years and helping facilitate a life group based on a spiritual life style. This group meets every week during the school year. I believe that many of the students have not only have come to find their need not to cut themselves or even talk death is because of the interaction we have in conversation about life. Some teens come in with some very trouble background of death in a family, divorce, not fitting in school, no friends, finances, basically the same thing we face as adults but no one to help them talk it through. There is a solution but it is hard to explain unless your there.
A quick look at the headlines on any given day reveals tragic realities:
  • Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for those age 15-24
  • Heroin is the new drug of choice…54 cases and more than a half-dozen deaths in our local county alone in 2015*
  • Anger and violent crime are on the rise, including the tragic shooting death of four on the Trestle Trail in Menasha
Behind each headline and statistic is mom, a dad, a child, a neighbor impacted by confusion, trauma and stress. If there ever was a time our community and our nation needed direction, healing, hope and compassionate care, it is now.



Community

We believe that more can be achieved when we utilize our gifts and skills to work together to transform our communities and neighborhoods.  As chaplains, we work within our primary community of Menasha and the Fox Cities to build, nurture and strengthen relationships to the greater benefit of all.  

We currently connect with our community in various ways including, serving as chaplains, working as marketplace chaplains within local businesses, facilitating a life group at a local high school.

Learn more about community service

Take Action

Senior Adults

We are currently touching 7 area senior care communities in the Fox Cities area, with weekly, bi weekly or monthly church service. We share loving friendship and provide spiritual care to hundreds of those in God’s “waiting room.”. We also impact residents, families, administrators and caregivers.

Families

Families are the basic building block of our community. That’s what we believe its important to bring strength and hope to the family unit. We facilitate gatherings where men, women, teens and young adults join with others for mutual encouragement and support.

Prison

Leading men who have fallen to get up and take responsibility where they can. Preparing them for a release into the community with a vision of faith and hope.
Helping men understand what positive roles they can play for young men in our communities with no faith and no hope.

Students

A meeting of area high school students takes place weekly after school at Menasha High the school year. (September, through early June). Student/Young Adult  meetings/mentoring is also available. Contact Tony Gutierrez at (920) 540 5038 for additional information or email tony@puertahermosa.org

Men

A regional men’s group meets weekly at a local restaurant. Area men of all ages are invited to join in learning to lead with love. This spirit-led prayer and discussion group is aimed at helping men apply the Word of God to their lives, marriages and families. The group meets every Saturday  from 9-11 am. and every other Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Contact Tony Gutierrez at (920) 540 5038 for additional information, or email: tony@puertahermosa.org

Training


International Fellowship of Chaplains (IFOC) is a non profit organization, providing training, credentialing, ordination, networking, and deployment in the varied areas of chaplaincy. We interface with both the secular and ministry worlds for the purpose of promoting tolerance and understanding, as well as, provide professional, trained and dedicated chaplains in the various fields of need. www.ifoc.org/

A training course put on by thw Wisconsin Department of Justice the Office of the Attorney General.

This course provided training in assisting police officers with moral and spiritual support. 

www.cvent.com

My Story

TESTIMONY
My name is Tony Gutierrez. I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I started Hunting Guides and Outfitters as a service to my customers. Over the years, they have given me a chance to serve in a way that I never dreamed possible. Thank you to my faithful clients and the Lord Jesus, who is the author and finisher of the good work that He has started in me and my business, family and friends.

Hunting Guides and Outfitters grew from the business I founded in 1999—Rising Son Web Design. I had been printer for more than 25 years and I could see publishing needs changing. Jesus was my CEO and business partner, helping to train me in web design and bringing me all the resources, business ideas and customers I needed. The business was truly founded and created by Him...and He has helped my company grow to what is is today. Rising Son Web Design now supports a family of four, plus the people God brings to live with us. (We have termporarily housed entire families and a number of hurting people over the last several years.)

This business has been a powerful tool in God's hand.  He has used it to shape and change me, and customers all across the country. No matter what the background or walk of life, my customers and I seem to form comfortable, good-working relationships. Often, these relationships become good frienships, and out of these special bonds, we are able to help each other in some very difficult situations.

My situation came up November 20, 2004. My son Jerrad and I set out for our hunting trip on Friday night. Little did I know that in the next 24 hours, my life would change in very drastic way. Jerrad and I were best hunting buddies, hunting together from the time he was 12 years old. He was killed Saturday morning on the opening day of the season—his 24th birthday.

