As a battalion chaplain, I was asked to say a prayer before lunch at the annual family Christmas party. I love to pray. I love being visible to my Soldiers so that they know who they can go to when they need help or guidance or counseling. So I was glad for the opportunity. I also love telling my Soldiers about Jesus, but the annual family holiday party isn’t the place to preach the gospel because it is a command event . . . not a religious service.
When the time came, the commander invited me to the microphone and I prayed. I thanked the Lord for the families of the Soldiers. I asked for divine safety and protection. I prayed for the marriages and child-parent relationships. I expressed hope that the events of the day would be meaningful, fun, and encouraging. And I finished the prayer not by saying “in Jesus’s Name, Amen.” Instead, I finished by thanking the Lord for his goodness and blessings, Amen.
I returned to the table where I was sitting with my wife, and after a few minutes a young Jewish officer approached me, held out his hand to me, and said, “Thank you for being my chaplain, too!”
One of the ways to avoid getting into trouble is to establish accountability measures and allow key people in your life to hold you answerable for what is morally right and what is helpful in your career. It is important to establish professional and spiritual mentoring relationships. We all need someone we can turn to when we are tempted, when we’re hurting, and when we’re about to do something unwise.
When I became a chaplain and went to the Officer Basic Course, Ron Casteel was the class leader. He and I became friends and kept in touch throughout our careers. Not only was he a friend, he became my mentor. Ron knew more than I did about how the military worked. He understood people. And several times when I needed guidance, he was there for me.
Fourteen years after completing the basic course, I had the opportunity to work for him at a senior command. Not only was he my friend and mentor. Now he was my boss. It was a great experience. After he retired, there was one more time that I needed his help professionally, and he was there for me. Having him as a mentor made a powerful impact on my life and career.
Perhaps you should consider finding a mentor. In fact, you might want to identify two mentors: one for spiritual accountability, and one for professional development. Allow key people in your life to hold you answerable for what is morally right, and what is helpful in your career. And listen when they speak or offer guidance.
Wherever you are in your career, it may be important for your growth, development, and success to find one or two people who can speak into your life as a friend and mentor.
I was a chaplain with an infantry battalion that was conducting field exercises in Yakima, Washington. While visiting our soldiers at remote locations, I asked my Chaplain Assistant if he would go up and over the mountain instead of taking the road around it. He agreed, but soon stopped and said he couldn’t go further because it was too steep. I told him the Hummer was built for steep inclines and asked him to proceed.
That’s when he said, “Chaplain, I’m not stopping because the vehicle can’t make it. I’m stopping because it’s too scary. I don’t want to drive up this mountain!”
“I understand. Let’s trade places and I’ll drive.”
Being a good, responsible NCO, he insisted that I show him my military driving license. And I did.
Driving up that mountain was so much fun. We got to the top, got out, and looked around. We could see for miles in each direction. Coming back down was even scarier because it seemed we were looking straight down. It was exhilarating. We were now ready to go and visit our Soldiers.
After I completed the Army Chaplain Basic Course, my first assignment was with a medical unit. While participating in a field training exercise at Camp Parks in California, I met with the First Sergeant one day, and he told me that one of his Soldiers died. When I asked who the soldier was, he told me the name of the guy was “Otto.”
Well, I knew Otto was the name of the alarm clock dressed in an Army uniform. Instead of a bugle playing Reveille first thing each morning, the First Sergeant held a microphone up to the clock to wake up the troops. When the alarm sounded, a Drill Sergeant voice shouted, “Rise and shine, you sleepyheads, Rise and shine!” Somebody got tired of hearing that stupid clock shout “Rise and Shine,” so he made a noose and strung up poor Otto between two field tents. There he was swinging in the breeze.
“What do you do when a Soldier dies?” the First Sergeant asked.
“I would do a funeral,” I answered matter-of-factly.
“Would you?” His eyes got real big.
Two days later, still out in the field on the back side of an Army training base, we had a funeral complete with full military honors and protocol . . . for Otto the Clock. One of the Soldiers was a carpenter. He used scrap lumber to build a scale model replica of a coffin. Six Soldiers served as pall bearers, marching in step as they carried the coffin to the ritual. The Colonel gave the commander’s speech. The First Sergeant provided a tearful eulogy. And the Chaplain’s funeral sermon was a poem about time. Each of us is allotted a certain number of days, and when our time runs out, we’re called to give an account before the Great Clockmaker in the Sky.
