A season of war: As the American war against Iraq continues,
Southern Baptists are in place – serving the country seeking to minister
to other military personnel, working to meet the needs of loved ones back home
For Southern Baptists, the American war against Iraq is personal
– as in personnel, as in men and women of faith serving in various roles
for their country.
A season of war: As the American war against Iraq continues,
Southern Baptists are in place – serving the country seeking to minister
to other military personnel, working to meet the needs of loved ones back home
For Southern Baptists, the American war against Iraq is personal
– as in personnel, as in men and women of faith serving in various roles
for their country.
For instance, Doyle Dunn is a Southern Baptist chaplain recently
appointed as command chaplain to the USS Harry S. Truman. He is a graduate of
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and was serving
as a local church pastor when he entered the chaplaincy.
In the ensuing 16 years, he has served with the Marines in
Desert Storm and at the Pentagon during 9/11.
Dunns days now involve meetings, worship services, and
counseling sessions, as well as hours of walking around the ship, talking to
people in order to get a pulse on the spiritual health of the crew. With 5,500
persons on board, the Truman is a literal floating city – with both Christians
and people who are hurting and searching for something to anchor their lives.
“It never ceases to amaze me when I look into the eyes
of an 18- or 19-year-old man or woman,” Dunn says. “Some … come
from very broken homes and seriously tough times. They make the choice to join
the military as a last chance to make a better life. …
“Theyre hoping to find their sense of purpose.”
Dunn says the best way he has learned to share Christ with
others is to reflect Christ in everything he does.
“Look how Jesus won people to him in the Bible,”
he says. “He touched them where they need to be touched.”
For touching people on ship, that means reaching them through
their families, through their losses and helping them overcome certain kinds
of physical and emotional abuses by offering counseling and prayer, Dunn explains.
The spiritual role Dunn holds on ship has extended beyond the
enlisted sailors and officers. He also serves as an adviser for religious matters
to the carrier group commander – the first time for the ships command
chaplain to do so. When the admiral announced to the ships crew that Operation
Iraqi Freedom had begun, Dunn was standing right beside him.
And before the initial bombs dropped, Dunn offered a simple
prayer for all on board to hear.
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose
under heaven,” he said. “A time of war, and a time of peace. Lord
God, now, we enter the season of war. …
“We ask, dear Lord, for a deep reservoir of strength and
wisdom to carry out our mission of liberation. Help each one of us, in all our
various acts, to courageously give our very best. … May the labor and sacrifice
… in these days ahead serve to bring us through the season of war and return
us safely to the season of true peace.”
Also on board the Truman is Christy Kessock.
After 13 years in civilian life as a hospital nurse, Kessock
was looking for a change. Looking at the Navy Reserves for the possibility of
paying for another degree, she signed up when her children were just 5 and 7
years old.
“Three years isnt that long,” she told her
husband.
Fourteen years and one deployment later, Kessock serves as
the USS Harry S. Trumans nurse and critical care ICU nurse when needed.
She also assists the training office quite a bit with answering questions and
teaching in first aid and CPR.
When not in the medical ward, Kessock can be found taking a
womens Bible study offered on the ship or teaching First Place, a health
and weight-loss program guided by Scripture.
Also, although her children now are grown, the nurse has plenty
of chances to play a mothering role to the men on ship. Most are only 19 or
20 years old, and their deployments away from home can be tough.
Kessocks trust in God is reflected in her life verse
from Proverbs 3:6. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct
thy paths,” it reads. “I just give Christ my life,” Kessock says.
“He puts me where he wants me to be. I just try to grow and learn from
where I am at the time.”
Miles and miles away from the Truman, Lance and Shawna Fadeley
know it is just a matter of time. All within two hours, the phone could ring,
the orders could arrive, and Lance Fadeley could be transported with several
thousand other U.S. troops to the front lines of Americas war against
Iraq.
If the call comes, Fadeley will go to serve as an active-duty
chaplain in the 4th Infantry Division. His ministry on the battlefield will
be challenging – but the separation and uncertainty for husband and wife
will be even more so.
However, Shawna Fadeley does not plan on taking the hardship,
loneliness and worry sitting down. While her husband is ministering to U.S.
Army soldiers, she will be ministering to the Army families left behind.
“God has called (Lance) to minister to soldiers,”
she says. “I have peace knowing that Lance is in Gods will. I am
scared that when he leaves, it may be the last time I see my husband. … (But)
I have great support groups here and am looking forward to ministering to those
who will be staying here.”
Indeed, the ministry opportunities will be plentiful. A primary
place of service for Shawna Fadeley will be her local church. She also will
be involved in ministry on base.
“I would like to get to know these ladies so they can
trust me and call on me when their spouse is gone,” she says. “Since
I am not working, I would like to watch their children if they need a baby sitter,
pray for their specific needs and just be there if they need help with anything.”
Fadeley says she also will minister to her husband.
“I will pray for Lance daily,” she says. “I
will pray that he can minister to those around him, that he wont get discouraged
when he comes to the road blocks. … I pray that many will be receptive to
him and that God reveals himself to them. …
“I am thankful God is in control. He will be with Lance.”
Meanwhile, back on the Truman, through an open bay door, a
brilliant view of bright sunlight is spilling into the ship.
In the middle of the hanger bay, Avionics Technician 2nd Class
Sean Zahornacky sits in a water-filled, green tub. The large container actually
is a joint direct attack munitions crate.
But what once carried ammunition for destruction now serves
as a vessel for an act of obedience that symbolizes the birth of a new creation
and a walk in a new life.
Today, the crate is a baptistery – for the first-ever,
full-immersion baptism on board the USS Harry S. Truman. Several Christians
have gathered to watch.
Zahornacky has lived on the Truman as part of the ships
company since 1999. He did not have any church background growing up and said
it was very hard for him to admit that he needed God, although he knew he did.
Thus, after many months of prayer, asking questions and studying
the Bible, he accepted Jesus Christ.
Following baptism, he will be matched with a couple of older
mentors and encouraged to attend church services and get involved in regular
Bible studies.
“It is perhaps fitting that this is being done during
Operation Iraqi Freedom,” Dunn says as he prepares for the baptism.
“This box is designed to bring destruction. Today, we
use it to represent creation and newness of life.”
After the young sailor is baptized, he stands, wet and slightly
shivering as fellow Christians congratulate him.
“I walk inches off the ground after something like this,” Dunn said,
smiling. “It is such a joy to see a sailor make such a clear commitment
in front of his shipmates.” (BP)