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Despair and hope Christmas wonder Culture shock Amos, C.S.Lewis and gifts that praise God PAGES 3, 6, 13 PAGE 12 PAGE 14 PAGE 20 PM# 40009999 R9375 A Reformed Biweekly | 70th Year of Publication | December 14, 2015 | NO. 3022 | $2.50 News. Clues. Kingdom views. YEARS Blessing in a Time of Violence Which is to say this blessing is always. Which is to say there is no place this blessing does not long to cry out in lament, to weep its words in sorrow, to scream its lines in sacred rage. Which is to say there is no day this blessing ceases to whisper into the ear of the dying, the despairing, the terrified. Which is to say there is no moment this blessing refuses to sing itself into the heart “Nativity” by Chris Glatzal. of the hated and the hateful, the victim none that can who hope, until this blessing Peace. and the victimizer, halt its course, from the hands of us has spoken Peace. with every last none that will who act, its final word, Peace. ounce of hope still its cadence, from the hearts of us until this blessing Jan Ric Jan Richardson it has. none that will who love, has breathed Peace. delay its rising, from the feet of us its benediction For Beirut, for Kenya, for Paris, forPeace. Syria. For every place broken Which is to say none that can keep it who will not cease in every place, by violence and hatred. For every there is none from springing forth our stubborn, aching in every tongue: person in pain and grief. For you, that can stop it, from the mouths of us marching, marching from me, in sorrow and hope. PAGE 2 CHRISTIAN COURIER News Military Chaplains on the front lines Lisa Hall-Wilson We see headlines, photos and video clips of war. We know that many new refugees are risking their lives to escape it. But Canadian soldiers and peacekeepers see these situa- tions in real-time. They are face-to-face with the tragedies we read about. When they return, some battle scars are easy to see. Some are invisible. Who stands ready to renew or offer hope to our soldiers? Military chaplains, or “padres,” in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are available to offer spiritual guidance and counselling to the soldiers and commanding officers they serve with. Chaplains are active members of their unit and train alongside those they serve, including daily personal fitness. Unit padres deploy with their unit but remain un- armed even in combat. The Christian Reformed Church endorses two Military Chaplains in Canada. Christian Courier spoke with Captain Gerald Van Smeerdyk, stationed at CFB Edmonton (AB), and Captain Kevin Stieva, stationed at CFB Gagetown (NB) to find out more about their ministry. Why would an ordained minister want to become a military chaplain? Captain Stieva served in regular armed forces for 18 years before going back to school for a degree Pray for those overseas, for their families and for those returning with scars that may be invisible. in theology. He cited the freedom to talk about faith as one of the reasons for joining the chaplaincy. Soldiers returning home from WWII, the Vietnam War, might be dressed in white or have a purple scarf on for For Captain Van Smeerdyk, the answer came with a bit the Korean War and other combat situations were the first official duties. Yet in a crowd of soldiers dozens are suf- of a history lesson. to bring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to light. fering silently and need prayer and support. “If you have the means and the ability to help some- PTSD is caused by traumatic events combined with feelings Serving in a pluralistic environment means a chaplain one in need, why wouldn’t you? Personally, as a Dutch of helplessness and hopelessness. When an individual is could be ordained from one of 20 Christian denominations, descendant, I am also paying back to the members of the subjected to war, combat, physical or sexual abuse, child- or have a Jewish or Muslim faith tradition. “We are called Canadian Armed Forces what they have done for my fam- hood neglect or forced captivity, these situations can (and to speak the truth, even to our military commanders, but ily who emigrated from the Netherlands,” Van Smeerdyk often do) cause PTSD. This disorder has links to suicide. we must never forget to do so in love. Pray that chaplains said. “I’m serving as a military chaplain because it’s the And according to a recent Statistics Canada report, “Post- always remember that their Commander in Chief is gracious, right thing to do.” traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder were twice compassionate and abounding in love,” says Van Smeerdyk. as high among Regular Force members who had been de- Captain