While in Afghanistan, Julie Rowan participated in the Humanitarian Civil Aid Missions, providing Afghan children with toys, clothing and needed items. Photo courtesy of Julie Rowan

In recognition of October 22-28 as Pastoral Care Week, this is the first in a three-part series focusing on the ministry of CBF-endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors.

ATLANTA – As a minister to children and youth many years ago, Julie Rowan felt stuck in one place. Now Major Julie Rowan, a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship-endorsed chaplain, rarely stays in one place.

After finding her calling as a military chaplain, Rowan knows she is where God wants her.

"When you go into the Army, you expand yourself [as a minister], not staying in one place. You’re going out, you’re bringing God to soldiers and soldiers to God," Rowan said.

During her 10 years in the military, Rowan, 41, has served all over the world. In addition to stateside assignments, she has been deployed in Germany, Afghanistan and Iraq. She is currently deployed to Iraq for a three-month stint.

"People want and need a chaplain wherever you go in the military," said Rowan. "Soldiers will hunt a chaplain down."

While in Afghanistan, Rowan spent most of her time working in a hospital setting on the base. She led services at the Bagram base chapel every Sunday. She and her assistant were also able to work directly with local nationals, helping with humanitarian aid. They helped distribute shoes, clothing, teddy bears and other gifts sent from churches and individuals in the United States. Rowan said that many Afghan children died in the winter because they did not have shoes or the proper clothing to keep warm.

"The greatest thing you can do for others is to give," said Rowan. "For you to feel you’ve made a difference in their lives – wow."

In her current role as a brigade chaplain in Iraq, Rowan will travel around from post to post ministering to between 500 and 1,000 soldiers. In addition to handing out Bibles and resources, Rowan will provide counseling and will lead worship services wherever there is space available – even from the back of a Humvee.

"You pull that [Humvee] up to an area that’s safe, pull the back end down and that can be the altar," said Rowan. "You do what you’ve go to do under the circumstances."

Despite the danger and fear of the unknown, chaplaincy is the life for Rowan.

"I absolutely love it," she said. "There’s excitement, because you do something different every day. If I got out of this, I’d be bored. There’s never a dull moment."

For more information on chaplaincy and pastoral counseling or to learn about the Fellowship’s endorsement process, contact George Pickle at (770) 220-1617 or gpickle@thefellowship.info.

CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.