US Army Chaplains' Preaching and Spiritual Renewal Conference, 1-5 May 2006

Equipping Military Chaplains

A Chaplain’s life is hectic, stressful and at times overwhelming. But it brings rich blessings when a soldier’s faith is deepened as a result of the chaplain’s influence.

In times of war, soldiers of all ranks turn to their chaplain for answers: What happens when I die? Why did that person die and not me? I shot two people yesterday in an operation and now I can’t even look at myself in the mirror.

Recognizing the need for compassionate answers, the U.S. Army holds an annual training conference for chaplains. This year’s conference—“Army Chaplains Preaching and Spiritual Renewal Workshop”—was held May 2006 at Fort Leavenworth.

And Alpha for the Military was invited to take part. After the first three days under the Army’s leadership—exploring such relevant topics as Islam and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder—the 120 chaplains moved from Fort Leavenworth to Church of the Resurrection in nearby Leawood, Kan.

There, chaplains received instruction on preaching and gained insight into organizing small-group ministry in the military context.

Next, chaplains learned how to host an Alpha Course. These powerful courses are now being held on bases in the United States as well as in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Okinawa, Germany and elsewhere. Fort Leavenworth’s Alpha team helped present the material.

Each chaplain was given a Deployment Kit—a duffle bag containing sufficient Alpha resources (sales value about $400) to train, equip and carry out a course for 12 soldiers. Marriage Course materials were included in the kit as well. Alpha USA had raised more than $25,000 from individuals and churches to underwrite the costs.

One head Army chaplain later wrote, “Thank you so much for the gift of Alpha materials. . . . One of my chaplains is to deploy this summer, and it will be a welcome addition . . . as he ministers to soldiers in tough times and places.”

Chaplains are front-line pastors for thousands of soldiers around the world. Please pray for their strengthening and for the healing they offer. For more information on Alpha for the Military, please call (800) Do Alpha or visit the Web

(www.alphausa.org/military).

(Originally published in Alpha News, Fall 2006 edition: published by Journey Group, Charlottesville, VA and available on the web at http://www.journeygroup.com/clientcontent/alpha/AlphaNews_Fall06.pdf)