It can be the middle of the night or during the day. It can be a fire district call for help with a person suffering from cardiac arrest. It can be to bless a fire truck or to officiate a firefighter’s wedding.
Mark Goodman is usually there.
Goodman is a fire chaplain for five fire districts in Lee County. It’s a volunteer role that connects him with firefighters, district employees and with Lee County residents in times of good and bad.
“I get to meet with people on the best day of their life or the worst day of their life,” he said.
Goodman, an Estero resident and the pastor of Christ Community Ministries, started a nonprofit, FD Chaplain Services, with a mission to teach others how to serve as fire chaplains.
“The job of a fire chaplain is to bring hope to those who are hurting and a sense of calm in the midst of chaos,” Goodman said.