Previously, a question was posed about the accuracy of an accusation against Marine Colonel “Sam” Mundy. The background and relevant video can be seen here.
So, did the Colonel, as the accusers assert, violate military regulations?
The shortest, most accurate answer: Read more
There have been two interesting cases of soldiers refusing to deploy. Both were court-martialed and convicted, both share the same lawyer, and both are from Fort Hood–but the details of how they handled themselves (and the punishments they received) are in stark contrast.
The first, Sgt. David Travis Bishop, 26, was found guilty by special court martial and sentenced to a year in jail and a bad conduct discharge, as well as a reduction in grade and fine. Bishop reportedly began studying his Bible after a tour in Iraq and Read more
A shortage of Jewish Chaplains in the US military, as well as the fact that a small number of Jewish military members tend to be spread out among a large number of bases, can make religious association of Jewish troops difficult. This often leads to reliance on other soldiers or the contributions of “lay leaders”–often retired military members in the local community.
In the Atlanta, Georgia, area, retired US Navy Master Chief Jim Bradford is one such lay leader. He recently coordinated the visit of Rabbi Menachem Katz, Aleph Institute director of outreach programs, to minister to the local Jewish community at Fort McPherson. When they met, the group discussed the challenges of living of celebrating their faith within the constraints of the military environment. Read more
Similar to the military “Biblestick” provided by Faith Comes By Hearing, Charles Stanley’s In Touch ministries has provided a solar powered audio player (called Messengers) for US service men and women since 2007. The players, called Messengers, contain Dr. Stanley’s instructional sermons.
As noted in a US Army press article, Chaplain (Maj.) Dawud Agbere is one of six active duty Muslim Chaplains in the US Army. He is currently a student at the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. In recounting his contributions to the Army, a former commander of a 400-man battalion said the soldiers in his unit “although mostly Christian, trusted Chaplain Dawud Agbere right away.”
Besides ensuring soldiers’ right to free exercise, Chaplains also serve spiritual, emotional, and even cultural aspects of internal and external military operations. For example, despite criticism from activist groups, US military Chaplains have had the opportunity to minister to non-US peoples in Iraq.
The homepage of ChristianFighterPilot.com notes that
Being a fighter pilot is like being in a motorcycle gang…except your mother is still proud of you.
A variety of ministries (including the “Hellfighters Christian Ministries“) gave new meaning to the phrase when they took their annual opportunity to evangelize at the 69th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.
The Harris Poll has ranked the relative “prestige” of a variety of occupations for many years. This year, “military officer” climbed from last year’s drop in prestige in the poll, with 51% saying that the profession held “very great prestige.”
The Harris Poll noted the following interesting trend in its analysis: Read more
Carol Pipes, a female reporter for Christianity Today, went to Iraq to report on the Chaplains at Camp Victory in Baghdad. While most of the article merely recounts her narrative, she does make a few interesting observations. In particular, she reinforces the importance of living the Christian witness, and how it is a tool for Christ even in the face of orders against conversion.
While proselytizing Muslims is strictly prohibited, Christians in the military demonstrate the love of God in their actions. The fruit of the Spirit that exudes from our chaplains and Christian troops is not lost on the Iraqis.
The article is entitled “Finding God in Iraq,” and can be seen at Today’s Christian Woman.