For God and Country: Considering the Call to Military Chaplaincy

REVISED EDITION ABSTRACT (Special Features Listed Below):

Considering the call to ministry can be a difficult process. When one senses a call to ministry outside the traditional church setting, such as the military Chaplaincy, there can be a greater deal of difficulty in discerning the call. The author writes from a Christian perspective and holds the premise that the vocation of military Chaplaincy is a high and honorable calling from God.

This book examines the call to serve as a military Chaplain in the United States Armed Forces among a group of fifteen seminary students. The majority of the participants were students at Columbia International University. Several others attended Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary. To assist these students in discerning a call to military Chaplaincy, a three-session small group workshop was developed and held during the semester.

The goal of the students was to discern and demonstrate a clear call to military Chaplaincy as they participated in the workshop. The goal of the workshop facilitator, who also helps recruit military Chaplains, was to list and interpret the common factors and vocational motivations of the seminary students called to serve as military chaplains.

This book also explores the call to military Chaplaincy as an act of ministry that involves an initial call from God, the confirmation of the Church, and the obedience of the person who says, “Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6:8b). The author views Christian Chaplains in the military as an extension of Christ’s ministry to all people and examines several Biblical texts that relate to the various aspects of the military chaplaincy and provide a Biblical basis for ministry.

The outcomes of this research project will benefit military Chaplain recruiters, vocational counselors, denominational endorsers of military Chaplains, and any person who is considering the military Chaplaincy as a vocation.

REVISED EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES: Over 55 new pages in a new appendix which includes over 300 unique Chaplaincy websites and resources in the following major functional areas of professional Chaplaincy:

- Military Chaplaincy- Healthcare Chaplaincy- Correctional Chaplaincy- Corporate Chaplaincy- Public Safety Chaplaincy- Sports and Recreational Chaplaincy- Disaster Relief Chaplaincy- Educational Chaplaincy- Community Chaplaincy- Transportation, Travel, and Tourism Chaplaincy

DETAILED CHAPLAINCY RESOURCE SECTION: The new appendix also includes dedicated sections that provide Chaplaincy websites and resources which address the following areas:

- Clinical Pastoral Education Programs - Choosing a Degree Program in Chaplaincy - Sources of Information for Student Financial Aid - Faith Group & Denominational Ecclesiastical Endorsers for Chaplaincy - Continuing Education for Chaplains - Chaplaincy Research and Professional Development Resources - North American Professional Chaplaincy, Counseling, Pastoral Care Organizations - International Chaplaincy, Counseling, and Pastoral Care Organizations - Chaplain Ministry with Military Personnel and War Veterans - Free Resources for Military Chaplains

Chaplain, Lt Col Brian Bohlman is an author, adjunct seminary instructor, behavioral healthcare chaplain, and has served in the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps since 1992. Among his numerous military and civilian awards, he was named the Chaplain of the Year in the Air National Guard in 2013.

In 2002, his family founded Operation Thank You.org as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which inspires America's bravest by providing a variety of thank you cards and outreach programs to current service members, wounded warriors, veterans, and military families. Proceeds from his books help support the ongoing work of Operation Thank You.org.

He has served on the National Executive Committee of the Military Chaplains Association (MCA) of the USA and is currently the senior editor for the "Voices of Chaplaincy" book trilogy to be released by the MCA. He is a life member of the Military Officers Association of America, National Guard Association, American Legion, and Military Chaplains Association of the USA. He is also a member of the Association of Professional Chaplains. He and his family reside in South Carolina.