US Army SSgt John Williams Jr played for the Baltimore Ravens in 1997 and played for other teams until 2005. After that:
“Late one night I was praying and asked God for guidance on what I should do next,” said Williams.
He stated that after that prayer, he coincidently found and Army kevlar [helmet] with the initial W inside of it, and it felt like a sign from God to join the Army.
Well, that’s one way to do it. Read more
US Army Chaplain Khallid Shabazz was promoted last week to full Colonel, making him the US military’s highest ranking Muslim chaplain:
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael T. Morrissey, Commander of the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, presided over the ceremony.
Morrissey had the opportunity to share some kind words about the newly promoted Col. Khallid M. Shabazz.
“For those of us who know Khallid, he is a force of nature, a force of personality, one of those unique types that I like to describe as someone you meet and you feel like you’ve known them your whole life,” said Morrissey. “Troops naturally gravitate towards him.”
Just last year Chaplain (then-LtCol) Shabazz had been installed as the first division-level Muslim chaplain at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. Chaplain Shabazz now finds himself at the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Hawaii.
More interesting, perhaps, is the photograph of a “prayer circle” as his promotion ceremony closed: Read more
CBN News recently published a list of “5 Must-See Christian Movies Coming Out This Fall,” and three of those five share a military theme.
Two have already been discussed: Unbroken: Path to Redemption (Sep 14) picks up the story of Louis Zamperini where Unbroken left off. Indivisible (Oct 26) will chronicle the true story of US Army Chaplain Darren Turner.
The third is God Bless the Broken Road (Sep 7), which follows Read more
As previously noted, more than 2,000 US Army trainees have professed faith in Christ recently at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Chaplain (Capt) Jose Rondon…began to track what has been called a “spiritual awakening” on the military base in March, when he reported that more than 200 professed faith during chapel services on the base on March 11 and March 18. By June 24, that number had risen to 880 professions of faith and has continued to rise throughout the summer – reaching 2,077 on Aug. 19.
Retired Chaplain (MajGen) Doug Carver said the revival wasn’t limited to FLW [emphasis added]:
More than 2,000 troops gathered Read more
Last year US Army SFC Ikaika Kang was arrested and charged with trying to materially support ISIS — including providing them classified information and a drone.
Last week he pled guilty:
Sgt. 1st Class Ikaika Kang, handcuffed and wearing a beige prison jumpsuit, spoke in a clear voice when he told a U.S. magistrate judge he’s guilty of all four counts against him.
“Your honor, I provided unclassified, classified documents to the Islamic State,” Kang said, adding that he also provided the drone.
Kang is among dozens of American civilians, US veterans, and even serving US military members who have been motivated by their Islamic faith to either plot against or attack US troops.
In Kang’s case, there were insinuations Read more
Newly commissioned 2LT Kanwar Singh has become the most recent US Army officer to wear a turban and beard, the articles of his Sikh faith: Read more
In 2012, this site noted the story of US Army Chaplain Darren Turner — a chaplain who had served a 15-month tour in Iraq and then returned home to face the very demons he’d tried to help his Soldiers survive. His struggles would eventually lead to separation from his wife. Finally facing reality, he quit the Army and worked to reconcile with his wife. They were soon back together and, as a couple, agreed to rejoin the Army to serve the troops in their calling from God.
Chaplain Turner’s story is the subject of a new movie, Indivisible, which will Read more
Update: From First Liberty’s Mike Berry:
At the end of the day, if anyone has been the victim of discrimination here, it’s been Chaplain Squires and Staff Sergeant Griffin. I’m thankful that a two-star general stepped in and corrected things, but it should never have come to that in the first place.
Fox News’ Todd Starnes reports on the First Liberty press release that the Army has rejected the recommendation to punish Chaplain (Maj) Scott Squires for how he handled a Strong Bonds marriage retreat when a homosexual couple said they wanted to come.