Alliance Chaplains Honored

collinsAlliance military chaplains enjoyed a night of fellowship and inspiration at a banquet hosted by Chaplain (LTC) Bob Collins, U.S. Army (ret.), director for Alliance Chaplains, and his wife, Denise, August 14 at the U. S. Air Force Academy. Two chaplains were honored for their long-time service with The Alliance and with the military. Air Force Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Bob Wido and his wife, Diane, received a decorative clock for 27 years of service. “A small token of our deep gratitude,” Alliance President Gary Benedict told Wido. Also, Army Chaplain (COL) Jim Puchy and his wife, Becky, were honored with a framed picture noting Jeremiah 29:11.

puchy1Puchy, who will retire in 2011, is stationed at the Pentagon and serves as Chief of Chaplains and director for Sustainment and Information. He oversees the church experience and spiritual life for military families throughout the world. Puchy also pastors the chapel at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, where, “God is moving in a powerful way among the military families,” he says. “As the Holy Spirit speaks to people’s hearts, they can gather in ‘clusters’ for prayer and laying on of hands. One gentleman received prayer for healing of a physical ailment and returned last week to give testimony of the Lord’s touch. The man is now symptom free.”

clarkThe evening’s keynote speaker, the Honorable Allen Clark, founder of Combat Faith Ministry and former assistant secretary in the Department of Veterans Affairs, recounted his painful journey from the battlefield of Vietnam to the cross of Jesus.

Clark, who lost both legs during a mortar attack in Vietnam in 1967 that left him 4 feet 6 inches tall, quipped, “When it was time to be fitted for prosthetics, the doctor asked how tall I wanted to be. I told him 6-foot-2.” More seriously, he said, “I may have lost my legs, but I gained [spiritual] legs for a cause that I believe in.”

The double amputee encouraged and challenged the Alliance military chaplains, who represented all branches of service. “What is your spiritual mission?” he asked. “To proclaim the gospel to all you meet. That is your mission. That is your job!”

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