It has been awhile since I have done a blog entry for my Chaplain Candidate series, but I hope to have some useful information for you in this entry.
Since my last entry, a number of new soldiers have come into the Chaplain Candidate program. One of the most exciting things for me was having our first female Chaplain Candidate! While this may not be a big deal in some states, it is a rare and exciting thing in a conservative southern state to have a female join the program.
The main point of this blog post is to tell you what a blessing the Chaplain Candidate program has been to me. I have found seminary to be spiritually draining. My calling is to minister soldiers full time. Seminary is day in and day out classes, and while I enjoy learning, I feel a burning desire to do ministry. Seminary gives me a lot of knowledge, but I don’t get to apply much of it to my calling to be a Chaplain yet.
Drill provides a wonderful opportunity to fellowship with other Chaplain Candidates and to visit with other soldiers. I told my wife that drill is like a “spiritual recharge” for me. I come away from drill knowing that I am doing what I am called to do and I feel a great peace about it.
The only unfortunate thing is that drill only happens once a month. I am looking forward to when I can work with soldiers full time.
I know that not every group of Chaplain Candidates will be as tightly-knit as the group that I am in, but I have found the program to be a true blessing. If you feel that you are called to minister to soldiers, I encourage you to check out the Chaplain Candidate program.
I hope to have new post in this series in a few weeks. The Chaplain Candidates will be going to the field for the next drill and I will post about what we did and I also hope to have some pictures to share with all of you. So…check back early and often!
Caleb,
God Bless you my brother, and may God’s peace be upon you. My name is Dwayne Allander, and I too have been called to minister to soldiers. I am currently serving as a signal instructor, and also earning my BS in religion at Liberty U DSL. I have twelve more classes, and I backed up to only one class per term. My Pastor is a Retired Army Chaplain, and he conducts ministry training for ordained, and other inspiring Ministers. I am sympathetic to your comments about all the studying, and having little time to minister. Keep pushing towards the mark of the High Calling. Right now, you and I are both going through our training process. First God calls, then He Prepares, and then He sends!
Keep your hands on the plow my brother, and God Bless. If there are any key points that God may put on your heart to tell me relating to the journey of becoming a Chaplain, please share.
God Bless,
Dwayne
Found your blog doing searches for military chaplains. I just wanted to commend and thank you for being excited about having a female Chaplain Candidate in your group. The SBC is not exactly known for their support of female candidates, and some of their Chaplain Candidates are less than collegial to their female counterparts (others, for the record, are awesome). As a female Chaplain Candidate, thanks for giving me the opportunity to be a fellow officer and chaplain — it’s attitudes like this that allow for respect in theological diversity that can make such a great military chaplain corps.
I am a new air force chaplain candidate and I leave for training in 2 weeks. I am glad to have heard all of the encouragement and excitement for this calling; our troops need the hope that we can bring through Christ alone.
Hey Brother,
a blessing to have found this blog. I’m currently in my last semester down here at Florida International University (Miami Florida). My wife and I are heading to seminary this Fall (She’s attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for an M.Div. in biblical counseling, while I’m looking between SEBTS and Duke Divinity).
I too am looking to join the Chaplaincy Candidate program for the Airforce. I’ve had this calling for years, and to say I am excited about the coming prospects is an understatement.
I’m trying to figure out how exactly I may enter the program, and it would be a blessing if you could offer me any advice (seeing you’re already in the program).
If you could somehow contact me via email, I would be very much in gratitude.
God Bless,
–
Leonard O Goenaga
Greetings,
I suppose my comment is similar in nature to brother Leonard O Goenaga, in that I too, would appreciate information on how to enter the program. I attend Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, studying to earn my M.Div, and PhD. Any help you can offer would be great!
Thanks,
Michael James