A hundred Soldiers laughed so hard they literally fell out of formation onto their hands and knees in the dirt. Some of them pretended to howl and cry, others had actual tears because they were laughing so hard.
My college and seminary professors and ministerial textbooks didn’t cover funerals for clocks, and homiletics classes never trained me to write sermons as poems, but that event created a rapport with the Soldiers better than anything I could have planned. For the rest of my time with that unit, I had an open door of ministry.
Early in my military career, I showed up at a new infantry battalion one day and started meeting some of the guys. The Sergeant Major introduced himself and asked, “Hey Chaplain, do you have your Gotcha Cards?”
“No, Sergeant Major. I’ve never heard of a Gotcha Card, and don’t know what it is, so I’m pretty sure I don’t have one. What is it?”
“Our previous chaplain, every time he heard one of us cuss or swear or use the Lord’s name in vain would pull out a business card, but all it said in big bold letters was GOTCHA. So when the guys heard we were getting a new chaplain, they started wondering if you were going to be like the last one.”
“I bet you guys hated him.”
“Yes. We. Did.”
“Tell you what. I’m not planning on having any Gotcha Cards printed up, so you can relax. Cuss if you want. I’m just here to love you guys.”
Apparently, a bunch of Soldiers were listening to the conversation, because as soon as I made that last statement, a cheer erupted from around the corner.
“You’re gonna fit in fine here, Chaps. Nice to have you aboard.”
Over the next two years, I led more than 25 of those guys to faith in Christ, and I never once said, GOTCHA. Oh, they cussed, alright. But I figured it was the Holy Spirit’s job to reach them, and he does a pretty good job. I just had to do my part, which was love them and be consistent in setting an example of what a Christian is and does.
This is the opening story in my new book titled Gotcha.
My recent trip to Ukraine exceeded my hopes and expectations. In fact, it was one of those ministry projects that you know you’re supposed to do, but you don’t know all that is involved or exactly what the Lord is up to until you’re in the thick of it. I knew I was invited to teach chaplains and pastors at the Poltava Theological seminary Monday through Friday in the afternoon, and that my associate, Dr. Sharon Ackerman would teach in the morning on the same days. What I didn’t know—in fact, nobody knew until the circumstances presented themselves—is that I would be speaking to pastors, chaplains, military leaders, and community representatives in six different locations. I expected this to be an amazing week of ministry in the classroom, but it turned out to be much more than that. This was a powerful, life-changing experience that took place throughout the nation of Ukraine.
Dr. Ackerman’s topic for the week was Medical Ministry, and included issues like trauma, injury, PTSD, compassion fatigue, and depression. She taught on personal healing, spirituality, and the consequences of war, and how it impacts the individual, family, and community. Her interpreter was a local pastor who is brilliant and talented in her own right. The presentations were so good and rich that I wanted to stay and learn from Dr. Ackerman.
New Life Church and the Poltava Theological Seminary
My sessions centered on Chaplain Ministry During Wartime, and included issues such as critical incident response, temptation, loneliness, and the inner struggle we all face when we’re in danger. The dual focus for both Sharon and me was to help the pastors and chaplains effectively manage their own thoughts, emotions, spirituality, and responses to war and then be able to minister to their soldiers, parishioners, and family members who are also impacted by the war. We discussed the fact that the chaplain is a voice of hope, strength, and sanity. And at all times, chaplains represent their government, their church, and in a very real way, their God.
My interpreter was Sofiya Schug. I met Sofiya when I preached at the United States Naval Academy last January. She is the lead soprano in the USNA Protestant Chapel Chorale, with a beautiful, powerful voice. When the pastor introduced me as the guest speaker, he mentioned that I would be going to Ukraine. After the service, Sofiya came up to me and told me who she was: a multilingual Ukrainian-American, married with children, and a professionally trained singer. After hearing about our mission to Ukraine, she felt a strong calling to go and help in any way needed. Sofiya became a true friend and served as my interpreter everywhere I went. She was a tremendous asset to our work in the classroom, in remote locations, and while traveling.
