Clare Jewell, national representative of the GARBC, visited three chaplains on three US military bases in the Hampton Roads, Virginia, region October 9–13. All three chaplains are endorsed by Regular Baptist Chaplaincy.
Clare first attended the Fort Eustis Religious Support Symposium, which brought community religious leaders together to thank them for their support and develop relationships, as many of the soldiers and civilians at Fort Eustis attend worship services outside of Fort Eustis. This event provided helpful information to these leaders about military ministry and how local churches could better minister alongside the chaplains.
The event concluded with an overview of what local churches were doing, what Unit Ministry Teams were doing, and how they could coordinate ministry together.
“Chaplains and religious affairs specialists receive training in emergency management, which could be beneficial for churches to minister well in their communities,” says Mark Worrell, a chaplain at Fort Eustis. “If those churches are near a military base, they can integrate the religious support plans to work together.”
Clare enjoyed fellowshipping with the three chaplains and their families: Lt. Col. Mark Worrell, Fort Eustis, US Army; Capt. George Kahl, Langley Air Force Base, US Air Force; and Lieut. Wileslie Wint, Naval Station Norfolk. Clare toured Chaplain Wint’s ship, the USS Carter Hall, which is undergoing refurbishment in the Norfolk Naval Shipyards, and spent time on the USS Wisconsin, where Clare’s grandfather was assigned in World War II.
Clare also attended Fort Eustis Community Chapel and the Regimental Memorial Chapel Traditional Protestant service, where Chaplain Worrell preached from Psalm 31 on “trusting in the Lord, who is our fortress in adversity.”
