September 24, 2001
Baptist chaplains prepare
military for whatever will come
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___As personnel at military installations await word of possible deployment to unknown locations for uncertain assignments, Baptist chaplains are helping them deal with doubts, fears and questions of right and wrong.
___Capt. Paul Blundell, chaplain with the 312th Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Hood, recalled that on the day the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon were attacked, he had the opportunity to pray during command and staff meetings.
___"No one left," he said, noting that normally at least a couple would have slipped out during the prayer. "All remained, silent, still, heads bowed. I was awed, dumbstruck with my mouth hanging open."
___Later that evening, Blundell went to the field with one of his companies to conduct a service. Normally, he said, five or six people would have attended. But this service drew more than three times that number. Blundell asked if anyone had friends or family members in the area of the attacks, and nine said they did.
___A Catholic in attendance asked the Baptist chaplain if he had any Catholic prayers to offer. Blundell handed him a copy of his field worship manual, directing him to the right page. The young man found the "Hail Mary" and read it for the five Catholics present.
___"The emotions were deep and the concerns heavy," Blundell recalled, noting that one soldier had a parent missing in the World Trade Center attack. "We prayed. The stillness reached to heaven, the hearts were open, the minds searching for meaning, the pain tangible."
___On Saturday evening, four days after the terrorist attacks, a soldier called the chaplain to say he and his wife wanted to be baptized. Blundell met with the young man, who was from a liturgical tradition, and his wife to ask probing questions about their understanding and commitment. He also explained his own understanding about believer's baptism by immersion.
___The couple professed their faith in Christ, and Blundell and another chaplain baptized them together.
___"They were a part of the 15 who were baptized that day," he said.
___Maj. Joel Lytle, chaplain with the 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Brigade at Fort Hood, noted that he had been "doing all kinds of counseling--from soldiers related to victims to fears of military action." He added that chapels had been open for prayer, and special services were ongoing.
___Capt. Stephen Allen, chaplain with the 311 Human Systems Wing at Brooks Air Force Base, met with airmen new to active duty and with youth for Sunday School on the Sunday immediately after the terrorist attacks.
___Some wanted to see terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden dead. Others wondered about the appropriate use of force by Christians. One airman with a unique perspective commented: "My father was murdered by my cousin. I despise what he did, but I don't hate him to the point I wish he was slaughtered."
___Allen said he wrestles with how the attack changes one's understanding of Jesus' admonition to love your enemies. He personally finds justification for force when it is used to protect innocent people.
___"As a Christian, I find peace in fighting terrorism because I know God expects us to protect our families," he noted.
___"I don't condone going after terrorists for vengeance. However, I'm the first in line to take whatever measures necessary to protect my wife, two sons and daughter. If that means deploying across the globe to apprehend people set on killing Americans, then I believe God expects nothing less."
___Allen expressed sorrow at the hatred that grows out of violence and feeds on itself. He pointed to a news account of Americans waving the flag while burning pictures of bin Laden.
___"How sad to think our nation could resemble the PLO-occupied West Bank. How sad to think our children could be inspired to hate rather than respect," he observed.
___Christians have the opportunity to let others see their "conduct and courage" in times of tragedy, Allen noted. And believers have a responsibility to pray, not only for national leaders and mourning families, but also for the families of terrorists. Each terrorist, he noted, is "someone's son."
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook