C H A P L A I N P R O F I L E
A tale of two Army chaplains
One is a 24-year active-duty chaplain . The other is a Reserveduty chaplain called into active duty . Both say they ’ re right where they need to be .
Always where the action is
Born , raised and educated in Poland , Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Jerzy Rzasowski (“ Father George ”) has been a priest for 33 years — 24 of them as an Army chaplain . It hasn ’ t been a conventional ministry path ; but , by his own account , he has always preferred a challenge .
Ordained in Poland in June 1985 , Chaplain Rzasowski worked as a full-time assistant pastor and as a chaplain for Solidarity . This ultimately successful , broad anti-bureaucratic 1980s social movement used the methods of civil resistance to advance the causes of workers ' rights and social change . Solidarity enjoyed significant support ( including financial ) from Pope John Paul II and the United States .
In 1989 , Rzasowski ’ s bishop sent him to Central America as a missionary through the United States , where he was to return after working in the jungle for years and contracting tropical diseases for which there was no treatment in Poland at this time .
This plan did require US citizenship — a five-year process . While waiting for it , Father George got a phone call from the Army asking him to consider chaplaincy . He was able to join without citizenship ( no longer an option ) and committed to three years of chaplain service .
After basic training , he was sent to Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , in 1994 to minister to refugees . More than two decades later , he is still in uniform .
“ I just love it ,” Chaplain Rzasowski says . “ I believe everybody , man and woman , should serve their country .”
Never back down from a challenge
A Reserve-duty chaplain currently deployed and on active duty , Chaplain Major Dave Keller also has an international ministry background — and , like Chaplain Rzasowski , clearly isn ’ t one to shy away from a challenge .
After leaving active duty in 2005 as an infantry officer , he worked as an interim pastor in a small Russian village north of St . Petersburg . Keller returned to the United States and worked in the civilian sector for about four years .
All the while , he felt called to do something more . “ I said , ‘ God , I ' ll do anything you want me to do — just give me peace about it .’”
In 2013 , God called Keller back into the military . He enrolled in the Army Chaplain Candidate Program . After completion , he served in three different Battalions as a chaplain .
But that ’ s not all Keller was doing while enrolled in the Chaplain Candidate Program and throughout his accession to chaplaincy . He was also pursing his MDiv at Liberty University ; leading a civilian ministry with the American Bible Society and its military ministry team to develop free scriptural resources for service members and their families ; and working as a youth minister for Calvary Chapel .
Keller was called into Active Guard Reserve while assigned to Fort Dix , N . J ., as a brigade chaplain . He remains there today .
“ That can be deflating ,” he admits . “ But , chaplains are able to wrap their arms around these individuals and speak words of truth , spiritual or otherwise , and really see breakthroughs happen in their lives , marriages , professions and careers .”
As with any calling , of course , military chaplaincy comes with misconceptions and challenges . One question Rzasowski tackles often : “ How can you be a chaplain , have a cross , and kill people ?” The reality is , he can ’ t and doesn ’ t . “ We don ' t carry arms . That ' s it ,” he explains . “ As chaplains , we are only Soldiers for whom it is forbidden .”
That doesn ’ t mean chaplains aren ’ t on the frontlines — on the contrary . “ We go there with Soldiers ,” he explains . “ We face all the dangers they face , but we do not train in shooting or killing .”
For Keller ’ s part , he often dispels a myth that military chaplains must give up their faith distinctives . “ That ' s simply not true ,” he says . “ The Army wants pastors in uniform who best represent their faith denominations and their faith distinctives . Just as Chaplains uphold the First Amendment , we ' re also under it .”
Informed advice Looking back on their own careers , both chaplains have words of wisdom for potential applicants .
Rzasowski urges pastors to accept that they won ’ t be fully in charge in the Army . “ We are to serve the Soldiers , to be with them when they need us ,” he explains . “ When you say to the commander , ‘ Sir , we would like to pray ,’ he can say , ‘ Chaplain , I have to make a meeting , because we must prepare for war .’ He has the commanding decision .”
Rzasowski acknowledges this dynamic can be difficult for pastors used to being in charge at their churches . He felt that way , himself . Ultimately , though , it has been a blessing .
“ This is the beauty : that we are only to serve ,” he explains . “ When you are told , ‘ Chaplain , we need you there ,’ you go there .”
For Keller , military chaplaincy has been “ the experience of a lifetime — vibrant and versatile .”
“ Many will tell you that they would never have imagined meeting the people they ’ ve met , or going to the places they ' ve gone ,” he adds . “ It ’ s a double calling to wear the uniform and to serve as a pastor inside it .”
Above all , they both encourage pastors to simply consider Army chaplaincy for themselves , whether it ’ s Army Reserve or active duty .
“ Give a chaplain recruiter a call ,” Keller advises . “ Very few are qualified , and even fewer are called ; but , if you don ' t consider it , then you ' re not qualified whatsoever . And we really do need pastors and priests in uniform .”
— Reporting by RaeAnn Slaybaugh
To learn more , visit GoArmy . com / Chaplain , call 1-888-550-ARMY ( 2769 ), or log on to GoArmy . com / locate-a-recruiter . html
Chaplain Major Dave Keller United States Army Medical Recruiting Brigade Fort Knox , Ky .
Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Jerzy Rzasowski United States Army Medical Recruiting Brigade Fort Knox , Ky .
Making sense of military chaplaincy myths
Having spent significant time in civilian ministry , both chaplains seem to have found a “ sweet spot ” in Army chaplaincy . Here , uniquely , they are able to meet the most urgent ministry needs .
“ The most rewarding aspect is just shaking the hand of a Soldier whom you could help ,” Chaplain Rzasowski says . “ You can sense that if you weren ’ t there , there would be nobody else [ to provide that ministry ]. In this moment , you realize , God sent me here and now .”
Keller agrees , pointing out that many Soldiers don ’ t come to see the chaplain until “ the wheels fall off the bus .”
20 CHURCH EXECUTIVE | JULY / AUGUST 2018