Staff & Leadership

Our staff are dedicated believers, committed to the Gospel, the family of God serving together to restore Chaplaincy, Pastoral Care, and to help Churches and Christian ministries return to Biblical Evangelical Christian purpose.

JAMES KIRKLAND

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER
Email ExecutiveDirector@ChristianChaplains.org

Jim is happily married to his wife Virginia 47 years. Jim spent more than 25 years as an executive and CEO of a financial services and business consulting firm. With 30 years Chaplain experience, he served has served in Jail/Prison, Probation, Nursing Home, Hospice, Workplace, and Community Chaplaincy. Jim attended Moody Theological Seminary and graduated with a Masters in Biblical Theology. He was ordained to pastoral ministry in 2007 and has been a senior teaching chaplain since 2010. Jim is a Board Certified Chaplain, registered with the National Association of Evangelicals Chaplain Commission, the Association of Certified Christian Chaplains and the Spiritual Care Association. He is a CPE Supervisor Educator, Training Supervisor, and Certified Master Christian Life Coach.

MIKE BARTLEY

CHAPLAINS ACADEMY PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Email Academy@ChristianChaplains.org

Mike is a Board-Certified Chaplain, Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor Educator-Coach, and Certified Master Christian Life Coach with a passion for forming Christ-centered leaders. He serves as the Program Director and Dean of the Academy at Christian Chaplains & Coaching, where he leads curriculum design, faculty development, and pastoral training rooted in biblical truth and spiritual maturity. He has more than 30 years' experience in spiritual and pastoral care ministry as a Pastor and Chaplain, serving in hospitality ministry, church, prison, marketplace, hospice, and clinical chaplaincy.

In his role as a CPE Supervisor Educator-Coach, Mike cultivates growth environments where students are challenged to reflect theologically, listen deeply, and serve from a place of spiritual formation rather than performance. He brings together academic excellence, a pastoral heart, and practical ministry experience to raise up leaders who will provide faithful and effective pastoral care with humility, wisdom, and courage.

His purpose: "I exist to lead average lives into Abundant Living"

ANGELLA ALLISON-DAVIS

COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Email Communications@ChristianChaplains.org

Angella is a Board-Certified Chaplain, Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor-Educator, and Certified Christian Life Coach with a deep passion for spiritual care, soul formation, and transformational learning. She currently serves as the Communications Program Director at Christian Chaplains & Coaching.

She holds a Doctorate in Pastoral Psychotherapy, a Master of Divinity, and a Master’s in Health Administration with a concentration in gerontology. Her diverse ministry experience spans healthcare, correctional, community, academic, and congregational settings—each one enriching her calling to walk with others through seasons of growth, grief, and grace.

As a CPE Supervisor Educator-Coach, Angella is known for creating a learning environment that invites authenticity, self-awareness, and theological reflection. Her heart for mentoring student chaplains is grounded in the belief that spiritual care begins with a transformed caregiver.

Through her coaching, teaching, and communication roles, Angella is committed to shaping voices of hope, cultivating presence over performance, and encouraging others to live out their call with wisdom, humility, and boldness. She is joyfully married and finds deep joy in companioning others toward wholeness and vocational clarity—all to the glory of God.

BARRY SURRATT

CPE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Email CPE@ChristianChaplains.org

Barry is a Board-Certified Chaplain, CPE Supervisor-Educator and Certified Master Christian Life Coach. My passion is to develop the best methods for coaching student chaplains in the Art of Chaplaincy by equipping and mentoring novice chaplains with insightful training and the encouragement of unconditional positive regard, just as I was when I was a brand-new chaplain resident in Clinical Pastoral Education. My goal is to tutor new chaplain candidates by providing a Christ-rooted philosophy in teaching, coaching, and honest and helpful assessments of their skills – particularly in these key areas:

  • Teaching chaplains to practice a nonjudgmental presence.
  • Coaching chaplains to realize that listening to understand is key to building relationships.
  • Instructing chaplains to seek companionship with those suffering emotional and spiritual pain.
  • Leaning into uncomfortable feelings and learn to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations.
  • Helping chaplains to become more self-aware and use their story to inform their spiritual care.

VIRGINIA KIRKLAND

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Email AdminAssist@ChristianChaplains.org

Virginia is happily married to Jim and enjoys living in Southern Georgia.  They attend Flint Reformed Baptist Church and enjoy working together to serve our chaplains. 

She is experienced with bookkeeping and administrative services, so supporting chaplain candidates

toward their goal of chaplaincy is a special joy. She serves as our bookkeeper, administrative assistant to our Executive Director, and takes care of enrolling our students and prospective students into their respective courses.

ANN MARIE FORREST

ACADEMIC ASSISTANT
Email AcademicAssist@ChristianChaplains.org

Ann-Marie is a Board-Certified Associate Chaplain and enjoys learning and reading. She is married to her husband for over 38 years, and they have two adult children. She lives in New England and enjoys all 4 seasons that God provides. She received Chaplain ordination and completed Chaplain

certification process with Christian Chaplains & Coaching.

As Teaching Assistant, Ann-Marie assists the students and teachers in the Chaplains Academy and Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). She enjoys being a certified Biblical Counselor and a mentor to women in her

community. Ann-Marie has been with Christian Chaplains & Coaching since 2020.

GREG FRICH

Board Member

Chaplain Greg Frich, Lt. Colonel USMC retired. Greg is the co-founder of our ministry. A deeply committed Christian, loving family man, dedicated to our mission, a proud Marine. Semper Fi

RAY HUFF

Board Member

Chaplain Ray Huff, Board Certified Chaplain, CPE Supervisor-Educator, trainer, and Certified Master Christian Life Coach. Ray is a founding board member, dedicated to our mission.