Pastor, Can I Speak To You About Tactical Gear?

Sometimes I feel like I've lived two different lives, or at least dwelt in two worlds. It gets extra strange when those worlds collide. Years ago, I was an Army Staff Sergeant in Iraq. Today, I am a theologically-trained pastor in Utah. Last Sunday, I needed the realities of both.

By God's grace, Ukrainian refugees have not only started attending Redeeming Life Church, but some have also become members. My sermons are translated into Ukrainian so those who struggle with English can pop in an earpiece and hear a real-time translation. We have a class in Ukrainian. We're making friends and learning so much. And we have all the expected joys and struggles of a multicultural church body.

On Sunday, one of the Ukrainian fathers and his wife approached me. He asked me something in Ukrainian. His wife translated. "Pastor, may I speak with you as a soldier."

I know that part of his story involves serving in the military of the Soviet Union, and he fought in Afghanistan. I did not know what he was about to say or ask. As the conversation went on, I learned he needed help buying first aid equipment and replacement tactical gear for family members and friends on the front lines in Ukraine. After more than a year of battle, their gear is worn out, and first-aid bandages are scarce.

We went to my office, and I pulled up my computer. We opened ChatGPT, Google Maps, Amazon, and Facebook. We examined photos of Ukrainian soldiers on Facebook to see what gear they are using. Some wear much older-style load-bearing equipment (web gear) I used in my earlier Army years. Others had newer tactical gear, not unlike what I wore in Iraq. Using ChatGPT to translate more detailed information, an old soldier from the Soviet Union era and an American veteran, 20 years removed from the fight, viewed pictures of their gear, searched on Amazon, compared various options, and then I pointed him to a vast Army-Navy Surplus store in our area.

I can't shake what is happening. God is using experiences from my past to bridge me to people in the church who are in great need today. We have refugee people struggling with PTSD, others afraid for their family and friends who remain behind, and all trying to lead their families through starting over in a strange new world.

And also, I am broken over the great need. I was in OIF I when shortages meant we were issued only one SAPI plate (armor) and had to decide if it would protect the front or back. We didn't have up-armored HMMWVs. We felt the shortages, but that didn't last too long. These guys are fighting for their homeland, and there's no end on the horizon. Now, I'm ready to scrape together all my nickels and dimes, open a lemonade stand, and figure out how to get my new friend's family members the first aid bandages they need, and maybe some tactical gear to stay safe.