Jeff Mason
March 2010
I thought I would just send another update and give you a few prayer requests. The relationships that I am developing with my Soldiers is going great. I am getting to know them better each time I see them.
One Solder in particular goes to OSU and is a believer. I am in frequent contact with him and we share prayer requests. He desires greatly to walk closely with God and I keep reminding him that I am praying for him. His name is Jordan so if you would please remember him in your prayers. Pray that God will guide him and help him to stay focused on his walk. It can be a challenge going to a secular university.
There is another Soldier who is dealing with a lot. I can’t go into any details but just to say that he has had to seek professional help because of the issues. During my last drill I had plenty of time talking with him. Please pray that God will give me many more opportunities. I do not know if he is a believer or not.
Our deployment is still on schedule for next spring (2011) so pray that my unit will have good training times and that we will be prepared for when the time comes.
Until next time…
Jeff
Jeffrey J Mason
Chaplain (1LT)
Ohio National Guard
February 2010
I thought it would be a good time to send out an update now that I have an idea of what is going on. As of right now I will not deploy until the spring of 2011. The unit that I am with was originally scheduled to deploy in the fall of 2012. Last week we were notified that the deployment was moved up 15 months. Because of this advancement in the schedule the chaplain candidate that I am training will not be finished with his schooling in time. The state chaplain asked me if I could wait until 2011 to deploy. If I would volunteer to deploy before then (if there was a spot open), it would mean my unit deploying without a chaplain. My XO (executive office) mentioned to me that he would be very pleased if I went with the unit because I have deployment experience. Also, a number of my Soldiers asked me if I was going with them. Therefore I felt that it would be best if I wait. I already have a great relationship with a number of my Soldiers and I want to be able to continue to develop that relationship. I do know that when we do go it will be to Afghanistan.
Part of the reason this has taken so long is that the paperwork for my transfer got messed up by my former unit. Some people signed off on the paperwork and were not authorized. Even so, the main reason for the wait is because I believe God wants me to deploy with these Soldiers. It would have been nice to deploy earlier but I couldn’t imagine deploying with any other unit. The Soldiers I have met so far are great and they are a tight group. It will be awesome to see how God works in their lives during this training time as well as during the deployment.
The main prayer request I have is that I will be able to find a good paying job in the meantime. The pay I get for one weekend a month is not enough to live on. Also pray for the hearts of the Soldiers to be open to the Gospel.
I will probably just do monthly updates until the deployment. Thank you for your prayers.
Jeff
New Unit . . . Received from Ohio, October 21, 2009
It has been a while since I last sent an update. I have had a great relaxing time since I returned from Iraq. I will say that I have eaten out way too much. Between people wanting to take me out to eat and myself taking others out to eat, I think I hit the restaurants at least twice a week. A lot has happened since 1 August when I finally entered Ohio. I had expected to get an assignment right away in the Reserves to a new unit but that did not happen. As I communicated with people in the Reserves I mentioned that I wanted to work with a combat unit. I was told that the National Guard supplied most of the combat units. As I sat around and waited I prayed that God would give me direction as to which way to go and to get me assigned to a unit that needs a chaplain. I was approached by some Soldiers in the Ohio National Guard who gave me information about serving in the Guard. As I looked at the info I prayed that God would either open or close the doors to the prospect of joining the Guard. The doors were openning and so I took a step through. As of today I am officially a part of the Ohio National Guard. I am the chaplain for the 1st Battalion – 134th Field Artillery Regiment. I will be with this unit only for a short time. First, I have volunteered for any deployment opportunities. This may not happen for a few months but I am content to wait. Second, there is a chaplain candidate who will become the 1/134th’s chaplain when he is finished with the chaplain school and also with seminary. In the mean time I will work with him and help train and prepare him to be their chaplain. If for some reason I do not deploy soon then once he is trained and finished with his schooling then I would get assigned to a new unit. In the mean time I will be meeting with my Soldiers and helping them as much as I can while helping their future chaplain. As more information and/or opportunities occur I will send out more updates. Thanks for all your prayers.
Jeff
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Jeffrey J Mason
Chaplain (1LT)
1/134th FA
Ohio National Guard
August 4, 2009
Hello fom Ft Dix, NJ! WE arrive here Thursday morning around 1:30 AM and received a welcome the USO and had some food to eat before we went to bed at 3:30 AM. We began our briefings around 9:00 AM and have been doing so for the past few days. Along with briefings we have completed our medical exams to make sure we are all healthy. We have a few more administrative duties to complete and hope to be all done by Wednesday. We had a welcome home ceremony on Thursday which went well. Many Soldiers had family and friends attending. It was great seeing my parents again.
