Together in ministry, thousands of miles apart

Saying our temporary goodbyes

It is hard to believe that I have already been away from Dexter and First Christian Church for two months. At the end of June Lily and I gathered with sixty people in the backyard of the parsonage to say our temporary goodbyes and celebrate one of the most amazing relationships I have ever had with a congregation. We looked back on everything that has happened in the last six years, and prepared ourselves for everything that will transpire in the six months we are apart.

Since that night it seems as if almost an entire year’s worth of activity has transpired. A last minute online purchase of Cubs tickets allowed Lily and I to make our annual pilgrimage to Wrigley Field. The Cubs won that game in a convincing style, setting the stage for the amazing few weeks we got to spend together. We discovered parts of Chicago we had never explored, afterwards we headed to Iowa to visit my family, and then spent the last few days at Scott AFB catching up and simply savoring each other’s presence.

Those three weeks set me up properly to come on this deployment. Instead of feeling rushed and overwhelmed, I was able to get on the plane having taken the time to say all my goodbyes. This allowed me to arrive in theater ready to go. There was nothing to stress over back home. Plans were in place for both the church and our family. Our faithful and highly capable elders would take care of the ministry of the congregation. Lily has a strong support network, and backup plans are in place for anything that might go wrong along the way.

Supporting each other at home

Unfortunately, some of these contingencies have already been tested with the deaths of Stewart and Jim. Not being able to say goodbye to such beloved members of our congregation was heartbreaking, but it has been incredibly gratifying to hear the stories of the way that the people of our church have gone out of their way to care for the Barney and Miller/Stidham families. Thank you for all that you have done to show such Christlike love and compassion when it was most needed.

That same support has been directed to me ever since I arrived here. There has been a steady stream of cards and packages from the day that I checked in. Care package goodies are shared with men and women of our base. Each card is now tacked to the wall in front of my computer. They are a constant visible reminder of the fact that my service here is a mission of our entire congregation. Thank you for your prayers and your involvement in the ministry of our chapel. Know that you are making a direct and tangible impact on the members of our nation’s military.

Keeping me going in the desert

In the short period of time that I have been here I have experienced long days, difficult counseling sessions, and several short nights. At times I have felt incredibly isolated from all the friends and family that I know and love. On the other hand, I have also been privileged to experience some of the most incredible moments of my life. Selfless sacrifice is demonstrated on a daily basis. Marriages and relationships have been restored. Friendships established here have a depth and intensity that simply must been seen to be believed.

Through it all the Holy Spirit has been at work encouraging us in our difficult moments and helping us recognize the blessings that we receive on a daily basis. Every member of this congregation has played a part in making this experience possible. Even before my arrival in Dexter, this church has seen my military service as a form of outreach. Supporting the mission of the chaplaincy is part of the way that this congregation shares Christ’s love with the world.

A little over one month of my government sponsored camping trip is now complete. Although I miss you all, I know that God will continue to use this time to do amazing things in both Dexter and the part of the world in which I am currently sojourning. Thank you for your prayers, your support of Lily, and for all the cards and packages that keep me going each and every day.

OPSEC/Air Force disclaimers:

While sharing some particular moments from my government sponsored camping trip, I need to mention a concept that the Air Force refers to as OPSEC, or operational security. Essentially, it is a modern way of saying “loose lips sink ships.” Travel dates, my location, and the details of what I am doing are all going to remain unsaid in this forum and on social media. Instead, I am going to occasionally share generalized “day in the life of a chaplain” posts that are produced in conversation with our unit’s public affairs folks. Please understand if there are certain questions or topics that I refrain from discussing in this particular setting.

This blog is produced on my own time using personal equipment. No Air Force or DOD endorsement is implied.