The Enduring Power of a Message Delivered
Once used to carry life-saving messages across battlefields, homing pigeons were silent heroes of war. Today, chaplains serve as modern messengers—bringing peace, care, and hope to those who need it most.
Throughout history, when words had to travel—over mountains, across battlefields, through silence and chaos—people turned to an unlikely hero: the homing pigeon.
These small, humble birds, with no weapons and no voice, became vital to kings, generals, and everyday families alike. Their mission wasn’t flashy, but it was everything: carry the message that could change everything.
Today, another kind of messenger walks school hallways, sits quietly beside students, and shows up in the hardest moments of family life. These messengers don’t have wings—but they are just as courageous.
They are chaplains.
And thanks to your support, their mission is reaching farther than ever before.
The True Story of Cher Ami
In World War I, one pigeon’s journey became legend.
Her name was Cher Ami—French for “dear friend.” Trained by the U.S. Army Signal Corps, she was one of hundreds of pigeons used to send battlefield messages when radio signals were lost or captured. In October 1918, a battalion of 500 American soldiers became trapped behind enemy lines. Friendly fire was closing in, and they had no way to call off the attack.
Cher Ami was released with a tiny message tube strapped to her leg. Despite being shot through the chest, blinded in one eye, and nearly losing her leg, she flew 25 miles in 25 minutes and delivered the message that saved the lives of 194 men.
For her bravery, she was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government and later enshrined in the Smithsonian.
She didn’t know the power of the message she carried. But she carried it anyway.
NSCA Chaplains: Today’s Hope-Bringers
What Cher Ami did in one miraculous flight, NSCA chaplains now do every day—walking from classroom to office, from hallway to cafeteria, from campus to home. They don’t carry paper notes, but they bring something just as vital:
A calm voice in the middle of a student’s anxiety attack
A helping hand when a teacher’s heart is breaking
A phone call made to help a family facing eviction
A care package delivered to a doorstep, when a parent has no food to give
Chaplains are not there to preach, but to be present. They embody what we call the Ministry of Presence—trained in safety and trauma response, equipped to spot signs of distress, and empowered to act with compassion and discretion.
Just like the pigeons of the past, they often go unnoticed. And yet, their message—that you are not alone—lands exactly when and where it’s needed most.
You Are the Wind Beneath Their Wings
NSCA chaplains don’t just show up. They are sent—by you.
Your giving doesn’t just fund a job title. It launches a mission. It equips someone to notice the quiet child who’s slipping away. It puts gas in the car when a chaplain needs to deliver groceries or drive across town to help a family facing crisis. It helps build a bridge between schools and churches so that long after the chaplain leaves, care continues.
You are part of the message. And the message is: Hope is still being delivered.
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
— Romans 10:15
Want to Send the Next Message?
Support the ongoing ministry of chaplains in schools across America. Your gift empowers them to keep going—whether across campus or beyond it—bringing love, care, and spiritual support wherever it’s needed.