On March 18, 2007, America observed the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq. Continued fighting means threats of injury and death—constant companions of our soldiers. Dark reports of violence and unrest strike fear in the hearts of loved ones waiting at home. Yet amid the death, despair, and loneliness of war, God continues to send forth His light. I recently had the privilege of hearing firsthand from our GARBC chaplains some stories of what God is doing among the great men and women in our armed forces.
Taking my turn, I was occupying the ministry team set up at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in August 2001, during massive field exercises. It was raining when Brian, a young infantry lieutenant, entered and asked if we could talk. I provided an MRE [Meals Ready to Eat] box and he sat down. . . . Before he left the tent, Brian prayed for salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.
The events of September 11, 2001, and two deployments divided us. I did not see him again until January 2006, when I became the deputy joint forces chaplain of the New York National Guard. In this capacity I had responsibility for supervision and personnel assignments. When I saw Brian’s name on one roster in particular, I immediately called him.
I asked if he was the same Brian I’d met at Fort Polk in 2001. He affirmed my suspicions. I asked him what happened that rainy morning in Louisiana. His answer: “I accepted Jesus as my Savior, and it has been nonstop growth ever since!” What blessed me even more was that Brian’s name was on my list of chaplain candidates, because Brian is now attending seminary, preparing for pastoral ministry and the chaplaincy in particular. Hooah!
—Chaplain (LTC) Allen D. Ferry, National Guard
Four marines eagerly awaited my appearance in the small chapel located in the training area. Their chaplain told me the whole “fire team” (a fighting element made up of four marines) wanted to be baptized. Wanting to make sure there was integrity combined with their good intentions, I asked the four marines to sit down and share their testimonies with me.
After much conversation and Bible reading, two of the four shared solid testimonies of firm decisions for Christ. The other two were a bit confused, and I told them they should wait before getting baptized to ensure they acted with a heart of integrity. With no hurt feelings and increasing joy on the faces of the two new believers, we set a date and time.
Since there was no baptismal to accommodate a full-immersion baptism, the marines from a base unit rigged a large box with an even larger tarp. They filled the impromptu baptismal with very cold water—but, as a sign of goodwill, also boiled water to raise the temperature. The two marines entered the water and gave their testimonies. Immediately following their individual witness, I baptized them to the cheers and applause of many onlookers. Several weeks later, the men left for Iraq. To the best of my knowledge, they served well and returned home safe and sound.
—Chaplain LT Mike Taylor, United States Marine Corps
I served with First Marine Division from 2002 to 2004. In the War Zone (2003) I baptized fifty-eight men: forty in a “sandbag baptismal pool” in Kuwait, and eighteen in the Euphrates River in Iraq. I spoke to each of these fifty-eight men individually and asked them about their personal relationship with Christ Jesus. Each acknowledged that they had asked Christ to be their Lord and Savior, trusting Him completely for their salvation. I am not sure how many came to Christ during my ministry before their baptism, but at a minimum, half accepted Christ days or weeks prior to their baptisms.
—LCDR Thomas B. Webber, United States Navy
Let me share one story from my time in Afghanistan as a National Guard chaplain. My travels to visit our soldiers at various sites across the country occasionally took me through the air base in Kandahar. I “happened” to be there waiting for a flight when I encountered a young sergeant from our unit who was passing through on his return from leave.
He looked a little startled to see me and asked if we could talk. We took a walk through a less-traveled section of the base, and while the late winter wind nipped our faces, he opened his heart to me, sobbing about the emptiness of his life. He knew he needed a change and responded to my suggestion to invite Jesus Christ into his life. We prayed together and went our own ways, both rejoicing.
I didn’t see that soldier again for several months, until I made a trip to visit his duty site. I had been curious to see if his prayer had been prompted by a momentary frustration that had passed or if it had been, in fact, a life-changing decision. When I asked him about it, he told me that from that time on, his life had acquired a new direction and purpose. He expressed excitement about his future, knowing God had a plan for him. That night in the worship service we offered, he came down to share a testimony. He said, “I used to hear people talk about ‘finding God’ and I’d think, ‘Yeah—whatever!’ But all I can say now is, ‘I found God!’ ”
What an honor and privilege to serve God and the military personnel of our country!
—CH (CPT) Mike Crawford, National Guard
I am currently serving as the senior installation army chaplain for the European region. The units that have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan from Europe live on our military bases, and when they go to war, they leave their families in places such as Schweinfurt, Vicenza, Ansbach, Baumholder, and many others garrisons throughout Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. In my position as the European region chaplain, I oversee the religious and spiritual support afforded these families during some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable.
A few statistics about our outreach and capacity: There are 19 communities and 42 chapels in our garrisons. There are 69 chaplains who are conducting 166 weekly religious services. Ministry extends far beyond the chapel walls and into the communities and homes of our families. Let me share some of the more difficult and challenging ministry requirements.
Every time there is a news report of soldiers being killed by an IED [Improvised Explosive Devise] or a helicopter crash, we have chaplains standing by—day and night—to assist with the notification of next of kin. A senior army officer had the joy of having his son home for R and R (rest and relaxation). Within days after the son’s return to Iraq, he was killed by a roadside bomb. A senior army doctor in my community, along with seven other soldiers, was killed in a helicopter crash. It is not unusual for our chaplains to conduct three or four memorial services in their garrisons per week.
When news filtered out that one of our divisions was involuntarily extended downrange only weeks before they were due to return, chaplains were on hand to help families cope with the realities of this horrible war. Soon afterward, families who had been hoping to embrace their loved one were receiving news that their soldier had been killed in Iraq. This is the misery of ministry, and in my thirty-three years of military service, I have never seen a greater need for the care of souls. God alone can provide the strength, the consolation, and the hope that we all need to endure to the end.
Chaplains from the garrison also assist in the preparation for deployment. As one can imagine, the requests for authentic spiritual counseling increase significantly. Soldiers are going forth to die; families and units will be grieving—it is only a question of which soldiers in which units and which families. Chaplains have had enormous spiritual impact, and scores of lives were reconciled to God through faith in Christ before they deployed. During the soldiers’ absence, chaplains are called upon to help families cope in both mundane and spiritual matters. When the units return home, garrison chaplains are prepared to deal with the war’s aftermath of post-traumatic stress, family re-
integration, suicide prevention, survivor guilt, and countless other forms of spiritual and emotional brokenness that only the Lord can repair. It is true that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
—Chaplain (COL) James E. May, Installation Management Command, Europe
We must pray daily for the soldiers of our armed forces, their families, our chaplains, and our commander in chief, President Bush. Pray for salvation, growth, healing, and protection. God is at work! Let us not forget them!