Sharon, Sofiya, and I flew into Krakow, Poland, where we visited Auschwitz, Birkenau, and Schindler’s factory. What a way to get into the mindset of oppression and living in a war-torn country! Then, we took a bus to Lviv, followed by an overnight train to Poltava. Igor Skripnichenko is the president of the Poltava Theological Seminary. He met us at the train station and took us to our hotel. That night, we had dinner with him and his family. They have become dear friends.
My overall assessment of the ministry, the experiences, and the Ukrainian people is that this was definitely a lifechanging experience and that, the Lord willing, I will go again. It was incredible to minister and fellowship with pastors, chaplains, and community leaders. Being able to see and talk with volunteers at the seminary, the churches, and the youth group outreach team was priceless. But let me tell you about some of the special moments that occurred during my time in Ukraine.
I started one of the sessions talking about some of the items I always had in my duffle bag when I was in the Army. The first thing I pulled out of my bag was a roll of toilet paper, explaining that in the Army, you never know where you might end up on a given day, and whether there’ll be any toilet paper in that location. One of the chaplains in the back of the room raised his hand and said, “There’s none where I am serving right now.” When I football-passed the roll of TP to him, he caught it, and the other chaplains broke into applause. I took several band-aids out of my bag and said I always carried a dozen or so bandages in my shoulder pocket whenever I went out with soldiers. One pastor who is a volunteer chaplain, called out, “I cut my finger pretty bad this morning, and nobody had any bandages. I’d like one.” So, I gave him a couple of band-aids. When I mentioned that I always traveled with a flashlight, one of the chaplains said he needed one. I proceeded down the list of several more items. Then I started teaching. When the day was over, the guy who got the bandages came up to thank me, showing me his finger nicely wrapped, and that the bleeding had stopped.
One of my sons creates handmade wrist bands and other items out of nylon 550 cord. When he found out I was going to Ukraine, he offered to make a few things to give out to the chaplains. So, I took five wrist bands, three key fobs, and a lanyard: all made out of blue and yellow paracord, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. I gave away two items per day, and after one of the sessions, a chaplain came up to me, threw his arms around me, ripped off his army patch and handed it to me, saying, “This is not for you; it’s for your son.” Then, because I wore a blue and yellow wrist band all week, one of the other chaplains who got a wrist band, wanted a picture of the two of us giving a fist bump and showing off the Ukrainian colors on our wrists. I think they liked the handmade items almost as much as the content of our teaching. In any case, it didn’t take long to develop a rapport and a love for one another as we delved into the topics for the week.
I told stories from my own war-time ministry experience in Iraq, plus a few of my father’s experiences during World War II. I discussed ministry priorities and gave them an assignment. By the end of the week, they had to turn in a list of their church’s priorities, the priorities of the Ukrainian Chaplain Corps, and their own personal ministry emphases. I mentioned the priorities that guided my work: the four ministry priorities of my church, the Assemblies of God; the priorities of every military chaplain in the United States; and my own ministry emphases. By the end of the week, they all had researched and memorized their own priorities. I have a picture of the entire group holding up their assignment.
I brought up the fact that as pastors and chaplains, we cannot afford to be impressed or intimidated by rank, wealth, fame, or celebrity because to the degree that we are impressed or intimidated, we lose the ability to minister. We represent the highest power, the King of Kings, the One who outranks everyone, and we have the responsibility and the privilege to care for and speak into the lives of people at all levels. That was a fascinating discussion.
One of the sessions focused on the need to trust God for miracles. We all are limited in what we can do, and when we reach the end of our abilities, we depend on the Lord to demonstrate his presence, answer prayer, change lives, and intervene in our circumstances. Then I showed a 7-minute segment of “The Ten Commandments” movie. When Pharaoh’s army pinned the Israelites against the Red Sea, the Lord told Moses to stretch out his staff and the waters separated, allowing the people of God to walk across on dry ground. Sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances beyond our control. It looks like we are out of options and all is lost. That’s when we have to trust God for the miracle.
