LCC military chaplains at the 2019 Exercise Faithful Warrior: Lt.(N) David Jackson, Capt. D.J. Kim, Capt. Min Kim, and Capt. Sye Van Maanen

From Left to Right: Lt.(N) David Jackson, Capt. D.J. Kim, Capt. Min Kim, and Capt. Sye Van Maanen

EDMONTON, Alberta – From November 18-22, 2019, four Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) Military Chaplains participated in the 3^rd Canadian Division Chaplain “Exercise Faithful Warrior” (Ex FW) event held at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton.

Ex FW is an annual exercise for all chaplains of both Regular Forces and Reserve Forces in the 3^rd Canadian Division of the Canadian Army. The 3^rd Canadian Division has the largest area of military command geographically, covering from Thunder Bay, Ontario, to Vancouver Island, B.C. While the event is similar to a pastors’ or church workers’ retreat, to a certain degree, it is designed for Military Chaplains for their continuing education and training, and aiding chaplains by ensuring they are equipped to effectively deal with current pastoral issues in the military setting.

Part of the recent training included emergency notification procedures in cases of mass casualty incidents. From summer 2019, troops of the 3^rd Canadian Division have deployed to various countries including Kuwait, Ukraine, and Latvia. Military operations, international and domestic alike, are often exposed to critical situations of injury and death. Chaplains are mandated to support members in such crises pastorally, and training sessions like Ex FW are an important part of equipping them for that service.

LCC chaplains participating in the November training sessions were: Lt.(N) David Jackson who has just deployed to Latvia in early January 2020 for the next six months; Capt. D.J. Kim, who has been in the military as a Reserve Chaplain for more than a decade, will retire as a Military Chaplain in April of this year, continuing to serve as a Police Chaplain and as our missionary at large; Capt. Min Kim, who deployed to Ukraine in 2017 over six months and is currently serving at the Protestant Chapel at the Canadian Forces Base Edmonton; and Capt. Sye Van Maanen, who is currently serving as Acting Brigade Chaplain of 31 Canadian Brigade Group in Edmonton.

For more information about Chaplain Ministry and the Chaplains currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, visit LCC’s website here.

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