A military press release describes the interesting story of three California National Guard soldiers who were able to take part in the pilgrimage to the Church of the Black Madonna in Kosovo.
Alongside the Balkan pilgrims…three California National Guard Soldiers [said the] trip was more than just an excursion to see the sights of Kosovo, but a journey to a higher calling. Read more
Organizations who oppose religion in public life (including the military) generally dismiss as ‘ludicrous’ the assertions that their goal is to scrub all vestiges of religious expression from government institutions, like the military.
American Atheists recently undermined that defense when they decried President Obama’s use of “God bless you” in his address to school children yesterday. The logic was particularly disturbing because it is the same as some activists who oppose religious associations in the military– Read more
S. Michael Craven is the President of the Center for Christ & Culture. His ministry emphasis is on living Christianity in the face of modern cultural challenges, with the goal of applying Christianity to all aspects of life. He “works to equip Christians with an intelligent and thoroughly Christian approach to matters of culture in order to demonstrate the relevance of Christianity to all of life.”
In an August 17 article, Craven writes about seeing his son leave for the Marine Corps. Near the end of the article, he writes an intriguing paragraph on Christianity in the military Read more
Officers’ Christian Fellowship (OCF) highlights an interesting article from Col Al Shine (USA, Ret), describing what a Christian life should look like in the military. It should impact every part of your life and profession:
“Jesus is Lord”
…will be reflected in your integrity.
…will affect your attitude.
…will be a source of strength and guidance.
…will affect how you fight.
…will add a dimension of ministry to your life.
The evangelism associated with living a Christian life in the military Read more
US Army Chaplain (Lt Col) Avi Weiss has previously been profiled here. The Defense Department has a new article out that notes the challenges he experiences not only as a Jewish Chaplain serving all faiths, but also as a Jewish Chaplain serving the unique aspects of the Jewish faith.
Like all chaplains, he serves Soldiers, civilians and family members of all faiths, but the wide variety of Jewish traditions among his faithful adds an extra level of complexity. Weiss is personally “very traditional Orthodox,” but many of the military members he serves are not. Read more
Islamic US Army soldiers in Iraq, including Spc. Linda Boyed and Spc. Fatima Benasser, two Arabic interpreters, note the challenges in exercising their faith during Ramadan while still executing their mission.
Finding time to pray in a high op tempo can be difficult, Read more
Sgt. Jason Boatwright, a US Army Chaplain’s Assistant, has been named both the Installation Management Command and National Capital Region Soldier of the Year.
This humble Heidelberg garrison chaplain assistant has earned the chance to compete in the Department of the Army “Warrior Challenge” competition at Fort Lee, Va., Sept. 28 – Oct. 2.
According to the Command Sergeant Major, Read more
US military Chaplains serve a variety of roles for the military members they serve. They are spiritual advisors, shoulders to lean on, and counselors for all matters.
To that end, the Army notes that Chaplains in Iraq have helped provide video conferencing, along with Chaplains on either end of the line, for soldiers looking for marriage counseling during their separation. Family stresses remain one of the top concerns for troops in the field, who are often in combat areas for a year or more.