Chaplain likens desert journey to that of Abraham, Moses

Apr 29, 2003
JANICE BACKER
Assistant Editor

SOUTHERN IRAQ (FBW)-In 120-degree heat with wind tossing about sand like "baby powder" in Iraq, John Denton, a Southern Baptist chaplain, said his journey has caused him to reflect on Abraham and Moses and their "journey in the desert-walking by faith with God."

"I ponder and reflect on what men of faith these were-to trust in God with their lives and with the outcome of their existence," Denton wrote to the Florida Baptist Witness in an April 20 e-mail.

Ministering to coalition forces, to enemy prisoners of war and to displaced Iraqi civilians is all part of a day's work for Denton, who as a Lt. Commander in the Chaplains Corps of the U.S. Navy, serves as the Command Chaplain of Fleet Hospital Three in southern Iraq.

"The opportunities for ministry have been rich and rewarding," the North American Mission Board-endorsed chaplain said. "I've walked with people after their surgery, played guitar for injured children, held the hand of a Marine as I prayed for him before his surgery, and stood close to the enemy as I looked into his eyes and offered a smile."

Denton, a member of Myrtle Grove Baptist Church in Pensacola, said he counted it "joy" to minister to all the people-no matter their origin, faith or creed.

"Each of these people have basic spiritual needs," Denton said. "It is my aim to daily share the love, kindness, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ with those around me," Denton wrote.

U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Al Bloom

U.S. Navy Chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. John Denton visits with U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Marco Chavez while in the casualty receiving area of Fleet Hospital Three. Chavez suffered upper and lower back strains as a result of a motor vehicle accident in Southern Iraq.

In sharing his faith, Denton said "fox-hole religion" is one of the challenges chaplains' face in a combat zone. Relating an incident that occurred while he and other military personnel were sitting in a bunker under enemy attack, Denton told of someone who said, "We'll be OK in this bunker ... the chaplain is in here with us."

Denton replied, "Thanks, but I'm not a good-luck charm. You need the same thing that I need in this bunker-a life-changing, life-sustaining relationship with the God who cares for us and is able to see us through this war and the rest of eternity."

Sustaining and fostering an interest in spiritual matters after the enemy threat has ended is the real challenge, Denton said. To his surprise, Christians in his unit who are not chaplains regularly volunteer to meet the challenge by conducting "vibrant" Bible studies, outreach programs and worship services.

"The Lord has raised up an army of saints to faithfully labor in this particular vineyard," Denton said.

Referring to the Navy Chaplain Corps motto, Denton said it sums up his service overseas: "Provide for your own; facilitate for others; care for all." He added, it is a "privilege to serve as a Southern Baptist" chaplain in the US Navy.

With 14 years of Naval service, Denton has been stationed in Mississippi, California, Washington D.C. and Japan; and he participated in Operation Desert Storm. He married Beth while they were upper classmen at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach more than 15 years ago. After they both graduated, they went to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where John earned a masters of divinity degree.

Richard Hamel, minister of music at Myrtle Grove, said the Dentons are an "incredible" couple. Both dedicated church workers, Beth directs the children's choir while John plays the piano and preaches when he is home.

"John has a heart for ministry," Hamel said. "His life walks the example of Jesus as much as any man I know."

Denton said it is difficult being away from his wife and their two children, who he says are the "real heroes."

However, the couple live like thousands of Christian military families during Operation Iraqi Freedom-one spouse remains home while the other is deployed. Both trust God to provide for the other.

As any military wife, Beth faces the same problems other military wives have when the husband leaves-things break. Soon after John left, Beth said the car water pump died, the kitchen linoleum started to bubble up, a toilet broke and the hose to the pool pump was destroyed.

Even with all the mini-disasters, Beth serves as one of two ombudsman or points-of-contact for about 300 Fleet Hospital families who have concerns. When the Fleet deployed the week of March 13, she said she received about 50 calls a day for a week.

Although Beth said she was "at peace" about God's care for her and the children, she had trouble learning to trust God "to be my Husband" and to trust Him while John was in harm's way. Her anxiety for his safety was heightened watching the daily news reports from Iraq, she said.

"I found myself praying, but feeling a duty of worry," Beth said. "I realized that I was praying, yet grabbing the situation back from the Lord and choosing to carry the burden."

It was after receiving John's first letter, Beth said she crossed a "spiritual hurdle.""I realized I had been trusting Jesus to be there for me, but I needed to also trust Him with my husband," Beth said.

While John might be away for up to 12 months, he did not have anyone to pamper his "pride and joy"-a Harley Davidson motorcycle. When they asked Bob Govoni, a friend from church, to consider caring for the bike, he looked "amazed," and gratefully accepted, Beth said.

Govoni told them that God had led him to sell his bike just two days before, and he "grieved" the loss, but wanted to be obedient to God, according to Beth.

"God had planned all along that Bob would care for John's Harley while he was overseas," Beth said. "Like Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac, the Lord was just checking priorities."

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