Inside Story
Airborne!
Spiritual Training and Fellowship in a Tough Environment
by Kate Wegehaupt
For most people, jumping out of a perfectly good airplane doesn’t seem like a bright idea. But Christina, an ROTC cadet and soldier is not “most people,” and for five weeks, that’s what the University of Alabama student learned to do at Fort Benning, Georgia. The U.S. Army Airborne school.Christina learned that there’s more to Airborne school than simply stepping out of an airplane with a parachute on her back. After two grueling weeks of training, Christina learned that she’d been “recycled”—meaning an additional three weeks of training at Fort Benning before she’d be able to graduate.
Christina learned that there’s more to Airborne school than simply stepping out of an airplane with a parachute on her back.
“These women showed me what a woman with her heart fully surrendered to God and His ministry looks like” said Christina.
One of the women who impacted Christina was Chris Lyon. In her years with The Navigators, Chris has observed the importance of spiritual mentoring, where conquering personal fears and pushing one’s physical capacity to the max are part of the normal, everyday routine for anyone in the military. “This is a really tough environment,” say Chris. In addition to spiritual instruction and training, Chris says that, “Navigators at Fort Benning, are able to provide desperately needed fellowship and loving care.”
A major focus of The Navigators Military Ministry—on any base—is teaching young believers the skills and principles necessary for growing in faith. Navigators train young believers how to spend time alone with God and how to study the Bible and apply scriptural truth to life. And they teach them the importance of spiritual generations: passing what they learn on to the next generation of believers.
The physical and emotional stresses of military training—coupled with extremely demanding time requirements—present unique challenges to spiritual formation. Tired soldiers have limited free time. And even though Navigators offer soldiers a variety of activities (such as Bible studies and retreats), they’ve discovered that simply meeting others’ needs is an extremely powerful way to reach out to them.
Chris says, “I just started asking, ‘Hey can I give you a ride somewhere? Can I bring you something you need in the barracks?’ We are trying to share Jesus with them and the best way to do that is by serving.”
Chris Lyon (left) and her fellow Navigators have noticed that by simply being available and willing, opportunities for ministry have opened up for them.
This was something that Christina noticed. “In addition to meeting my physical needs, these Navigator women offered something I needed even more over the course of my five weeks at Airborne. They prayed for me and discipled me. And they reminded me how Christ intended His followers to live.”
While ministry among military personnel has its unique challenges, it also presents some unique opportunities. Military personnel are constantly being sent out to new postings. So what they learn in one place—like Fort Benning—they can practice wherever they go.
“Personnel go to their next posting,” says Chris, “and then return to Fort Benning for another course—ready to tie in and to lead. We’ve seen this generational ministry going on within our group.”
Navigators are there to teach, train, support, and encourage every step of the way. Christina says, “I’d come in worn out, with my body and my ego bruised, but I’d come out feeling refreshed and ready to conquer anything.”
Even jumping out of a perfectly good airplane!
Cover: DoD photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston, U.S. Air Force. Left: DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua DeMotts, U.S. Air Force. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Defense.
