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Interview with Judy Malana

Jennifer Gale, associate pastor at Evangel Temple in Springfield, Missouri, interviewed Judy Malana regarding her ministry as a military chaplain.

Judy Malana

What is your current position? What are your responsibilities?

My current position is chaplain of the 14th District Coast Guard, which is stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii. As a Navy chaplains, we serve the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. It is a terrific opportunity to have a wide variety of experiences.

According to the Navy Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan, a chaplain’s mission is to “advise commanders to ensure the free exercise of religion; provide religious ministry and support to authorized personnel; advocate for and promote the well-being of all personnel and serve as command liaison to civilian religious leaders, communities, organizations and agencies. “

Having served with all three Sea Services, the last count of different uniforms in the closet totaled 26, which includes shipboard, field, dress and maternity uniforms for all 3 branches of service. That’s a lot of uniforms!

How did your interest in chaplaincy develop?

After becoming a Christian, I couldn’t do anything else besides ministry. My heart was no longer in a secular career. I wanted to serve in full-time ministry, travel the world and have adventures. God opened my eyes to think outside the box of traditional ministry roles, especially since there were limited opportunities in the local church. My father served in the Navy and suggested I look into Military Chaplaincy. There weren’t too many women entering this profession, so I was up for the challenge.

It was not an overnight process to become a military chaplain. On average it takes about 9 years. Apart from ecclesiastical endorsement and ordination, the Navy also requires 120 semester hours of undergraduate credits with an accredited institution, a Master of Divinity degree or equivalency, and 2 years of pastoral ministry. There are also certain age and physical requirements.

The goal I set to become a military chaplain took several years in coming to fruition. Throughout the process, I was challenged spiritually, emotionally, physically and academically—a very holistic journey. So reporting aboard my ship on active duty was a great thrill and testimony to the faithfulness of God.

To this day, God has exceeded all my expectations! Psalm 37:4,5 says: “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

What aspects of your ministry give you the most joy and satisfaction?

It is a true privilege to minister to an organization that is comprised of so many outstanding leaders throughout the ranks. I am inspired every day by ordinary individuals who do extraordinary things in service to their country. Whether it’s talking with a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who just saved a life, a Marine returning from the battlefield, a sailor standing watch in the late night hours or a military spouse raising children while her husband is deployed, I am grateful for those who have answered the call to serve our great nation. They are true heroes and great Americans among us. It is so satisfying to serve alongside them. I can’t believe I get paid to do what I do. It is a pleasure to serve God and make a positive impact on people’s lives.

What civic responsibilities do Christians have and how do you see the exercise of these responsibilities impacting our military?

We have a huge civic responsibility. We do not serve God in a vacuum. The gospel message should continue to be socially and culturally relevant.

Remember the parable of the Good Samaritan? It follows the Lord’s dialogue with an expert in the law (Luke 10:25-29) The law read, "’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’" The next question the expert asked Jesus was, "And who is my neighbor?"

The Lord responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan. He taught us that neighbors are not necessarily those in our immediate community. They may not even be Christians or come from our same social, economic or ethnic backgrounds. They may be people we don’t even know by name. They could be people who are outside our comfort zone, and yet, we are to love and serve them.

To act neighborly means to reach out to a person in need. To "love your neighbor as yourself" is what the Good Samaritan did. It was the epitome of acting on our civic responsibility.

I think members of the armed services exercise their civic responsibility by the very nature of what they do. They are called on to protect and defend liberty for all Americans. Freedom is not free and many have paid the ultimate sacrifice serving their fellow Americans they have never met. Some have served aboard ships at sea and on foreign shores in harm’s way to carry out our nation’s civic responsibility to the rest of the world.

Do you have any practical ways the local church or local ministries can serve and support the armed forces in their area?

Start by looking in the congregation. With the current military situation, there are so many people who either know someone who is serving or is related to someone serving in the military. It seems everyone is affected by the war on terror.

The church can adopt a few service members and their families. Let them know they are covered in prayer. Sending short e-mails or even a card makes a big difference for someone deployed.

Take time to honor the military and their families during the worship service on special occasions like Memorial Day or the Fourth of July.

Do you know of, or have any direct experience of, churches reaching out to the military? If so, what impact has that outreach had?

My family and I have been a part of a couple of churches that minister effectively to the military. While stationed in Okinawa, Japan, my family and I were members of Neighborhood Assembly of God pastored by Mel Ferguson. Now that we are stationed in Hawaii, we are members of Kailua Assembly of God where Jerald Ogg is pastor.

The impact of these churches has been tremendous. As a member, I felt supported and understood. Knowing that a church body is praying with you while you or your spouse is deployed is a great comfort. My husband is a Marine and is currently deployed to Iraq. He is blessed to receive e-mails from our church family who regularly pray for him. What an encouragement!

What first steps could a minister take to begin a relationship with a base or local unit in his/her area?

The best points of contact are the military chaplains assigned to the base. Let them know you exist. Ask to take a military chaplain out to lunch. I have yet to meet one who would turn down a free meal!

Offer the church as a resource. Military chaplains can’t do it all. When troops deploy there are hundreds of families left behind. Ask the chaplains what the needs in the military community are and see how your church can help.

When stationed overseas, our military chapel program relied on civilian ministry support. We partnered with Christian Military Fellowship, a non-denominational missionary organization. Their missionaries would help teach Bible studies on base and also ran a military home right outside the base. It was a wonderful refuge for single service members who wanted to get out of the barracks for the weekend and enjoy a home cooked meal.

Local churches can help support organizations that support the military. For more information check out these websites:

• Christian Military Fellowship - http://www.cmf.com

• Officer Christian Fellowship - http://www.gospelcom.net/ocf

What could we pray for you and other chaplains in the armed forces?

Please pray that God will renew each military chaplain in body, mind, soul and spirit; that each one will be equipped to endure the rigors of their job; that they will continue to be effective for God’s kingdom; and pray the Lord’s protection and guidance over them and their family members.

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