My name is Lieutenant Joshua Keatts and I currently serve as the Command Chaplain for the Naval Construction Training Center (NCTC) in Gulfport, Mississippi. NCTC is made up of three different branches of service, including the Navy, Army (Charlie Company, 169 Engineer Battalion), and Air Force (Detachment 6, 366th Training Squadron), whose focus is on training initial entry Service Members (Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen) in the fundamentals of basic vertical construction. In addition to serving initial entry students, I serve as the on-call Chaplain for Sailors (Seabees) who are attending advanced construction schools, the Center for Security Forces’ (SENCFOR) Expeditionary Combat Skills (ECS) School, and the civilian and military staff that supports these efforts. At any given time, I have the opportunity to interact and interface with as many as 1,100 people. This gives me a great number of ministry opportunities but in a time-constrained environment, ranging from 4 weeks with ECS students, 7 weeks with Army Soldiers, 8 weeks with Navy Sailors, and 18 weeks with Air Force Airmen; therefore, my focus is evangelistic in nature. Now that I have introduced myself and given a basic overview of my area of responsibility, I want to elaborate on three key areas of ministry—the ministries of presence, counseling, and confidentiality—and how I share the gospel.
The Ministry of Presence
The fundamental focus of my ministry is not original and was learned while serving with Alan Shelby. Simply stated, “ministry runs on the rails of relationships.” The foundational effort behind my ministry function is built on a ministry of presence. There are administrative realities to being both a Chaplain and a professional Naval Officer; however, everything about my role as Chaplain functions on what we call “Deckplate Ministry” or the ministry of presence. There are many areas both geographically and personally that I target throughout the command to maximize my presence and build rapport.
This effort begins from the first moment a student enters the NCTC training pipeline at their indoctrination briefing. I meet with a new class from each branch weekly to introduce myself, to engage in opportunities for worship, and to let them know that I am available to them 24 hours a day 7 days a week—I emphasize that if something is important to them then it is important to me. I also ensure each student receives a QR code with my contact information. As I introduce myself to Army and Air Force students, I joke that I might be wearing the wrong uniform but that I am their Chaplain for the duration of their training at NCTC.
My weekly schedule is built around visiting and seeking interactions with students and staff in all the places they work and congregate. I make it a habit to eat lunches with students at the galley and to seek opportunities to greet students in and around their barracks. Daily, before students make their way back to their classes after lunch, they will congregate at the smoke pit where they will joke, tell stories, ask for prayer or counseling, and challenge me in a game of chess.
A duty day typically begins with some form of physical fitness where I make sure to participate in any Tri-Service competitions and physical fitness sessions rotating between the branches. When the day begins, I will rotate between each branch to salute the flag at 0800 as the day begins. During the course of the duty day, while students are attending formal instruction, I will visit labs and classrooms to ask questions of students and staff, provide informal counseling, and participate in their instruction. At the end of each day, I will make my way out to the troop path to talk with students before they make their way to dinner.
One of my key functions for the command is to steward the Command Religious Program overseeing “Spiritual Readiness.” I intentionally show up at dinner time weekly to personally invite as many people as possible to participate in a discovery Bible study, which I lead in the galley every Tuesday. At this study, students discover that the Bible is easy to read and understand, although it may be hard to believe—this is where most of our discussion takes place. Additionally, I have the opportunity to lead a group of volunteers interested in religious involvement which includes professional development on topics such as “How to pray”, “How to study my Bible”, and “How to deal with personal conflict”. Included in this program are prayers for every graduation, ceremony, change of command, promotion, and holiday. I perform weddings and baptisms, and preach in the chapel on special occasions.
Counseling and Confidentiality
Counseling takes up a significant portion of my time and effort and, because I want to be the person each Service Member chooses when they seek counsel, establishing a basis for trust is what I work hardest for on a daily basis. Counseling in the military is unique because as a Chaplain I am required to keep the details of the counselee and their counseling confidential. Confidentiality is a difficult burden to bear at times, but it provides me with an extra measure of trust where it concerns a Service Member’s willingness to seek counsel. As a Chaplain in the military I am NOT required to report things that other members of the military are required to report. Here are the four main areas of confidentiality I encounter in counselling:
Suicidal Thoughts / Ideations – First, I am not a mandatory reporter if anyone tells me they struggle with thoughts of suicide or even if they say they have a plan. Very often, especially from October to February, Service Members will seek counsel from me on this topic because they are worried about how seeking professional help might affect their career. A service member can seek counsel knowing that whatever they tell me behind closed doors remains confidential and will not get back to leaders or peers. These types of thoughts reveal despair and a lack of hope, which is why a gospel centered approach is always my starting point in these counseling opportunities.
Sexual Assault / Sexual Harassment – Again, I am not a mandatory reporter though I will ensure that any Service Member who discusses this with me understands the two types of reporting (Restricted and Unrestricted) available to them and the resources associated with seeking help. Often those who seek counsel with regard to Assault or Harassment do not know who they can trust and will seek help and counsel, which may later lead to a report. The reporting process in the context of the military ends up becoming public and intrusive which makes the process difficult for a victim. This an opportunity to develop rapport in order to have an opportunity to share the gospel.
Homicidal Thoughts – You might assume an intent to do harm would require me to report a person’s intentions; however, this too falls under confidentiality. My belief is that conscience is at work when a person walks into my office and shares their plans to harm others. We have a big God who is able to bring conviction through my silent prayers and the word of God; therefore, I will, and have, leveraged an active prayer life combined with God’s word to allow the Holy Spirit to press in and on a person’s conscience. While I would love to call the authorities and give a heads-up when a person has a plan, I am not able to do so and, the fact is, they have not acted on their thoughts yet. This always leads to a presentation of the gospel because this demonstrates the hopelessness, anger, and frustration that have brought them to this type of thinking.
