Category Archives: Chaplain

Chaplains Provide Marital Help over Distance

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.

Baptist Pastor to Buddhist Military Chaplain

Thomas Dyer grew up Presbyterian and enlisted in the Marines.  Feeling threatened by the training he was receiving to kill, he left the Marines and attended Mid-America Baptist Seminary, eventually becoming a Baptist preacher.  His inability to find happiness as a Christian led him to convert to Buddhism.  Having obviously given up his job as a Protestant preacher, he joined the Army National Guard and was commissioned a Chaplain in 2008.  He will deploy to Iraq in January.

The article on Dyer is quite interesting, detailing both his wife’s reaction (she stands by him, though she hopes he’ll return to Christianity) and Dyer’s own lifelong search for fulfillment. Read more

Mother of Fallen Soldier at White House Iftar

President Barack Obama hosted an iftar at the White House Tuesday night, celebrating the end of Ramadan.  Among the guests were Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Navy Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Abuhena Saifulislam, the second Islamic Chaplain in the US Navy, and Elsheba Khan, whose 20-year-old son, Army Spc. Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, was killed in Iraq on 6 August 2007.

Chaplain Saif, a Bangladeshi immigrant, was one of two Chaplains Read more

Zen Military Training

Though military Christians are sometimes criticized in the media for mixing their faith and their profession, they are far from the only ones to do so (as previously discussed).

One unusual place that recently showed a mix of faith and the military was the Discovery Channel’s Future Weapons.  The military-focused show features a variety of advanced weaponry, explaining and demonstrating the capabilities of the latest advances in combat arms.

The host, Richard “Mack” Machowicz (bio), is a former Navy Seal who also trained to be a zen priest. Read more

Religious Inclusiveness Highlighted in Memorial

A Christian and former fighter pilot sent in this message about an incident on Memorial Day 2009 that highlighted the inclusive environment of religion in the US military.  The US military goes to unimaginable lengths to ensure that its troops have the maximum access to their free exercise while attempting to adhere to government restrictions.

The military can, should, and does honor its members.  Part of that honor is the inclusion of religious expression when it does so.

I am a retired light-gray Eagle Driver, and before that Phantoms, and proud of it. I’m now working as a contractor [in] Afghanistan. [Just] before Memorial Day this year (2009) our Command lost two folks to an IED.

Both happened to be Jewish. Both happened to be very committed to living their faith. 

Read more

Church “Adopts” Deployed Chaplain

It is fairly common to hear of religious groups across the spectrum of faiths contributing care packages, religious books and materials, and other resources to our troops downrange.  (Previous stories have included organizations providing support for military members practicing Judaism, Islam, and Wicca, for example.)

One church took it a step further and “adopted” a deployed Chaplain.  For Chaplain Jeff Bryan, Read more

Soldiers Take Time for Bible in Training

According to a US Army news release, members of the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, found time to have a Bible study after training was finished for the day.

The session, led by Chaplain (Capt.) Patrick Vandurme…lasted for about an hour, giving Soldiers a chance to listen to verses from the Bible, pray, and talk to Chap. Vandurme as needed.

Officers and enlisted lauded the opportunity to exercise their faith Read more

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