Our office has been fortunate enough to watch a pre-release version of a film called “Fighting Spirit – A Combat Chaplain’s Journey”. The United States Army Chaplain Corps have produced a special documentary which is due to be released digitally and in theaters in May.
Fighting Spirit features many active-duty chaplains alongside veteran chaplains who talk openly about their experiences. The film also tells inspirational and moving stories of chaplains through history in the United States, tracing chaplain stories from the very first chaplain, John Hurt in the Revolutionary War, through the American Civil War, the Second World War, the Korean War, Vietnam, and all the way through the late 20th century and early 21st century wars.
The stories are emotional, digging into the thoughts and heroism of chaplains who served in combat theaters, and who scarified their life for the sake of their fellow men. The documentary doesn’t glorify war, but drills down on the central role of the chaplain in the midst of war, which is to indiscriminately serve people regardless of their faith tradition (or lack of it), regardless of their rank, and regardless of whether they are an American serviceman, or an enemy of American servicemen.
While watching the film, I found myself reflecting on how much I could see Christ in these men’s actions and beliefs. Walking into combat scenarios, unarmed, assisting the dead and dying until their last moments, and sometimes dragging them to safety. One story of a Chaplain walking toward the enemy and convincing them to lay down their arms and surrender is powerfully moving, and an example of the Prince of Peace in the midst of a world at war.
You can find our more about the film on their website, and sign up for an email when it's officially available here: Fighting Spirit Film
250th Chaplain Anniversary Booklet
While the film is great and will help you better understand what the role of a chaplain is, we have our own chaplains in the CGGC that are doing God’s work as part of the United States Armed Forces. We’ve interviewed some of these chaplains in past issues of The Global Advocate and we strongly encourage that you write to them to show your support. A kind word of exhortation would go a long way in encouraging them, letting them know how grateful we are for their service.
For instance, We'd like to give a strong CONGRATULATIONS to Chaplains Dylan Smith and Matthew Shenton who have both recently been promoted! A word of support from you would be greatly appreciated by each.
- Chaplain Dylan Smith was promoted to Captain in March, 2025.
- Chaplain Matthew Shenton was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in April, 2025.
Our Chaplains
US Army Chaplains- Active Duty
CH (CPT) Byron Denman-
CH (LTC) Matthew F. Shenton-
CH (CPT) Dylan Smith-
US Army Chaplains- Army National Guard
CH (CPT) Brent Mangus-
If you want to take it a step further, please consider supporting our chaplains and their families by donating to the Chaplain Ministry & Family Fund, which helps cover a variety of costs for their ministries which aren’t covered by their branch, like travel costs for their family members.
We’ve had chaplains in the CGGC since the Civil War, and we’re proud to be an endorsing agency for Chaplains whether they are practicing in nursing homes and hospitals, or in the United States Military. May God protect these pastors, whose flock face hardship many of us civilians struggle to understand.
CGGC eNews—Vol. 19, No. 15
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