Spotlight on Armed Forces Chaplaincy

What an exciting summer it was for Rev'd Newton Ndlovu CF!

It was my very great honour to support Newton as he passed out as a Chaplain to the Fleet at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

It was an incredible journey for Newton, CiC's first African chaplain to HM Armed Forces. He and his family have left Bournemouth to be based in Plymouth ahead of his first posting at sea later this year. Newton overcame disruption to his officer training course due to Covid-19, had to learn to swim in his spare time, but ultimately has achieved so much.

Our other Chaplain to the Forces, Rev'd Tom Wilde is with The Army, currently providing chaplaincy care to a logistics unit. Tom came to CiC after serving for several years in The Army as a soldier, getting qualified at Durham University and serving as a prison chaplain and pastoring a new church.

CiC has gained a huge profile in the world of HM Armed Forces Chaplaincy, and we now have several ministers operating as Cadet Forces Chaplains, Veterans' Charities Chaplains and we have ministers from all four UK nations seeking to pursue this challenging calling.

There are a few basics that have to be in place: you must be degree qualified (if not in theology, then you'll need a post-graduate diploma in theology), you will need to have been an accredited minister with CiC for at least two years before you can go to interview with the United Board, and you will need to be under 49 years of age at the point of entry to your commission. Finally, you will need to be physically fit and have a strong track record of health and be prepared to be alongside the fighting troops, whether that's the Royal Navy on board ships, The Army in places of combat, or the RAF on their bases around the world.

You will need to consider what it is to serve Queen and Country, be prepared to lose your life in the course of your duties, have the privilege of being the presence of God in the military world to young men and women, most of whom do not know anything of Him.

If you, or anyone you know, from young people in your church to ministers with some experience and calling, are possibly interested in Armed Forces chaplaincy with CiC, do let me know.

At the moment there are many vacancies in the Royal Navy and The Army, and a few with the RAF. The Chaplain of the Fleet, the Chaplain General and the Chaplain in Chief of the RAF have asked particularly that we help them recruit more women to this ministry and more ministers from what they call 'The Commonwealth Contingent'. The historic churches are struggling to meet the spiritual needs of our pentecostal and charismatic servicemen and women, so now is the time to consider whether this might be what God is calling you to!

We have several accredited ministers from a wide variety of backgrounds on a journey with CiC getting fit, sorting out theology training and going on acquaint visits to learn about life as a Chaplain to the Forces. Most excitingly CiC is acting as the only gateway to this ministry for people in independent churches and across a number of the Free Church denominations.

God has truly stretched out our tent and opened up a route to some of the most challenging arenas of Christian ministry.

Let us be praying for all who serve, and especially for those of the household of faith.

Yours in the Lord Jesus,

Trevor Howard
Executive Vice-Chair of Board