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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – When a man receives a calling
into ministry, he becomes a pastor, and when he has an infinite
desire to serve God and his country, he becomes a military pastor.
Chaplain (Cmdr.) Charles "Sydnor" Thompson, a U.S. Navy
Reservist, is one who has received the two callings, to both of
which he has answered loud and clear.
“I am a United
Methodist pastor as well as a Navy chaplain,” said Thompson. “I love
my country and the ideals upon which it was founded so when I was
presented with the opportunity for direct-commission, it was a
decision made with very little hesitation. My Navy chaplaincy has
enriched my parish work and I believe my work as a pastor enriches
my chaplaincy.”
Thompson is currently embedded with Combined
Joint Task Force Paladin whose mission includes facilitating
counter-improvised explosive device missions and trainings
throughout Afghanistan. While the Paladin mission may focus on those
two aspects, Thompson's mission, as most military chaplain's are, is
widespread and gets a little personal.
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May 27, 2013 -
Chaplain Charles Thompson studies English with Fatima during a volunteer session at Bagram's
Cat in the Hat Language Arts Center. “Chaps” believes building the
community relationships helps show the U.S. military's generosity
and demonstrates that it really cares about what is going on in
Afghanistan. (Photo by Erica Fouche, Combined Joint Task Force
Paladin)
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“My regular duties include serving as senior pastor of
the 0830 Protestant service here on base, coordinating
prayer breakfasts and weekly Bible studies, and visiting our
work spaces to see how people are doing. I also volunteer at
the Cat and the Hat Center, teaching local Afghan children
English and helping them enhance on their all-around
education,” said Thompson. “I enjoy that community
relationship building aspect of volunteering with the
locals. It helps show our generosity and demonstrates that
we really care about what is going on here. I've actually
been very fortunate in having the opportunity to build a
relationship with the Muslims who attend the mosque here,
especially the local Mullah who is from Virginia, and I hope
to maintain that friendship after I redeploy.”
Although Thompson is stationed here at Bagram, he is most
fulfilled when he is able to go out on battlefield
circulation to smaller forward operating bases where
full-time chaplains are as rare as a hot shower.
“You
can tell when a chaplain has not been to a FOB in a while
because the hunger for the religious companionship is at a
different level,” said Thompson. “I just try to be someone
who people know cares about what they're going through and
what's on their heart. It's not always an intense issue that
needs to be divulged, it can be just a simple conversation
or a short prayer that can help a service member de-stress
and ultimately perform his duties better.”
This is
Thompson's second overseas deployment; his first being to
Iraq in 2005-2006, and he knows wholeheartedly that without
the prayers from back home, and a little bit of technology,
he would not be able to serve others as successfully has he
does.
“Being a reservist chaplain requires a
sacrifice from your home congregation that I don't think a
lot of people understand unless they go through it,” said
Thompson. “I've missed funerals, baptisms and it is hard
being away from my church for things like that, but I've
always had the support of my bishops and congregations and
that makes the leaving and the time away a bit easier. One
thing that has allowed me to stay connected is Facebook. It
wasn't around for my first deployment but it's helped me see
what my congregation is up to and I post pictures of my time
in Afghanistan so they stay connected with me too."
"My former congregation at First United Methodist Church in
Morganton, N.C., has also taken up donations for wounded
warriors to buy gifts such as iPods to send to Landstuhl
Regional Medical Center and bought gift cards to Green Beans
Coffee so those deployed can enjoy a latte or a muffin on
their birthday. They support me by supporting the mission
and that means the world to me.”
In a few short
weeks Thompson will return to his wife, Kelly, and
daughters, Adaire and Angela, and a new appointment to Myers
Memorial United Methodist Church in Gastonia, N.C., and
adapt back to life as a civilian. Having just been selected
to captain, he looks forward to continued service in the
Navy Reserves for at least the next few years.
“My
job as a chaplain is nothing like some of what the others
do, I realize that,” said Thompson. “I strive to carry the
light of God's presence in dark places and serve as a
reminder that we who serve in the military are not
mercenaries, that we are called to serve a higher purpose
and a greater good. Hopefully I have done this here, and I
hope to continue to do so when I redeploy home.”
By Erica Fouche
Combined Joint Task Force Paladin
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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