December 22, 1999

Texas chaplain sees faith bloom in the desert
___By Dan Martin
___Texas Baptist Communications
___KABAL, Kuwait--Randy Robinson hopes to be home for Christmas.
___But he doesn't know whether he will be back at Fort Hood after serving more than six months on the desert in Kuwait with the soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment.
___Although his thoughts are of being home with family, friends and loved ones for the

BAPTIST CHAPLAIN Randy Robertson baptizes new believers in a makeshift baptistry dug out of the sand in the desert. The unique baptismal service was a highlight of his tour of duty in Kuwait, he said.

Christmas holidays, the Southern Baptist Army chaplain will long remember the Halloween he spent on the desert near Kabal.
___Not too long ago, Robinson wrote to staffers at the church ministries department of the Baptist General Convention of Texas to tell them of his experiences on the desert.
___Milfred Minatrea, director of the department, said his staff stays in touch with the chaplains in Texas, offering encouragement, connectedness with other Southern Baptists and keeping the chaplains informed of training opportunities.
___Robinson is one of more than 20 Baptist chaplains stationed at Fort Hood. They are among 90 chaplains of all faiths and denominations deployed at the sprawling Central Texas base, the largest contingent of military chaplains in the world.
___In a November letter--scrawled on a legal size, yellow sheet--Robinson wrote of his hopes to be home, of his plans for the future and of the memorable event on the desert at Halloween.
___On that Sunday night, Robinson baptized 16 soldiers in a makeshift baptistry in the desert.
___The event was written up in "The Desert Voice," a publication of the Army Central Command-Kuwait.
___A reporter from "The Desert Voice" attended the event and interviewed some of those baptized. Army Public Affairs Writer Tommy Graham described it this way:
___"Just before the sun set, bringing forth the traditionally spooky evening of Oct. 31, 16 soldiers were baptized just outside the Morale, Welfare and Recreation tent in a celebration, not of ghosts and goblins, rather being Christians."
___He went on to explain that baptism "is for those who have come to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior."
___The Army writer reported that most of the 16 soldiers had been looking forward to being baptized for a long time and finally got their chance "in the middle of the desert in a makeshift waterhole."
___One, Pfc. Johnny Lunn, explained that he "felt like it was time to come to God."
___Another, Pfc. Daryn McCallum, wanted to "make it official. I was never a church person. I've always done my prayers on my own. I found out they were doing the service out here, and I thought I would make it official."
___Sgt. Marc Owens had been putting off being baptized. "I just wanted to make it official in front of the public," he explained.
___It was "an awesome experience," Robinson wrote. "Soldiers' lives were changed and given a purpose and a calling. ... God has really blessed us."
___

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