A few months before going to Ukraine, I got a phone call from a man in Arkansas. He attends the church where my nephew worships, and my nephew had mentioned me at his church, asking them to pray. This man had pastored a church in Ukraine for ten years before COVID, and still has a heart for the people there. While he was praying, the Lord spoke to him. “The people of Ukraine are fighting two wars: a military war and a spiritual war. It is important that they win both wars.” He asked me to share that message with the pastors and chaplains in Ukraine, and I did. After I told the class about this Baptist pastor in the United States who was praying for them and what he had heard from the Lord, one of the chaplains in the class exclaimed, “That’s exactly what the Lord said to me when I was praying a few days ago!”
I did a session on team ministry and the need to be ready for anything. Then I had them do a couple of team-building activities that led to further discussion in small groups. I tell you what, these men and women are anointed by God, hungry to learn from the Word as well as from practical hands-on ministry. They are making a huge difference in the lives of their soldiers, parishioners, and communities.
At the end of the first day in the classroom, Igor told me that some of the chaplains weren’t able to attend the sessions because of the war. Then he asked if I would be willing to go out to where they were. “Well, it depends on where they are,” I replied. He assured me that it would be safe. And since Sharon agreed to take on some extra teaching sessions, the next day we drove out to where the chaplains were serving with their soldiers.
We showed up at a remote army base where two chaplains, five nurses, and about thirty-five morale officers were graduating, having finished their military training. I was the commencement speaker, with Sofiya as my interpreter. However, before I spoke, Sofiya sang the national anthem. She took everyone by surprise. Nobody imagined there could be a professional opera singer out there. And nobody expected the passion, the energy, and the rousing rendition of their song . . . in their language. The next several places we went, we started with Sofiya singing, and you could feel the emotion in the room, the pride, and the instant openness to whatever I had to say.
After lunch, we drove to another base where we met another thirty-five or so chaplains. As in most groups, some were active duty and many were pastors serving as reserve chaplains. I taught some of the same material I covered at the seminary because these chaplains were originally scheduled to be in the class in Poltava.
Between sessions, Igor introduced me to the senior Protestant chaplain, who explained one of the reasons he was glad I was there. According to his story, the week prior to my arrival, the lead Orthodox chaplain had told him, “I’ll wager a case of our finest kvas that the American chaplain doesn’t show up. Nobody comes out here.” The Protestant chaplain accepted the bet. Then they waited. When I walked into the room, I didn’t know why several of them had a funny look on their face, but now I knew. My new friend was looking forward to receiving a case of his favorite beverage!
As we talked, he mentioned that the military chaplains and churches of several nearby nations had come with clothing and other essentials for the pastors and chaplains to distribute. I heard him say “Latvia” and the name “Elmars” when he was talking to someone in Ukrainian, so I asked Sofiya to interpret for me.
“Are you talking about Elmars Plavins in Latvia?” I asked.
“Yes. How do you know that name?”
I met Elmars Plavins in 2007 when I was an Army chaplain in Iraq. He is the Latvian Chief of Chaplains, pastor of a large Baptist church in Riga, and was at my FOB in Iraq to visit his soldiers. The next year, I arranged for him to come to America to visit the Pentagon, our Army Chief of Chaplains, our chaplain school at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and several other locations. This Ukrainian Protestant chaplain said “Elmars is my best friend!” and pulled out his cell phone right then and there for a video call to Latvia. I got to talk to my friend, Elmars, who I hadn’t seen since 2008.
When we got into the car, Igor told me that whenever he’s out in this region, he makes a point of visiting a pastor who lost three sons in the war. Would I be willing to meet him?
Pastor Oleksandr welcomed us to his office, and we chatted a while with Sofiya interpreting. Then he offered a tour of his church. A beautiful building that had been an opera house before the war, the place had been badly damaged, but he and his congregation have been refurbishing and rebuilding so that now it is a beautiful house of worship. Because the war has devastated the area, most of the residents are poor, hungry, and in need of assistance. Many don’t have water. The church dug a well and invited anyone in town to come get water whenever they want. There were two men filling containers when we drove up. The church collects clothing and supplies from various places in Europe and offers it to the people in town for no cost.
