Chaplain Miller

"Let us sing for joy to the Lord. Know that he is God and that he is God alone. Let us go forth as one body worshipping him, with mercy in our hearts and loving kindness to all." I wound up being a Navy Chaplain by, actually through... my husband was the first one to bring the idea up and said "Oh you can be a Chaplain". And I was like, wow, this is great. And it was an opportunity to do ministry outside of the box. If I can do it, I know that a lot more women can accomplish this as well. When I talk to people, I think they have the image that I'm spending all my day doing bible studies and prayers. But actually there are so many ways you can minister. "Let us sing. And let us come and worship him in spirit and in truth." You facilitate for their religious needs, provide for those of the same faith, but provide care and advise. Which is totally different than that pastoral role that a lot of people see. The Chaplain's the moral, ethical advisor to the command. Our focus is our mission readiness, making sure that the troops are mission ready. The Command Religious Program is the CO's program. The Chaplain is just the appointed ah staff officer to carry that out. So, when anything impacts the command, it is the responsibility of that Chaplain to address the CO on that. I work with the Navy wives and Marine Corps wives as well, when their spouses deploy. Deployment takes a lot out of you, not just the physical separation it's also a lot of emotional, spiritual, psychological things going on. Having come from the Navy community as a wife of 27 years, I can really say, I understand. Let me help you to get through this deployment a little bit smoother. I love people and to care for people no matter where they come from. The commission. You know. Matthew 28. Going out to minister to all nations. And when something's going on in their life, they want to get it out. Not that I have to take an action, just being able to talk to someone. Someone to hear them out, makes a big difference in their lives. It's kinda funny to say I get paid to do what I do because I enjoy doing my job. Taking care of my Sailors and Marines. God has a plan for me. I have no clue as to what that is. But I'm going to just keep going as long as I can, while the military allows me to be in here. They've been so appreciative and that makes my job so much more valuable. My name is Melanie Miller, and I'm a Chaplain in the United States Navy.