More Stories from the Edge..."Ministry of Presence"

Seven Sands Chapel, SW Asia  2009

As a chaplain in the military, we go where the people go.   The ministry is primarily what is called "ministry of presence", meaning, being with the people.  The ministry is done in hallways, visiting people at their various places of work, in their offices, on the flight line, in the hangars, in the clinics, in the training areas, and so forth.  The ministry is highly relational.  It may seem like just hanging out, but that is where you get to know people, they get to know you and relationships are built.

 Chapel Tent, FTX Gila Bend  2006

Being that we go where the people go, a military chaplain can lead worship from some unusual places.   For example, I have led services ranging from a chapel in Arabia called "Seven Sands Chapel", to a chapel near the South Pole at McMurdo Station, Antarctica appropriately named "Chapel of the Snows"!  

Chapel in a Conex, Ft Irwin FTX 2001

When we go on an FTX (field training exercise) I cannot tell you how many times I have led worship in a Chapel Tent.

And of course there are the many chapels at airbases where I have served; Luke AFB, the USAF Academy, etc.   

And for those places where there is no chapel, well you make do.   Classrooms, outside, board rooms, gyms, even conexes can become makeshift chapels!    

When it is 120 degrees outside, anything that has AC, of which this conex did, will do! 

Three musical chaplains, Ft Jackson, 2000

In this photo, we are leading a rockin' musical worship service in a giant gym to at least 2000 Army Basic Trainees at Ft Jackson, SC.  Yes that is me playing the djembe. 


Yes, where the people are, there we be!