As we walked through the building, we came to a gymnasium where the youth group was playing volleyball. The pastor told me they were preparing for a community outreach to the teens and children in the city. They would personally deliver food, clothing, water, hope, and the love of Jesus. I was so moved that I decided I would find a sporting goods store and buy a matching blue, yellow, and white volleyball (Ukrainian colors) so that every time I see it, I am reminded of Pastor Oleksandr, his family, the youth group, and their impact in their city. That volleyball is my prized souvenir.
As we were driving back towards Poltava, suddenly Igor stepped on the gas and went much faster. He explained that he received a text alert that missiles and drones were coming into the area, and that everyone should find shelter or leave as fast as possible. Sofiya in the back seat exclaimed, “Look!” I looked out the window and about two hundred yards to my right was an explosion. Whatever it hit was quickly burning to the ground. “See those cars out in that field?” Igor asked. Those are Ukrainian drone operators who are shooting Russian missiles and drones out of the sky.” He drove a little faster. We had dinner in Kharkiv on the way home.
The next day, I taught at the seminary in Poltava. I got to check on Sharon, who was doing fine. She loves teaching and preaching, and said it was going very well. Then Igor asked if I’d be willing to go up to Kyiv. We left early the next morning. Sofiya sang and then interpreted for me as I spoke to a group of about a hundred chaplains and pastors.
When Friday afternoon came, we had an end-of-class celebration and ceremony with hugs, handshakes, and fist bumps as the chaplains prepared to go back to their soldiers fighting the war. Igor asked me, “Are you ready to go to Dnipro tomorrow? There’s a group of government representatives and community leaders who meet on Saturday to discuss the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, and I’ve cleared it for you to be our speaker.” Sofiya sang, then I spoke on the need for the entire community to work together to rebuild and heal the land, the institutions, and the people. I told them that a community-wide response would be essential for the post-war reconstruction and healing, and that the community-wide response necessarily includes pastors and congregations because they have a built-in network with so much to offer. Then we had lunch with several dignitaries before returning for one more night in Poltava.
That night, I turned out my light and was not yet asleep when I heard an explosion. Then there were several more. I thought to myself, “The blasts seem to be about two miles away.” I went out to the hall, and people were going down the stairs to the shelter. Sofiya came out of her room and told me she had talked to Igor, who said there were five explosions about three kilometers from the hotel. There were no human casualties. He texted me and asked if I wanted him to take us up to Kyiv immediately. But by then, we received the “all-clear” message so I decided to wait until morning, as originally planned. Sofiya and I did go down to the shelter for about half an hour, mostly out of curiosity on my part. I wanted to see it.
Our train was leaving late Sunday night, so Igor had arranged to be our tour guide for some sightseeing in the capital city. It was beautiful. I got some great pictures. The war seemed so far away and life went on as usual. Sofiya had grown up in Ukraine, and the church she attended twenty-some years ago was just a few blocks from where we parked. She walked over to the church and met with some friends. When Sharon and I got on the train that night, Sofiya stayed in Kyiv to visit family and friends a little longer.
I felt like I was leaving part of my heart in Ukraine. Either that, or my heart was starting to turn blue and yellow, the colors of the flag. As I returned to America, I reflected on the new relationships I had with Igor and his family, with Pastor Oleksandr, whose church was making a difference in their community, with the many pastors and chaplains I had interacted with, and with the military leaders I had met. And I wonder: what does the Lord have in mind for the future. Will there be an open door for further involvement? I hope so.
The leadership at the seminary, the churches, and the military have asked me to return. Igor wants me to help by teaching and developing curriculum at the seminary. The military asked me to help shape some courses for the National Military Academy. They want to know if my book on military ministry can be translated into Ukrainian so they can model their programs after it. And they inquired about the possibility of my overseeing a sequel focusing on chaplaincy in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Several pastors invited me to come back and preach in their churches. And I already feel called to encourage and train pastors and chaplains.
But I am keenly aware that this was only possible because of the kindness and generosity of some wonderful people and churches who supported this project.
Pastor Phil Schneider is the Superintendent of the Illinois District of the Assemblies of God, where my wife and I are ordained and serve in ministry. Pastor Phil has been very supportive and directed his staff to provide assistance. The media director created and edited the video introducing the project. The business administration staff set up the account for tax deductible donations.
Several churches allowed me to give a presentation to the congregation. These include Hobson Road Community Church in Downers Grove, IL; Trinity Assembly in Sharpsburg, GA; and The Grove Community Church in Altona, IL.
Two organizations that gave generously to this project were the Mark and Rachel Bailey Charitable Fund and P & L Publishing & Literary Services. In addition, many friends and family gave through the spotfund campaign or sent money directly to the IDCAG account.
I want to thank all of you for your kindness. Thank you for praying. Thank you for your love and friendship. Thank you for making it possible for me to go, to have this experience, to make a difference for people in some pretty scary circumstances. Together, we made an impact on behalf of the Lord and his church.
The colors of the Ukrainian flag represent blue sky and golden wheat. As we were driving one day, Igor stopped so I could take this picture
Dr. Keith Travis is my co-writer for the book titled Military Ministry: Chaplains in the Twenty-First Century. He got an email today from a graduate student who is preparing to become a chaplain, and gave me permission to share this note.
I just wanted to thank you for the work you did on your book, Military Ministry: Chaplains in the 21st Century. Part of my “Intro to Chaplaincy Ministry” class is a review of your book. I have read it twice and I just wanted to say it’s gold! It’s very real, authentic and spot on in the 2024 military ministry. I can go on and on but I just wanted to say thank you.
It’s a great feeling to know we’re making a difference in people’s lives as they themselves are preparing for lives of service and ministry.
Because of political turmoil and the war in Ukraine, this is a critical moment in Eastern Europe. Recognizing the need for pluralistic chaplain ministry in its armed forces, the Ukrainian military created a brand-new chaplain corps that was approved by the government in 2022 and officially started in 2023. Ukrainian leaders are now looking for outside help to train and educate their chaplains.
There’s a Theological Seminary in Poltava, Ukraine with an outstanding reputation and the military has asked the school to provide training and education for their chaplains. The seminary reached out to the Chaplaincy Department of the General Council of the Assemblies of God to help provide that training, and they asked us to put a team together. The seminary is asking for a three-year educational training plan that will encompass theology, practical aspects of military chaplaincy, and specialized topics that will prepare clergy for what they may experience as military chaplains in Ukraine.
Our team is prepared to teach and train Ukrainian chaplains in a wide range a specialties and skills.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine has committed to send their chaplains to the Poltava Theological Seminary for six classes per year for the next three years. With our experience and expertise, we can provide what their chaplains need, but because of the war, they can’t pay our expenses to get there.
And they don’t have the means to purchase or create a curriculum. This means we have to raise the money, and we estimate that it will take $24,000 per year to train the chaplains. This will cover our travel expenses, classroom materials and supplies, and the curriculum that we will prepare and leave with them for continued use. After three years, they will have enough chaplains complete the program that it will then be self-sustaining and our job will be done.
The long-range goal is to raise $72,000 for a three-year training cycle, but our immediate goal is to raise $24,000 for the first year. Contributions are tax deductible through the Illinois District of the Assemblies of God.
The motto of the chaplains of the Armed forces of Ukraine is “Being There.” That is their mission, and they are fulfilling that calling even through some pretty tough situations and bleak conditions.
We want to be there to provide support, resources, encouragement, and training.
Would you help us do that?
Meet Our Award-Winning Team of Chaplain Trainers
Top Row Left to Right: Paul Linzey, Manny Cordero, Vince Lambert. Second Row Left to Right: Josh Andrew, Sharon Ackerman, John Michno
Education, Experience, and Expertise
John Michno completed the MDiv at Fuller Theological Seminary and became a military chaplain. After retiring from the military, he pastored in Ukraine and Russia. He is Ukrainian American, speaks Ukrainian and Russian, and is a missionary with the National Slavic District of the Assemblies of God.
Dr. Sharon Ackerman is a hospital chaplain with experience as an educator, pastor, sociologist, and missionary. She has worked for human rights and religious freedom for women and persecuted Christians, and is the author of several books. She has graduate degrees in religion and sociology and two law degrees from Cornell Law School.
Joshua Andrew is a former Army chaplain. He has served over 17 years as a pastor, educator, and a military chaplain in both combat and humanitarian roles. He holds an MDiv in Theology and a PhD in Education.