I want to thank everyone who prayed for me and for my Soldiers. Thank you also for the e-mails and the care packages. Because of all of you this ministry was very fruitful and successful.
This will be my final update until the next adventure. When I learn of the next deployment I will begin the updates again.
Until then….
Jeffrey J Mason
Chaplain (1LT) USAR
Received from Iraq, July 8th, 2009:
“The replacements have arrived!!! Right now we are in the middle of the transition period for the two battalions. Everyone in my battalion is showing the new folks how things run here and where everything is. It is a little hectic with have double the amount of Soldiers in each office. But, it won’t be long and we will happily hand over the keys and say good luck. Even though we are in this transition Soldiers’ lives are still eventful. Please keep praying for them. There are some who are receiving notice of family member who are ill or having surgery and they can’t be there with them. It is difficult for them. Today we had an award ceremony for one of the companies in my battalion who are also getting ready to leave. It was a great ceremony and it was great seeing them again. I have one more official function as their chaplain later on in July. I will miss them but there have been some great friendships built. Please pray for their reunion with their family and friends as it will be emotional and stressful. Please pray for my company as we get ready to leave. Pray for safety and wisdom as we leave. Thank you again for your prayers and support. It won’t be long!”
Jeffrey J Mason
Chaplain (1LT) USAR
http://thearmychaplain.blogspot.com
Iraq, May 26, 2009
5:00 AM – 85 degrees; 9:00 AM - 105 degrees; 12:00 PM – 124 degrees. That is what my days are like now…and it’s only gonna get hotter! If you want to know what it feels like then turn your oven on, stick you face near it and cool yourself off by using your hair dryer on high heat. There is no such thing as a cool breeze here now.
More and more opportunities keep popping up where I get to spend time talking with soldiers about Christ as I help them sort through all the issues that they are dealing with. We are at a time when some soldiers are getting ready to go home while some still have 7 months left. Please pray for all of them. Pray that the ones who are going home soon won’t get careless and do things that could get them in trouble or hurt. Pray for those who still have 7 months left that they will be strong as they are away from their families and friends. Some who are here for the first time are taking it pretty hard so please pray for them as well.
The chapel service is going well. There are new chaplains arriving here in the next few weeks so there will be more ideas and talents that can be used to serve and teach the soldiers. Soon I will be handing off the service to these chaplains as I get ready to leave to come home. It’s hard to believe that my time here is almost over. It has been a very challenging but rewarding ministry. I will miss spending time with soldiers and helping them.
Thank you for all your prayers. I greatly appreciate them. See you all soon.
Jeffrey J Mason
Chaplain (1LT) USAR
May 15, 2009
The countdown is getting closer…only 61 days left in Iraq! Time here is flying by and it is hard to believe that it is almost time to come home. God keeps opening doors and giving me opportunities to talk with my soldiers about him. A new small platoon of soldier has arrived and I got to meet them today and talk with them briefly. Some of these soldiers look way too young to be here. I guess I am getting old. Looking at these soldiers made me think of a DVD I just watched. It is called “Taking Chance”. If you get the opportunity to buy it do so. It is an incredible true story of a Marine LTC who escorts the body of a 19 year Marine, who was killed in Iraq, home. This DVD will show you how careful and respectful the remains of fallen servicemembers are treated. At the beginning of the DVD there were parts that brought back a lot of memories for me as I remembered the times I honored a fallen brother. When you watch it, have something to wipe the tears away…you will cry.
The ministry here is going great. I spoke again last sunday at the chapel and had a fun time doing it. There were a number of senior officers who were very appreciative of my sermon. It;s fun watching the expressions on peoples faces when you say something and it clicks in their head. The next couple of Sundays another chaplain will be preaching so I get to assist him and help encourage the other soldiers.
Thank you for praying for David. He is doing a lot better. The issues that he has been facing are being resolved and he is learning how to deal with the stress. Please continue praying for him as we get together and pray. Please pray for the rest of my soldiers. I have had others come to me with thoughts of suicide in their heads. It is very heartbreaking to listen to them describe the hopelessness they feel. Pray that God will open their hearts and they will be willing to listen to the gospel.
Thank you again for your prayers. They are greatly appreciated. Thank you all for the care packages as well. My soldiers are loving all the goodies. See you all soon.
