Don't Deploy Alone!
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1 Don’t Deploy ll deployments are diffi cult. Each one takes Alone! a toll—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our men and women in the Armed Forces A continue to fi nd themselves either preparing to deploy, currently deployed, or refi tting from deployment. Helping Those with This cycle is incredibly stressful. How do we as Christian offi cers and ambassadors of Christ maintain balance and provide light and salt to those around us? Whom You Deploy The book of James in the Bible emphasizes the pursuit of godly behavior and uncompromising obedience to the Word of God. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever Win Their Spiritual you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2- 3). The verb form of the Greek word for trials means to Battles put someone to the test with the purpose of discovering that person’s nature. By that defi nition then, every trial by Colonel Bruce Parker, United States Army becomes a test of our faith, designed by God, to strengthen Christians during diffi cult periods in life. We can apply U.S. Army photo these words of wisdom to the trials we experience as deployed believers. How we choose to respond to trials becomes our witness to those around us during these diffi cult times. Sounds easy, right? Unfortunately, it’s not. During commissioning into the military, we swear to defend the Constitution against all enemies, swear faith and allegiance to the same, and swear to obey the orders of the President and offi cers over us. But more important still is that God has placed us in the military—in a position to serve Him at a place and time of His choosing. From Egypt Joseph reminded his brothers that, “it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Genesis 45:8). Through his trials Joseph realized that God placed him in that position at that time for His purpose, and that God was in charge. We can apply that same principle to our lives as deployed Christian offi cers. 2 us though the tempter came to Jesus when He was most vulnerable, He did not sin. He prayed and relied on the Word to fi ght and defeat the devil. He won because He was prepared—and we can do the same. Deployment requires that we prepare ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Military training prepares us to fi ght and defeat a physical enemy, but we often deploy without the necessary training to defeat a spiritual enemy. Spiritual Training for Deployment We must recognize that our spiritual success depends on a sustained effort to battle and defeat temptations from within by leaning on God and realizing that not one of us was created to do this alone. The spiritual battle requires discipline—and discipline is something service men and women understand well. We derive that discipline Engineers preparing to deploy from from spiritual training before we deploy—reaffi rming Bamberg, Germany, to fi nd explosives our values, recruiting the assistance of an accountability during route clearance missions. partner or group, coordinating the resources to enable a U.S. Army photo dedicated quiet time including daily Scripture reading and prayer, fi nding support through correspondence with For me personally, the greatest testing of faith and family or friends, and looking for daily opportunities to spiritual growth has occurred while deployed—and serve others. specifi cally under extreme periods of stress that only combat can generate. The worst of times has produced the How You Can Help Deployed Men and Women greatest spiritual gains in my walk as a Christian offi cer. It Many of our deployed men and women believe they has been a very diffi cult and humbling journey for me— face these challenges alone. But they are not alone! They and it is discouraging that I seem to have to relearn the need your help. You can make a difference by praying for same lessons with each deployment. them and encouraging them. A letter or e-mail does more I have deployed six times—fi ve of them to the Middle good than you will ever realize. It becomes a lifeline—a East since 9/11. Each deployment has been under different great source of comfort and a reminder that you are conditions, duration, experiences, events, levels of committed to them in their spiritual battle each and every responsibilities, and situations. Though all differed, each day. Send them a care package of cookies or a favorite offered the same thing—an opportunity to be a witness snack. The contents of the box are not as important as the for my faith through action, word, and deed. Sometimes effort that went into preparing it and sending it—and the I was successful. But many times I felt as if I had failed. realization that you are thinking of them and supporting Deuteronomy 8:2 says, “Remember how the Lord your them. God led you all the way…to humble you and to test you The major deployment challenge as ambassadors for in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not Christ is to be salt and light to those around us during a you would keep his commands.” Each day on deployment diffi cult period of their lives—as well as ours. But it is not was a spiritual battle. about us. It is about God and those around us because that Serving in combat is chaotic, confusing, and often is where He has placed us to serve, unpredictable. We are faced with situations we cannot and He expects us to be examples. control. How we as Christian offi cers react to those We will fail, but we have an situations becomes our witness to those around us. Combat advocate who will carry us through is not only an outward battle with our physical enemies, (1 John 2:1). Our greatest strength but also an inward battle with our spiritual enemy. First will be shown in our ability to trust Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a God during these times. Don’t deploy roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” This spiritual alone! enemy’s presence forces us to remain alert to the internal dangers of spiritual warfare—temptation, persecution, COL Bruce Parker is currently a student at the U.S. Army War and discouragement. As we struggle with these internal College and will assume command of the 198th Infantry Training dangers, we grow and mature in our faith. Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia, in June. He has served in numerous combat deployments as a Rifl e Company Commander, Jesus endured similar circumstances as He fasted Battalion Commander, and in staff positions at the Corps and Joint and wandered the desert. The Gospel of Matthew tells level. He and his wife, Molly, have three daughters. 3 U.S. Army photo Drawing on Scripture under Gunfi re by Tim Newcomb ightmares seem tame compared to biblical knowledge fl ooding to the forefront of their what Jeff Struecker experienced on minds. Memorization is the only way that can the streets of Somalia in 1993. As happen, and so it has become a frequent spiritual part of an Army Ranger unit intent tool for Bible study for Struecker and his fellow N on saving fellow soldiers in the Rangers. It is now Struecker’s main mission to Black Hawk Down confl ict, he called on past etch those same life-changing, peace-giving Bible studies to fi nd peace. “Frankly, it was what words into the minds of Rangers on a daily basis. got me back and forth through the city streets of Major Struecker grew up in Iowa and wanted Somalia,” Struecker says about the Scriptures. to experience the world beyond cornfi elds. He “Because I didn’t have time at that point to crack remembers that developing discipline was what open my Bible and read some of my favorite drew him to the Army—a trait that has served him passages, I went off of what I remembered and well in Scripture memorization. that literally gave me the courage to head into His discipline was called on when he saved gunfi re. God gave me an extraordinary sense of fellow soldiers during the Black Hawk Down peace.” confl ict, which was well-chronicled in a 1999 book Struecker recounted Jesus’ prayer in the and a 2001 blockbuster movie, both of which Garden of Gethsemane, Paul’s thoughts about provide Struecker a unique platform to speak being apart from the body and present with the to young soldiers. And his 1996 Best Ranger Lord, and a litany of Psalms while walking—and Competition victory (a feat at the top of any hiding—in the war-torn streets as gunfi re and Ranger’s résumé) earned him enduring respect. tragedy enveloped him around two downed Black “Before I even have a conversation with Hawk helicopters. younger soldiers I have some credibility. God has Having spent thirteen years as an enlisted given me an awesome opportunity,” he says. soldier, and another eight as a chaplain, After earning an undergraduate degree Struecker cherishes having his Bible with him for during his enlisted time and briefl y leaving the daily devotional opportunities. But when soldiers Army to gain his Master’s of Divinity degree from can’t reach for their Bible, they need to rely on Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Struecker 4 Struecker cherishes having his Bible with him for daily devotional opportunities. But when soldiers can’t reach for their Bible, they need to rely on biblical knowledge fl ooding to the forefront of their minds.