Dr. Manuel A. Cordero is the Senior Director for U.S. Chaplaincy Ministries for The General Council of the Assemblies of God. He has been in chaplaincy ministry for more than 44 years, originally working with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for nearly 24 years.
Vince Lambert is a senior military chaplain who spent a year in Ukraine training volunteer military chaplains. He has an MDiv with additional graduate work towards a DMin, and is the author of the devotional book, 30 Days Ablaze.
Dr. Paul Linzey is a retired military chaplain with war-time experience. He has trained U.S. and international chaplains, and now teaches at a Christian college. He has written two books about chaplain ministry.
John Michno and Paul Linzey are co-team leaders for this project.
Why This Is Happening Now
It didn’t take long after Russia invaded Ukraine for the Ukrainian government and military to realize they needed full-time, professional chaplains in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Historically, Ukraine depended on volunteer clergy to serve the military. This is a huge development. But along with it came the decision to open the chaplaincy to clergy from multiple faith groups, so they are moving towards a new pluralism and diversity.
Now that the foundation is in place, the next step is to provide the professional training and education the chaplains need, which is why they reached out to the Poltava Theological Seminary, who in turn asked us to partner with them for three years.
Our team has the education, the experience, and the expertise to accomplish this mission. What we need is the financial backing of people who care, who understand the immediacy of the open door in Ukraine, and who want to do something about it.
You Can Make a Difference in the World
Igor Skrypnichenko is the Vice President of the Poltava Theological Seminary. Because some of his graduates are now chaplains doing great work among soldiers, he has been asked to train new chaplains. It is largely because of Igor’s compassion, excellence, and tireless hard work that he has developed a rapport with Ukrainian leaders, and why they want him to head up chaplain training. But just like the rest of us, Igor has only twenty-four hours in a day, and is spreading himself too thin.
When Igor reached out to the Chaplain Department of the Assemblies of God, they asked John Michno and me to put a team together. As you can see above, the chaplains we have assembled for this project are outstanding.
There are several ways you can help us. First is to pray. The war is still going on, and February 2024 will begin the third year of the current conflict. Pray for peace. Pray for the people who have lost everything. And pray for safety, wisdom, and discernment for us. Another way you can help is to support us with your giving. We are preparing six classes per year. Each class requires a teacher to create the curriculum, travel to Ukraine, and provide materials and supplies.
You may send donations by mail to:
Or give online at IDCAG.ORG. You are welcome to designate a donation to me or specify any member of the team. You may also give an undesignated contribution that we will share.
Thank you so much for your generosity. We really cannot do this without your help.
The message below was sent to me via Messenger from a minister in Kansas who could relate to some of the stories in our book on Military Ministry. His name is Sean, and he gave me permission to share it.
“I am a seminary student and was just selected to the Army Chaplain Candidate program. During my studies, we read your book on Military Ministry and God spoke to me through your testimony. My grandfather was a SeaBee and both of my brothers were in the Navy, with the one I’m closest to retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. My whole life I have wanted to join the Navy but because I had asthma in high school I was unable to join. In adulthood, I have been healed of it and had my plans set on becoming a Navy Chaplain. I’m the Reserves, as that was my wife’s agreement.
When I read in your book about the similar situation you faced, God began speaking to me about whether I was willing to shift course and follow where He needed me rather than where I wanted to be. The Navy would not grant me the medical waiver needed, but now I am getting ready to begin ministering as an Army chaplain. I wanted to say thank you for your service, your willingness to follow God, and the inspiration I received while reading about your experiences. God bless!”
The following is a from an actual email that my co-author (Keith Travis) received from a minister doing his doctoral research. Keith and I are grateful for the reception the book is getting from people in churches, universities, seminaries, and the military.
“When a friend recommended your book, I bought it that day and have to say, I believe it was truly providential.
My research needed a little more meat on the bones, and your work has been the perfect addition. The practical nature of the insights into actual ministry have made your book like the perfect spice added to a bland, theoretical roast that turns it all into a great meal. I have enjoyed it thoroughly.
I could not be more thankful for this book coming to my desk at the perfect time. Just wanted to drop a short line to introduce myself and let you know how much I have enjoyed and appreciated your book.”
Paul Linzey 