Navy Chaplain Corps

Made my way up to the US Navy Office of the Chief Chaplain to meet with CAPT Caiazzo – who oversees Public Affairs for the chief.  Chaplain Caiazzo ]picture below] is a Catholic Priest was an impressive career in the Navy.  He is passionate about the 18-24 demographic [sailors]. We had an amazing meeting dialoging about the various platforms and mediums needed to engage this generation.  I look forward to exploring ways that we can reach and care for young sailors with practical resources that help them navigate during this trying times.

Navy Chaplains serve on ships and at foreign and domestic bases throughout various Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard commands. Navy Chaplains help sea-service personnel negotiate the crucial moments in their lives. Members of the clergy provide moral support for young people away from home for the first time, lend advice to individuals facing personal or emotional difficulties, and provide spiritual assistance to people from all walks of life.

Their vision:

Navy Chaplain Corps Vision: “Mission ready Sailors & Marines, and their families, demonstrating spiritual, moral and ethical maturity supported by the innovative delivery of religious ministry and compassionate pastoral care.”

Daddy’s Girl . . .

Day in and Day out with my dealings with the 3 Chief Chaplains Offices
these type of images and events are brought to my attention. In the photo . . .

Paige Bennethum, 4, of Laureldale refused to let go of her father’s hand as her dad, Staff Sgt. …Brett Bennethum, 30, reported to Fort Dix, N.J., for deployment to Iraq.

It is not 2 million deployed nor 24 million veterans – it is daughters
and sons; sisters and brothers; moms and dads; grandmoms and granddads
. . .

Keep our military in your prayers. Pray for the goverment leaders. Pray for us as we minister to our leaders at the Pentagon!

Trip CENTCOM

Yesterday I was at United States Central Command [CENTCOM] at McDill Air Force Base [Tampa, FL] with COL Ricardo Ramirez – US Army. [Rick also my neighbor - the best neighbor we have ever had - he also oversees logistics for OEF . . .]

He introduced me to Captain, Command Chaplain James Danner – US Navy. We dialoged about the 500 chaplains who are dow…nrange & deployed under his command and the resources needed to help them provide spiritual leadership. . . I continue to move from strategy to tactical . . .

Plan on writing more about this next week

DC Again

Had a busy few days in DC – stopped by VA to meet with my good friend Stephen Dillard [Director of VA Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives], strolled past White House on way to White House Center for Faith Based & Community Initiatives  [to meet new staff]. I also had significant meetings with CSF, IMCOM Command Chaplain, & Strong Bonds . . .

Rear Admiral Robert F. Burt Chaplain Corps Chief of Navy Chaplains

Had the opportunity to connect with Admiral Burt – Chief Chaplain of the Navy at Operation Helping Hands.

Operation Helping Hand of Tampa (Op HH) , a project of the Tampa Chapter of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), has been organized to help the families of the wounded and injured during their stay in Tampa Bay. Assistance from the public and business community is definitely needed to help these families.

Rear Admiral Robert F. Burt Chaplain Corps Chief of Navy Chaplains

A native of Springfield, Ore., Rear Admiral Robert Burt enlisted in the Navy in May of 1970 and completed boot camp at Recruit Training Command, Orlando, Fla. in July. His enlisted service included three years as a Communications Technician and three and a half years aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as a Data Processor.

After his honorable discharge in March of 1977, Burt completed his Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Eugene Bible College. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Western Evangelical Seminary, Portland, Ore. in May, 1981. An ordained minister of the Open Bible Churches, Burt is endorsed by the National Association of Evangelicals for military chaplaincy.

Burt’s sea tours include the USS Arkansas (CGN 41) and USS Kansas City (AOR 3), USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and Regimental Chaplain with 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Burt completed six deployments to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the North Persian Gulf.

Ashore, Burt served on staffs at Roosevelt Roads Naval Hospital, Puerto Rico; Naval Training Station, San Diego, Calif.; Recruiting Area Eight, Oakland, Calif.; Submarine Base Bangor, Silverdale, Wash.; Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.; Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tenn. as the Chaplain Corps Senior Assignment/Placement officer; and Fleet Chaplain for Commander, Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Upon selection to flag, Burt served as the Deputy Chief of Navy Chaplains/Chaplain of the Marine Corps from September 2003 to June 2006.

