US Army Chaplain (Capt) Mike Voudouris recognized the support he gave to his unit was more than religion; his troops were tired and stressed,<\/p>\n
Which are all the reasons why a chaplain’s duties go beyond simply ministering to a soldier’s spiritual needs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
After watching some Soldiers knock a few golf balls into a lake for a diversion, Voudouris put a call into his church for golf supplies:\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Within about 21\u20442 months, we ended up with around 15,000 golf balls, a couple of hundred clubs; even the Callaway Golf Co. donated some brand new stuff.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Like most deployed Chaplains, Voudouris spent as much time in helicopters, humvees, and cargo planes as he did sitting still.\u00a0 As has been noted elsewhere with regard to “fob-hopping Chaplains<\/a>,” this ministry of presence is crucial:<\/p>\n
“When I traveled, I got with the soldiers, checked on them, checked on their morale, gave them one-on-one spiritual support,” he said. “Also, a lot of time, guys wouldn’t necessarily seek out a chaplain, but if a chaplain is standing right there in front of them, then they’re willing to open up.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Read the full story<\/a>.<\/p>\n