In Honor of Our Chaplains
Last week, the Free Methodists had their annual Chaplain Development Training here on our Kentucky campus. During their time here, our Office of Alumni and Church Relations hosted a dessert reception for them. We were so happy to spend time getting to know them better and hearing the wonderful stories from their ministries as well as the passions that led them to their vocations of choice. We served approximately 80 participants and their spouses during the dessert reception.
While we spoke with the incredible chaplains who were there, we saw a group of people who are passionate about caring for the people they serve, who are often in very difficult circumstances. These are the people who are the front lines, caring for the most vulnerable in our world, while enduring some of the biggest hardships they will face in life. They serve people who have experienced trauma and are being treated in the hospital, people who are transitioning into glory, and people who are serving in some of the most war-torn areas in the world.
In honor of our nation’s Independence Day festivities, we would like to highlight one such servant who cares for those who are on the literal front lines over in Afghanistan. We are so grateful to share the incredible testimony of one of our beloved alumni, Brandon Candee. Be inspired by his obedience to God’s call and guidance as you read his story. If you or someone you know feels called to military chaplaincy, be sure to check out the Army Chaplain Corps website for information about serving in this way. They will even pay for your seminary education in return for your service!
CH (MAJ) Brandon Candee
Chaplain, 1-151 ARB
How did you come to know the Lord?
While I was raised in a Christian family, we rarely attended services. After my mom’s early death in 1988, I was rescued into the arms of Christ through His Church via UMYF. Many Christian adults helped breathe new life into me and offered healing. From here, my relationship with the LORD has continued to grow.
How did you know that you were called to ministry?
From a youth leader asking 15-year-old me when I was going to seminary, to a military leader offering timely comments to me as a young Lieutenant, I have always had others whispering how they saw me fit for ministry. However, I never pictured myself as a pastor – I didn’t do the things I saw pastors do, I didn’t talk like them, and I was (and still am) very rough around the edges.
In late 2002, God woke me up with a bit of a vision: I could be an Army chaplain. It was perfect. A few months later, I deployed to Iraq, knowing seminary was on the horizon. However, upon my return, fear overwhelmed me. I did not trust God, and I ran.
I left the military and became a United States Secret Service Agent. As exciting of an adventure as this was, I was thoroughly unfulfilled, and my conviction grew. A year of exploration with the UMC ensued, and I was ready to confront my lack of trust in God. I sent one resume to the Lexington, KY District Superintendent, applied for one scholarship at Asbury, put our house on the market, walked into my Agent in Charge’s office and gave him my three week notice. After stepping out in faith, I finally knew I was called to ministry.
How did you decide to come to Asbury?
Several years ago I flirted with the idea of doing some on-line classes through Asbury Seminary. I applied, was accepted, but never started. Years later, after I finally surrendered to my call, my wife and I visited a United Methodist seminary recommended to me by a mentor. Nothing made sense at this school. That seminary removed the cross from their chapel area in order to have non-offensive conversations with people of other faiths. One student told me not to mention Jesus’ name too often. It was very off putting. We knew this was not the place for us.
I returned home and investigated more about Asbury Theological Seminary. Dr. Tennent had just assumed his duty as President. I read and reread everything I could find from him. Everything he wrote was holy, loving, and possessed a sense of orthodoxy I’d never heard in the UMC or its seminaries. Although we never visited the Wilmore campus, we were sold.
After turning in my resignation with the USSS, I was awarded the Kalas Scholarship, our house sold (during the housing market crash), and the DS called to offer me a church with a parsonage. God was faithful and I was prepared to get set on fire by the Holy Spirit at Asbury. Not a day passed on campus that His presence did not overwhelm me.
How did you come to feel called to be a military chaplain?
I’ve been in the military since 1992. I love God and I love Soldiers, so the chaplaincy was an obvious choice for me and has been exceedingly rewarding. While I’ve flirted with the idea of becoming an Active Duty (Regular Army) Chaplain, I am called to a dual ministry of the church and the National Guard. Soldiers on Active Duty return from deployments and have multiple resources available to them – to include chaplains, counselors, and medical help. National Guard and Reserve Soldiers return home and often lack such resources. As a National Guard Chaplain, I can be a part of their journey.
Could you tell us about your current and past ministry?
I’ve had the honor of serving two churches in KY and one in SC. Upon my return from Afghanistan, I will begin serving another church in SC and am excited for this. While I’ve been in the military since 1992, I’ve been a part of the Army National Guard Chaplain Corps since 2010 and will continue as a National Guard chaplain for the foreseeable future.
The term “Ministry of Presence” is often used in military chaplaincy. Drawing out the light of Christ in others through intentional conversations often proves to be the most effective ministry. I’ve had atheists attend my worship services because of deep relationships I’ve formed with them. A few Soldiers have made a profession of faith in Jesus because of the power of Christ in our conversations.
We nurture the living, care for the wounded and honor the dead as Chaplains. Because I am presently in Afghanistan with a combat aviation Battalion, I’m able to walk alongside our Apache pilots after engaging the enemy, with our MEDEVAC crews after attending to a point of injury, with our maintenance Soldiers working in extreme conditions to keep our aircraft safe, and to senior leaders making tough decisions each day. Chapel services are “field services.” I don’t have a chapel, rather, a clamshell tent that I set up each Sunday for services. Small groups gather in the oddest of locations at times, and ministry often happens unexpectedly when God opens doors that no one can shut.
What has been some of the most rewarding and most challenging parts of military chaplaincy?
Two Soldiers have come to faith in Christ since I’ve been in Afghanistan, and multiple soldiers have grown and experienced a touch of God’s sanctifying grace in ways never experienced before. I’ve averaged 13 counseling sessions each week, enabling me to help bring to light God’s grace in the midst of struggles and trials. I’ve had the honor of leading Strong Bonds marriage retreats and married a couple prior to deploying.
By far the most challenging aspects of military chaplaincy is dealing with leaders of different metanarratives and walking with soldiers through challenging life events such as adultery, the death of loved ones back home, and dealing with the ups and downs of combat.
Soldiers offer a raw perspective of life. They tend to be quite authentic in conversation and seldom put on pretenses. We are what we are. Once relationships are formed, they can last for a lifetime. Once trust is earned, soldiers of all ranks will open themselves up completely to me as a chaplain. We also have the privilege of partnering with Behavioral Health Officers who are psychologists and social workers in the field who help us provide the best care for our nation’s warriors.
Blessings in Christ,
Brandon Candee
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