Illegal Activity – As a pastor, if someone had walked into my office confessing that they had done something illegal I would have either called the police or walked them into a police station. As a Chaplain, when someone admits to illegal activity I am, again, bound by confidentiality. When a person admits they have done something illegal I recognize that their conscience is at work and that they are struggling with guilt. I do not need to condemn the person in front of me, but we do deal with reality of their choices and talk about the ramifications of their sin, which will ultimately lead to a gospel moment where we talk about where one might find forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
How I Share the Gospel
What I want you to know, and what I want you to make a matter of prayer, is that these counseling opportunities are always gospel centered in their approach. I want to be clear that my use and implementation of the gospel is not done to proselytize; there is no need for me to do so. As a matter of practice, I start every conversation asking whether a person is a Christian or not, and this will determine how our conversation will go. My experience has taught me that the majority of my interactions will be with those who are cultural Christians. Many who walk through the doors of my office for counseling have attended church and have family who are Christian, but are personally unable to articulate what it means to be Christian or more precisely a follower of Christ saved by grace alone through faith in the finished work of Christ alone. Here is how the average interaction may proceed:
Chaps: Tell me what does it mean to be a Christian?
Sailor: [look of surprise] No one’s ever asked me that before.
Chaps: Let me reframe the question…Do you believe in salvation?
Sailor: Yes.
Chaps: OK, what are you saved from and why do you need a Savior?
Sailor: [look of confusion] I’m not sure I understand what you are asking…
Chaps: No problem. Do you mind if I test your understanding of what it means to be saved? It is my belief that you need to understand what it means to be saved in order to be saved… is that fair?
Sailor: Yes, let’s test my understanding and yes, I would like to make sure I understand what it means to be saved.
Chaps: [Put’s a blank piece of paper in front of the Sailor with the numbers 1 through 10 listed down the paper] Can you write down for me what you have to do to be saved? If you need to add more numbers to the list, then do so. I put 10 down to get you started. Maybe you need less and maybe you need more.
Sailor: Sure. [Writes out list]
Chaps: [Writes Ephesians 2:8-9 at the top of the page and turns to the passage in his Bible] Thank you for your responses. Do you want to know what the Bible has to say about the issue of salvation?
Sailor: Yes.
Chaps: [Hands the Bible to the Sailor] Read verses 8-9 and then explain to me what the verses say in your own words.
Sailor: It says that I am saved by grace through faith. I can’t earn it.
Chaps: Excellent. Let’s review your list and determine whether you have been trying to work your way to heaven or whether you believe it is by faith alone in Christ alone. The grace mentioned in Ephesians 2:8 has a name, and it is Jesus Christ. [Reviews list and writes a W next to every item on the list denoting a work]
This kind of conversation leads to the presentation of the gospel—I prefer to use the Romans road. After several hundred presentations of the gospel this way I have observed that one person has told me the exercise of writing down what they think it takes to be saved is unnecessary. Not one person has stopped to tell me, “Chaps, I recognize that I am a sinner in need of a Savior and that my salvation comes through faith alone in Christ alone—there’s nothing I can do to earn it.” After opening my Bible and showing each person what the Bible says about our sin and our need for a Savior, I will ask the person to take some time to think about and pray about our conversation. I leave the presentation of the gospel with the person in counseling to emphasize that I am not into emotional manipulation nor am I used car salesman and that they need to take what was shared with them and make a decision based on what the Bible says and what the Holy Spirit is leading them to do. I do this to ensure that it is, in fact, the Holy Spirit pursuing them and inviting them into a relationship with God because my job is to obediently share the good news, but I do not save.
Opportunities to Pray
There are so many more things that I would like to share about the ministry of the military chaplain, but I am, admittedly, limited in terms of time and space to share its scope, requirements, and other details. As I close, I ask for prayer in several areas:
First, please be in prayer for those students who have accepted Christ as their Savior that they might become established in a local church, in the word, in worship and in ministry. I fully recognize that my role in this time and place is one of evangelism, not discipleship, though my desire is for someone to pick up where I left off, so that these men and women shall become spiritually fruitful disciples who shall be able to teach others also.
Second, please be in prayer for my future replacement (I will move on to a new command in a year) and for the relationships that I have forged in the community here (Faith Baptist Church and Michael Memorial Baptist Church) to endure so that the gospel message might continue to be shared freely and openly at NCTC.
Third, please be in prayer for continued protection from those Chaplains who are not gospel centered and actively work against my ministry efforts. It may be hard to understand or believe but there are some military chaplains who are not saved and who have an “ecumenical” view of ministry which is not gospel centered. I pray that my example and interactions with these chaplains will lead to gospel opportunities with them as well.
I conclude emphasizing this fact: the military is in dire need of men who are qualified to enter, serve, and preach the gospel. In the last three years the Navy has failed to meet its recruiting goals for chaplains. I have no illusion—they will miss their goal again this year. The military will get chaplains but how many that enter will serve God and allow for the Bible to be their ultimate authority? The military is in need of godly men prepared, ready, and willing to share the gospel. Ezekiel issued a challenge to the men of Israel to stand in the gap in Ezekiel 22:30 saying, “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” I hope and pray that other men will join me to stand in the gap while Jesus delays his return. Jesus challenged his disciples in Matthew 9:37 as he was attempting to establish his earthly kingdom saying, “The harvest is truly plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” The call to pastor is a unique and distinct calling and it is not for everyone, but wherever you are stand in the gap and share the gospel. Last, if you want to keep up with what happening in ministry and get insights as to how you might pray, please feel to follow my Combat Chaps Social Media on the following platforms:
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Josh Keatts is a member of Harvest Baptist Church in Blue Springs, MO.
