Thursday, November 13, 2008

King ready to help congregations pull together, accomplish more

With a father in the Marines and four brothers also serving in one of the military services, it was only natural for Installation Chaplain (Lt. Col.) James King to follow them.

“Growing up, most chaplains in today’s military had a significant person in their life who was in the military,” King said. “When I sensed God calling me into the ministry, I almost immediately interpreted it as a calling toward, not just ministry, but toward the chaplaincy.”

After graduating from Oklahoma Baptist University, King became a chaplain in 1988 and served with a signal unit at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., where he deployed for Desert Storm. He has also been stationed in Alaska; Fort Sill, Okla.; Fort Hood, Texas; at Army Chaplain School at Fort Jackson, S.C.; and most recently in Yongsan, South Korea.

While teaching at the Chaplain School, King was a small group leader for the career course and focused in teaching preacher and
worship leadership. He then became the course manager and then chief of the entire officer training at the school.

King said his time in South Korea was a unique experience.

“I got to spend about a year and a half in one of the most unique assignments in the Army for a chaplain as the director for a religious retreat center,” King said. “It is a one-of-a-kind opportunity, where they provide facilities and support for chaplains to bring in Soldiers from off-site retreats.”

King eventually would serve as installation chaplain at Yongsan before being reassigned to the same title at Fort Belvoir in July.
“When I came to Fort Belvoir, I was delighted to discover the vibrancy and the strength of the chapel community and the community as a whole,” King said. “My impression of our chapel community is that we have a lot of great individuals and a lot of great
congregations, who are doing a lot of great things.

“I anticipate my greatest role or challenge is going to be finding ways to help all these great people and congregations pull together and collaborate to accomplish even more,” King said.

King has become involved in several important initiatives since arriving on post.

He has been an advocate for all the programs associated with the Belvoir Chapel, including the Army Chaplaincy Initiative, which urges people to join the ministry and the Operation Sugar Plum program.

King and his wife, Joyce, have three sons, two in college and one in high school.

King said one of his sons might end up in the military once he graduates college, much like he did.

“My father always encouraged my brothers and I to go in the direction that was right for us, to follow our hearts, so to speak,” King
said. “I have kind of used that same approach with my sons and encouraged them to follow their hearts and seek after God’s calling, whatever that may be.”