Serving God and Country

Matt Shirkey has served as an Army chaplain for five years and been deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. When he’s at his home base of Fort Benning, Ga., he offers counseling and facilitates Bible studies for the 950 soldiers stationed there with the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment. Prior to his chaplaincy role, he served as a pastoral intern at Christ Community EFC in St. Louis, Mo.

In this photo, he’s simply enjoying some light moments with Air Force Reserve Chaplain Brandon Markette, who also pastors Northview EFC in Colorado Springs, Colo. “I love helping soldiers grow in their faith,” Matt says. “Our vocation provides lots of hard times and trials. Those times are ministry gold for helping soldiers grow closer to God.”