Burt became the 24th Chief of Navy Chaplains on June 23, 2006.

Burt’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation Medal (two awards) and various service and campaign awards.

Admiral Burt spoke about our troops and gave the invocation.  It was amazing!

I snapped a photo of Chaplain Burt and his wife . . . I look forward to meeting with him soon in Washington.

2 Highlights at YMCA of The Rockies

I had a number of thrills at the AMCF Conference at Estes Park, CO. But without a doubt, two stood out!

I had the chance to learn from and meet Dr. Richard Blackaby [from Experiencing God famed series - working with his dad].  I communciated a message from my bride Kristi – ‘Please tell Mr. Blackaby thank you!  It was through Experiencing God that I accepted Christ! (almost exactly 14 years ago)’  Dr. Blackaby was excited and touched by our story.

I also was able to reconnect (for the 1st time in 15 years) with my very first prayer partner – Jose Garrigo!  He is from Cuba and we first met at Toccoa Falls College in 1982.  I spent Christmas with Jose and his family in Barcelona Spain during Christmas 1993.  Jose oversees the ALPHA Ministry in the USA (specifically for Spanish & Next Gen Ministires).  Look forward to ministering once again with Jose!

AMCF at Estes Park, CO

After my time at Fort Bliss, I immediately flew to Denver to catch the shuttle to Estes Park, CO for the AMCF [Association of Military Christian Fellowship] “Helping Military Families’ Conference . The purpose of the gathering was to equip leaders and mobilize churches to Pray for and Minister to Military Families.

I provided leadership to the ASM team – as we conducted 2 workshops [God's Big Story: Building a Bible Habit with the Essential 100 & A Journey to Recovery from PTSD: Comfort and Hope from the Scriptures, The God Understands Journey] each day for the 3 days of the conference.  On Tuesday, I had to jump in and conduct the PTSD workshop – for the presenter I scheduled was late in arriving to Estes Park [flight delays].

I was able to connect with Lt. Gen (USAF, Ret.) Bruce Fister – Executive Director of Officers Christian Fellowship, my dear friend MAJ GEN (US Army, Ret.) Bob Dees – Executive Director of Campus Crusades Military Ministry, and BG Ray Woolridge (Assistant Chief Chaplain US Army Reserves). All three present dynamic partnerships for the Re-Ignition Project to Honor, Transition, & Impact the military.  (Photos – je & Lt Gen. Fister; je & MAJ GEN Dees, the Woolridges)

Fort Bliss – CH COL Huggler

Had the opportunity to travel to Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX to work with CH COL Ron Huggler [CMA Endorsed] – the Installation Chaplain [total of 72 chaplains under his command].  Fort Bliss is soon to become the 2nd largest military installation in the USA [in total number of military troops] and the largest in land mass [Fort Bliss and White Sands - taken together - are the size of Connecticut].

CH Huggler is helping me and Armed Services Ministry test drive the E100 – we are in the processes of developing a custom version of this simple program designed  specifically for our military and veterans.  It is built around a carefully selected list of short Bible passages called the Essential 100.  the E100 enables people to get the big picture of God’s Word while experiencing significant growth and behavioral change!

I am excited that Ron & Sue are partnering with ASM to develop v.1.0 of E100 for the military.

Haley VA CCAPS Award

Had the privilege to be invited by Chaplain James Taylor Chief of Chaplains Services at The James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, FL to the Award Presentation by the National Chaplain Center.  The Haley VA Hospital recieved the award because of the COMISS Commission for Accreditation of Pastoral Services (CCAPS).  Associate Director of Diversity at the VA Chaplains Center, Mike McCoy made the presentation.

I have been working with Chaplain Taylor since last September and have had the privilege of training his staff in Strengths Discovery.

Pentagon Visit

Returned to Pentagon today to meet with Pentagon Chaplain Dan Minjares. Had a good dialog about the potential Engage Your Strengths initiative as well as the E100.  Aslo had the opportunity to see Major General (USA Ret) Marianne Mathewson-Chapman – from the VHA OEF/OIF Outreach Office.  Later in the day had the opportubity to brief Chaplain Boyd fron CSF and set up a next steps meeting.