Stieva wants to encourage those looking for a The Unremembered ployed in support of the mission in Afghanistan compared mission field to consider serving as a military chaplain. Last month, new Minister of Defence Harjit Singh Sajjan to those who had not.” Chaplains in the Army and Air Force are assigned to a raised concerns about the increased rate of suicide among Chaplains are among the first-responders for soldiers specific unit and live and train with the same group of men. members of the military. He ordered the chief of defense dealing with personal stress or mental distress. Captain In the Navy it works a little differently as a chaplain may staff to make investigating this tragedy a priority. Fifty-nine Van Smeerdyk served in Afghanistan, and he says that “the not always serve on the same ship. Canadian soldiers who served in Afghanistan have com- mental trauma many of us experienced there is incalculable.” “The military may cover the cost of an education in mitted suicide, the Globe and Mail reports; 158 died in the order to be ordained, and though chaplains aren’t allowed mission, which ended in 2013. Because those taking their Specific prayer needs to proselytize, there are many opportunities to share about own lives are not honoured in the same way as other fallen For churches who minister to veterans or those currently my faith,” says Stieva. soldiers, the Globe dubs the first group “the Unremembered.” serving in the CAF, Stieva and Van Smeerdyk offer sev- “The work we do is your outreach to the members of the eral suggestions for how to help. Pray for those who are CAF [Canadian Armed Forces]. You have made us your currently deployed and for their families. The military has hands and feet,” writes Van Smeerdyk. “Being a military resources for families, but having a church family come chaplain offers incredible opportunities for ministry. If alongside helps those waiting for loved ones to return and civilian ministers were to take a close look at chaplain gives peace of mind to those who are away for weeks or ministry, or even just talk to a military chaplain, I think months at a time. that Christian Reformed churches would be expanding Pray for those who are overseas. Pray for and support their outreach in the CAF.” those returning wounded and suffering, but also pray for those who return bearing scars you can’t see. PTSD ‘Operation Provision’ manifests itself differently from person to person, and can Meanwhile, “staff at Canadian Forces bases across the appear immediately after a traumatic event or even years country are counting beds and making tentative plans to later. The symptoms range in severity and it’s very difficult house and feed thousands of Syrian refugees expected to to admit that you need help. The military has a range of arrive in the coming weeks,” the Huffington Post says. helps available, but having a church family for support is Members of the military currently overseas may be called always beneficial. upon to help transport immigrants to Canada, journalist Da- “If some of our injured members are members of your vid Pugliese theorizes, a task for which congregations, learn about PTSD and don’t pass judgment some soldiers have already volunteered on them for inappropriate behaviour, but embrace them to give up their Christmas leave. with compassionate support and prayers for healing,” recommends Van Smeerdyk. Van Smeerdyk serves at CFB Edmonton, which has a military Captain Stieva said it’s not hard to remember the chap- Lisa Hall-Wilson is a freelance community of over 13,000. lains because they’re easy to pick out of a crowd. They writer in London, Ontario. DMyECEMBE WindowR 14, 2015 Seat The Public Square page 3 Mendelt Hoekstra Column Harry Antonides From the 11th Christ @ Culture ThisProvince is how a Lloyd Rang heartMarian Vbreaksan Til Sometimes, your heart his family, who want nothing more than to breaks. live lives free of terror and murder. Toddlers to TeensYour heart breaks in YourFr heartom breaksthe Lab for all the people liv- your own home. ing in ISIS-controlled Syria and Iraq under Denise Dykstra Like when your the ruleRudy of anEikelboom oppressive, insane funda- daughter comes back mentalist regime. People who plant bombs from school, and you in dolls to kill children. Who behead the SU MO TU WE TH ask her how her day went, and she goes clerics of their own faith for standing up toFR SA quiet.Principalities You know she’s been having a hard them. EverydayWho set enemy Christian soldiers on fire and time& Power with somes of the other girls in her behead them. Who have stopped being hu- class.David But Koyzis she’s getting older, and doesn’t man andCathy have Smithturned mindless and pitiless.