Candidate Program

Becoming a Chaplain is can be a long and confusing process, so here are the basics…

As many of you know, I am in the process of becoming a Chaplain.  Friends and loved ones will often ask “So, how is the whole Chaplain thing going? Are you a Chaplain yet?”  Well, ….no, I am not.…not yet.

It is actually a very long a tedious process to become one, and it takes many years.  Here is the Reader’s Digest version of what I must do according to the Army to become a Chaplain…via the Candidate program

Complete a Bachelor’s Degree Get Approval from a DOD recognized organization to enter program Get medically approved (height, weight, body fat, physical, etc…) Get accepted to seminary Write a one page paper on why Chaplaincy Complete an SF-86 SSBI (background check/security clearance) Get ministry related reference letters  It is recommended that at this point I get licensed as a minister (not ordained) At this point I can now enter the National Guard or Reserves as a Candidate…a 2nd Lt who is not yet a full Chaplain and non-deployable Get at least 72 hours of Masters level seminary credit       (my endorsers require 90) Get ordained After getting said hours…it is highly recommended (borderline required) to get two years of ministry related experience while I put my packet together Apply for active duty

It is at this point I can officially become a Chaplain.  So, as you can see, it will take many years (around 5-6) before I am done.

And it is worth every minute…And I cannot do it without the help and calling of God, the amazing and undeserved support of family and friends and the leadership and council of my elders and pastors.  I covet your prayers.

Merry Christmas-2011

 

A very merry Christmas to all my friends and family.  I hope this finds you well and closer to Christ than you were at the start of the year.  Gal. 4:5

So what’s new in 2011?

Well, Derek has firmly committed to becoming a Chaplain with the US Army.  It will be a five-six year process as he must have a 93 credit hour Masters of Divinity plus two years of post M-DIV experience before he can go active duty. 

During that time he will be a Chaplain Candidate with the local National Guard unit as a Lieutenant.   Derek has been approved by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to move forward with his plans.  He is recommended by the elder Council of Carpenter's Way Baptist Church, an SBC church and accepted to Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. 

The last big hurdle for him is getting back in shape, which he began doing a few months ago and so far he has lost 20lbs and feels great.  Please be in continued prayers for his physical, spiritual and emotional development.

Jamie

Jamie has been doing wonderful this year.  She was recently promoted at work to Teller Supervisor and works with an amazing staff at Genco Federal Credit Union.  It is her first real supervisory role, and she is younger than a majority of her staff, so she asks that you pray for wisdom to make the right decisions and strength to follow through with them.

Also through Jamie’s continued support and excellent financial prowess she has been able to save enough money to purchase a keyboard and plans on taking piano lessons in 2012 so she may return to her love of music. 

Another passion of Jamie’s is dance, and she has scouted out a local dance studio and will be returning to her love of ballet. 

She fully supports and has been instrumental in helping her husband and his decision to return to the military as a Chaplain.

Both

Jamie and Derek both are anxious for what 2012 holds.  There will be many changes in their lives and it will more than likely be one of the most dramatic and life changing years of their lives.  We humbly covet your prayers for guidance, direction, wisdom and mercy as we move forward.  May God bless you and your family this upcoming year.  

Chaplaincy? How Dare You!

Don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t think so.  Jews, Muslims, Wiccans Oh MY!  How can you even think of being a Chaplain? For the beard of course!

 

Essential Skills for New Husbands-Basic Finance

Essential Skills for new husbands is a series I will be doing over the next few posts to hopefully help new husbands avoid the land-mines of new marriage that I myself have stepped on or near. I am in no way an expert, but a fellow traveler on the road to marital bliss. Parts 1 and 2 can be found here and here.

Essential Skills for New Husbands-Care & Concern

Essential Skills for new husbands is a series I will be doing over the next few posts to hopefully help new husbands avoid the landmines of new marriage that I myself  have stepped on or near.  I am in no way an expert, but a fellow traveller on the road to marital bliss.