I was hunting in the swamp about 1/4 mile away. As I settled into my stand I heard a rooster crow—unusual, since the public land we hunted on was deep in the midst of a National forest, with no farm land in sight. (I realize now that it was a sign of what was to come.  Like the disciple, Peter, I was about to deny Christ.) It was gloomy, wet and cold that morning. I couldn't'hear much movement on the ground because it was so wet. I had heard shots early that morning, one that seemed to come from his direction, but I was not really sure, since we hunt along ridges. I got out of my stand to make a drive in the swamp to see if i could push any deer Jerrad's way.

When I was getting down out of my stand with my sling, my rifle was swinging in front of my face—not something I usually allow to happen, but never the less a mistake. As I was going through the swamp, I had to cross over some wind falls. As I did, again, my rifle barrel crossed in front of my face. This time, I realized the safety was off. I got so scared at what had just happened all I wanted to do was get my boy and go have breakfast.

I got out of the swamp and made my way to Jerrad's stand. I walked up and noticed he was not in the stand, but lying at the bottom. I thought he was asleep. I went over to him and then it hit me that he was shot. I can't describe to you the crushing pain and agony that overtook me. Then, I went ballstic.  I began to crying out and demanding of GOD.  "How could you allow this to happen?" I knew Jerrad was dead. He was shot in the head. I cursed and yelled at GOD for allowing this to happen. I hit and screamed and almost took my own life. I cried and held on to him.

Then GOD, in His mercy proceeded to give me the lesson of life. He spoke a question that both pierced and calmed my heart. "Where would you rather have him be...with you or with me?"  I told him that was not a fair question. Of course, my deepest desire was to have my son home in heaven for eternity, to know that he had run the race and made it to the finish line. God spoke again to my heart. "Now you know how it felt when I gave my son up for you."

Did Jerrad take his life?  Did he make a fatal hunting mistake as I almost did?  I think it is a gift of God that I do not have the answer to that question. What I do know, without question, is that my son is in heaven with the Lord Jesus. I know that because he recommitted his life to Christ just two weeks before he died. That morning, after I had my encounter with God on the ridge, I went back to hunting camp.  Numb and nearly overcome by my emotion and pain, I turned to my bible reading for the day. As I read, the Lord explained that some are taken from this life to spare them early death. God knew what was best for my son. I got down on my knees and asked his forgiveness for the cursing and anger that I had unleashed. By now, my wife had been notified of the morning's tragic events. She was enroute to our camp, asking the same questions that I was...why, God, why? The answer came to her from God's word, the bible:  The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart devout men are taken away,and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly
enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. (Isaiah 57:3 for you bible readers out there)

My prayer is that my family and friends all come and go to Christ...that is the only way to 'walk uprightly' in God's eyes. I share this story for anyone looking for a reason for life. There is only one life and that is in Christ. I live in Christ—for the love he has for me. I can see the beauty of my wife and the love of my other children. So many can not get by the day's events that have so little meaning. Love and he will teach you to love if you trust in Jesus.

If you have not given your life to him, I pray that you do. It is simple. He did not make this a rocket science. Know that you are a sinner and you were born in sin. That is what keeps us from a Holy GOD. Jesus gave his life to be a sacrifice to GOD for our sins. There is no work you can do apart from Jesus to have your sins forgiven. We have been given a way to be with a Holy GOD and that is through what Jesus did for us. No other name can save you from hell. You can try any other way, but it will be away from the way GOD sent it up, and it will not be good for you.

Think of HELL— it will be worst than your worst day on earth FOREVER! I know that the pain that I felt when I found Jerrad. HELL will be more painful. So I beg you, please ask to be forgiven of your sins and accept Jesus as your LORD and Savior. Find yourself a good bible teaching church. Not one that makes GOD out to be this never-talk-back to me Dad. He is not that at all. He whats to show us a better way of living. Which one of you would not give food to his child if he were hungry. GOD is a Father. He wants to feed us with truth that will last forever, instead of chasing after empty things that never will fill our desire for love. Our appetites and desires will only be filled in HIM. Read the word and apply it to your life. The stories in the bible are stories to help us see. GOD takes back people who fall off the wagon for whatever reason. Check out the prodigal son, GOD is always waiting for us to turn back. Do not be fooled by thinking you can do it yourself. You may end up with nothing but yourself and that could be your hell. Make him your Dad and give him your life today.

GOD bless

Tony Gutierrez

Romans 10:9-10 (New International Version)
9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
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