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Missouri Chaplain Meets Ministry Needs in Western Iraq Missouri and eastern Kansas are home to 9 CBF-endorsed chaplains. Every day, these women and men employ their skills and training in hospitals, military bases, and other facilities, being the presence of Christ in often difficult circumstances. Chaplain Scott Jensen, who works in St. Joseph with Hands of Hope Hospice, is a Major in the United States Army and recently completed a tour of duty in Iraq. Below are his recollections, first published in the most recent issue of the CBF Fellowship newsletter. * * * I have been serving in the U.S. Army Reserve since I was commissioned in February 1990. This tour with the U.S. Army was my first overseas deployment. I served in Iraq for 11 months. As a civilian, I serve as a chaplain with Hands of Hope Hospice in Saint Joseph, Mo. Knowing that I had a supportive employer, supervisor and coworkers made this deployment much less stressful. This military adventure began Aug. 2, 2004, when I reported to serve as the chaplain for the 561st Corps Support group in Omaha, Neb., and spent the next 10 weeks in training. We arrived in Iraq in early November. Our unit’s mission was to establish a general support logistical hub in western Iraq bringing fuel and supplies from Jordan. My assistant, Sergeant First Class Timothy Goettsch, and I supported and supervised two subordinate battalion Unit Ministry Teams (UMT) consisting of a chaplain and assistant in each UMT. We traveled regularly to provide support to our fellow UMTs. My assistant and I traveled throughout Iraq providing support and ministry to soldiers. We often traveled by Marine helicopter or Army airplane, though occasionally we did travel by convoy. We faced many challenges including the harsh environment, constant threat of enemy actions, coordinating transportation in a combat zone and trying to connect with soldiers who were constantly moving on missions. Many of our soldiers provided combat escort for supply convoys. Three of our soldiers were killed in action and several more were wounded in action. We found ourselves ministering to soldiers who faced the daily threat of injury or death. On top of that concern, they worried about family back home. This deployment afforded an opportunity for spiritual, professional and personal growth that I would never have known apart from this experience. Much of what we read in the Old Testament took place in what is now modern Iraq. To live in that part of the Middle East for nearly a year and experience all that a desert environment has to offer played a major role in spiritual growth for many of us. I had the privilege of leading a number of small group studies. We witnessed God changing lives for the better both with the military personnel we served and their families back home. Many of us turned this crisis into an opportunity. * * * CBF of Missouri is working to establish a network of chaplains around the state. At the upcoming CBF of Missouri General Assembly – April 28-29 at Kirkwood Baptist Church in St. Louis – Jim Layman will host a get-together especially for CBF chaplains and chaplains interested in CBF endorsement. Jim is a CBF-endorsed chaplain at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis. The meeting will be a time to learn about the work of other chaplains in the area and get acquainted or renew established friendships. |
Giving to CBF of
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