FARGO, N.D. — The
North Dakota National Guard Office of the Chaplain will host two Clergy Day 2012 events for area clergy and church staff members. The training workshops will connect military chaplains with their civilian counterparts while providing information on resources available to help meet the needs of military families in area congregations.
The first event will take place from 9:30 a.m. until noon on Thursday, April 19 at First Lutheran Church, 619 Broadway N., Fargo, N.D. The second Clergy Day will be 9:30 a.m. until noon Thursday, May 3, at Camp Grafton Training Center, Devils Lake, N.D.
For more information about the Fargo event, which does not require registration, contact Tech. Sgt. Chad Hanson at 701-451-2676 or chadwick.hanson@ang.af.mil. To learn more about the Devils Lake event, which requires registration, contact Chaplain (Capt.) Brock Sailer at 701-662-0618 or brock.sailer@us.army.mil.
The events also will address the need for military chaplains and opportunities for ministers who feel called to serve this population. Continental breakfast will be served.
National Guard chaplains provide spiritual care and guidance to military members and their families as a way to strengthen the force. This is accomplished through religious observances that allow personnel to implement their right to the free exercise of religion, as well as by providing pastoral care and advising military leadership on spiritual, ethical, moral, morale, core values and religious accommodation issues.
In North Dakota, Army and Air National Guard chaplains have served on multiple missions. In recent years, they’ve mobilized overseas to provide on-site ministry and support during deployments. They’ve worked alongside Guardsmen on flood duty for the past three years, supporting not only the military members who sometimes were losing their own homes while fighting for others’ houses, but through interacting with community members in impacted communities. They also provide religious services during weekend drill periods or wherever else it’s needed — on a dirt dike holding back floodwaters, briefly before combat patrols overseas, or in celebration of a Guardsman’s retirement. Military chaplains also offer confidential one-on-one time with military families seeking assistance.
WHAT: Clergy Day 2012 – Fargo region
WHEN: 9:30 a.m.-noon Thursday, April 19, 2012
WHERE: First Lutheran Church, 619 Broadway N., Fargo, N.D.
MEDIA: No precoordination required. For more information, contact Chad Hanson at 701-451-2676.
WHAT: Clergy Day 2012 – Devils Lake region
WHEN: 9:30 a.m.-noon Thursday, May 3, 2012
WHERE: Camp Grafton Training Center, Devils Lake, N.D.
MEDIA: Coordinate arrival with Brock Sailer and be prepared to show a government-issued ID card to gain access to Camp Grafton. For more information, contact Sailer at 701-662-0618.
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Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 3,800 Soldiers and more than 1,800 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Currently, nearly 300 North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas while more than 4,000 remain in the state for emergency response and national defense. For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that’s more than four times the national average.
Video
Video to accompany this release can be viewed at www.youtube.com/NDNationalGuard.
Air Guard Chaplains – Career Spotlight 1
Air Guard Chaplains – Career Spotlight 2
119th Wing Chaplain Message
MEDIA: Chaplain (Lt. Col.) David Johnson will be available for interviews regarding the role of the chaplain in the North Dakota National Guard. He can speak to his personal experience of having served as a deployed chaplain as well as serving full-time in the North Dakota National Guard for pastoral support. He also will be able to address the need for more chaplains to serve in uniform. To arrange an interview, please call Amy at 701-451-2273.