would have asked. If they asked for help
in finances and I said, “You need to be
‘WAIT…
saved,” that would have been the end of
the relationship.
My response was to seek out the most
Don’t
real person I know: Jesus of Nazareth. I
read the Gospels, pouring over the con-
Delete
versations Jesus had with the people who
came to Him. And I found my strategy.
When Jesus was asked a question, He
That
answered it. He allowed those seeking
Him to set the agenda. After He heard
Message!’
and answered them, Jesus could then
speak from His own agenda.
This is how it has worked for me. In
■ by PHIL BAGROW
the military, no one—not even doctors or
lawyers—has the level of confidentiality
that a chaplain has. The chaplain is the last
remaining “safety valve” that any service
Chaplain
Phil Bagrow
member has to speak freely whatever is on
his or her mind without fear of disclosure
or repercussions. As such, I hear some pret-
I
T WAS ONE of those moments that pursued this for myself, but I am so glad ty desperate woes. The most Christian
change the course of a minister’s life. God had better things in mind. thing I can do is answer each of them with
Following our Wednesday night ser- Why am I so elated that God chose dignity and respect, hearing their pain and
vice, I was checking messages in my this for me? The answer comes down to not advancing my own cause. I think of
office at Westmore Church of God one word: real. In our local churches, we the Canaanite woman whose daughter was
(Cleveland, TN). There was a message have a tendency to fall into a pattern of demon possessed (Matthew 15:21ff.)—Jesus
from a recruiter asking if I was interested expected behavior; we know how a Chris- did not discourse on the kingdom of heav-
in becoming a Navy chaplain. I was tian is supposed to think, respond, and en; rather, He responded compassionately
about to hit the erase button when my behave. We often act out of this mode to her immediate need.
wife, Susi, said, “Hey, why don’t you call whether it is really what’s going on in The Navy chaplaincy is changing. Yes,
him and see what he has to say?” our lives or not. I hold church services and Bible studies
Susi went to check on our kids while I However, when a young sailor or on deployed ships or in the fields with
called. The recruiter answered as though he marine comes into my office, he or she the Marines. I still organize and execute
was waiting for my call. An hour later, Susi
came back wondering what was taking so
“WHEN A YOUNG SAILOR OR MARINE COMES
long; I was still on the phone. That was INTO MY OFFICE, HE OR SHE HAS USUALLY RUN
April 2000. In July, I received a Navy officer
OUT OF ANY OTHER OPTIONS AND IS IN CRISIS.
commission, and on September 1, I arrived
THEY DO NOT KNOW ANY SPIRITUAL LANGUAGE.
at Chaplain Training School in Newport,
THEY SAY IT LIKE IT IS.” —PHIL BAGROW
Rhode Island . . . without my beard.
Almost nine years later, as a lieutenant has usually run out of any other options community-relations projects when we
commander in the United States Navy, I and is in crisis. Reflecting America’s pre- pull into ports to help local folks in need
am still amazed at how God works in the sent, mostly unchurched youth, they do and give our sailors something healthy to
lives of His children. While serving with not know any spiritual language; in fact, do while on liberty. And I still pray at
the Marines in Okinawa, my family was their language is often pretty rough. They military events. But in the end, the chap-
able to travel to Japan, Korea, and Singa- don’t hide behind any facades. They say laincy is about people; not just any peo-
pore. I spent three months serving with it like it is. ple, but those called to serve their coun-
the Marines in the Philippines at the start With young adults coming to me try. I received a call to serve them, and I
of the global war on terrorism. I have speaking their hearts and minds, it was am glad I said yes.
been deployed to the Persian Gulf, stop- important that I responded in like man-
ping in Italy, Bahrain, Dubai, and Israel. ner. Yes, I could have just told them Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Phil Bagrow and
My heart has been touched and my mind about the Lord; but I learned quickly that his wife, Susi, and family are stationed in
has been expanded. I never would have if they wanted to know about Jesus, they Mayport, Florida.
EVANGEL • AUG 2009 15
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