The Books

Three volumes. Forty years of frontline ministry.

Dr. Themba M. Mzizi has spent more than four decades in two vocations that most people assume are the same one: pastoral ministry and chaplaincy. These three books are what came out of that: an operational manual for agencies, a discernment guide for people weighing the call, and the memoir underneath both.

  1. Chaplain with a Badge book cover
    Volume I

    Chaplain with a Badge

    Guidelines for Law Enforcement Chaplaincy

    The field manual for agencies and chaplains who want a program that is respected, ethically grounded, and sustainable — written from four decades on the ground.

    “An invaluable resource. I think all law enforcement chaplains should have a copy.”

    Pastor Brian Park San Bernardino County Sheriff Chaplain · U.S. Secret Service Chaplain
  2. Called to Serve, Trained to Care book cover
    Volume II

    Called to Serve, Trained to Care

    Exploring the Sacred Distinctions Between a Pastor and a Chaplain

    A practitioner-led framework for anyone discerning the line between pastoral ministry and chaplaincy — and the very different formation each requires.

    “A definitive guide for generations of chaplains, pastors, and spiritual caregivers to come.”

    Dr. Zephaniah Manombe Ncube Pastor · CBT Therapist · University Lecturer
  3. The Long Walk to the Pulpit book cover
    Volume III

    The Long Walk to the Pulpit

    An African Pastor’s Journey to a Multicultural Church in America

    A memoir of calling, displacement, and providence — from a village farm in Southern Africa to founding a multicultural church on American soil.

    “One of the most inspiring and impactful works I have come across in more than three decades of ministry.”

    Pastor Cenias Ndebele President · Central Zimbabwe Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Where to start

Which one should you read first?

The three books stand alone, but most readers arrive with one of three questions. Start with the volume that answers yours.

“I run an agency and need a chaplaincy program that holds up.”
Chaplain with a Badge The operational manual: role definition, ethical boundaries, standards, and critical-incident response written for agencies and the chaplains who serve them.
“I am a pastor wondering whether I am actually called to chaplaincy.”
Called to Serve, Trained to Care The discernment volume: what separates the pulpit from the crisis scene, why each demands different formation, and how to tell which one is yours.
“I want the story behind the man who wrote the other two.”
The Long Walk to the Pulpit The memoir: a village farm in Southern Africa to a multicultural pulpit in America, and the forty years of obedience in between.

Before you buy

Everything published on this site is a map of the territory the books cover — enough to orient you, not enough to replace them. If you want to see how Dr. Mzizi thinks before you commit to a volume, three starting points:

Agencies, seminaries, and departments ordering in quantity, or looking to pair a book with training: see the services or use the contact form below.

The Long Walk Letter

Field notes from 43 years of ministry — once a month.

Briefings on chaplaincy, ethics, and pastoral leadership. One email per month. Unsubscribe anytime.

Contact Chaplain Mzizi

Bring four decades of frontline ministry to your next conversation.

Inquire about speaking engagements, mentoring, training, or consultation. Most messages receive a personal reply within 5 business days.

  • Based in Riverside County, California
  • Serving Nationally & internationally
  • Response time Within 5 business days