Jeffrey J Mason
Chaplain (1LT) USAR
http://thearmychaplain.blogspot.com
Update: May 2009
It’s been a busy, busy week. Life around here is never dull. God keeps providing new opportunities to serve Him and to help me grow. One of the Chaplains here finished his tour here and went home. He was in charge of the chapel service that I help out in. With him leaving that left the service without a leader so I was placed in charge of the service. I will remain in that position until his replacement come in sometime later this month. Being in charge I am able to help shape the way we do the service as well as add or take away parts that need changing. Today was my first Sunday and everything went very well. I also had the opportunity to preach which went very well. We are blessed to have a Captain who plays the guitar very well and does an awesome job at leading the music. More and more soldiers are showing up for the service. Today we had between 50 and 60 show up. Please pray that their hearts will be open to hear what God wants to teach them.
Please pray for my soldiers. My company and another company has around 70 days left here in Iraq. Please pray that they will not get complacent or apathetic in their service. When this happens soldiers get hurt or killed. Pray for their safety as well as pray for their families as they prepare to welcome home their loved one.
Please also pray for David. I have been working with him for a while helping him deal with some issues that he has been dealing with. Last week we had to place him on a suicide watch because of some actions he was doing. Pray that God will help him deal with his issues in the right way. He is a believer but right now is not really walking with God. He is praying and trying to read his Bible. Pray that God will give me wisdom to help David.
Pray for me as I will be doing a lot more preaching. Pray that God will use me to impact the lives of those who come to the chapel service. Please also pray for strength for me so that I will be able keep up with all the counseling I do. And also pray that I will have many more opportunities to share the gospel with my soldiers.
Thank you all for you prayers and your encouragements. They are greatly appreciated.
Jeff
This email was recently received from Jeff Mason, stationed in Iraq…
Hello Everyone,
It’s been a very busy week. Yesterday I returned from a battlefield circulation tour that took me throughout Iraq so that I could visit my soldiers who were living at different FOBs. This journey took me to FOBs that were relatively quiet to ones that were always on alert because of their proximity to danger. One of the FOBs I went to was within 10 miles of the Iranian borders. Looking over the walls that protected us I could see the mountains that signified where the border was. Another FOB I was at was within city limits of an Iraqi town. One of the Sergeants reported to me that kidnappings and snipers were prevelant in the area. This kept me on my toes however I was not too worried.
Besides relying on God’s protection (which is the best) I had 12 soldiers, who were the PSD ( personal security detachment), to protect me. I knew most of them and have a great relationship with them. These are some of our finest soldiers…in my opinion. I will most likely go on many more battlefield circulations to visit the soldiers. One of the FOBs doesn;t have a chaplain so I will probably stay there for a few days each time so that I can minister to them as well. The PSD team told me that they would take me anywhere I need to go. I guess I will be busier than ever but the ministry is so rewarding.
The chapel service I have been attending and helping out in is going very well. There are about 50 soldiers who come, some from my unit including my Commander. Over the past 2 weeks we have had a number of soldiers come forward and accept Christ. It is great to see them turn to Christ and accept Him as their Savior.
Please keep praying for my soldiers. Issues keep popping up. Some have lost loved ones. Pray that God will soften their hearts to the gospel. Pray that I will be ready for their questions and be able to lead them to the scriptures and show them the love of God and help them to find the answers to their questions. Thank you for all your prayers and e-mails. They are a great encouragement.
Jeffrey J Mason
Chaplain (1LT) USAR
http://thearmychaplain.blogspot.com
Chaplain (First Lieutenant) Jeff Mason, a member of the Worthington Grace Brethren Church in Columbus and recent graduate of Grace Seminary, received a commission in the Army Reserves and is scheduled to be deployed with the 157th Combat Service and Support Brigade (based in Willow Grove, PA), which is being activated and deployed July 19.
It all happened pretty quickly, in answer to Jeff’s prayers that he would be activated from the Reserves to serve alongside deployed troops. “The initial contact was made on Monday,” Jeff writes. “I received a call on Tuesday officially offering me the position. On Wednesday I watched as I received carbon copies of emails being sent to Majors, LT COL, and COL, instructing people as to what paperwork needed to be done. On Thursday I signed the paper that will initiate the creation of my orders so that I will be attached to the unit.
“After the deployment I will have the option of staying with that unit, transferring to a Reserve unit closer to home, or going on full active duty. That decision will be made at a later time. It won’t be long now that I get to serve alongside soldiers and share with them the love of Jesus! Thank you for your prayers!”