Pete Stone
I hope to write more soon. I continue to be astounded at the privilege I have in this position.
In Christ,
Pete
October 5, 2009 – Camp Taji, Iraq
Dear Friends,
I hope this letter finds you well. Things here at Camp Taji here in Iraq continue to remain relatively calm. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Please read my latest newsletter, attached.
October 2009 Newsletter from Pete Stone
Blessings,
Pete
August 4th, 2009 Report
Read the Chaplain’s August 2009 Prayer Letter
Dear Friends,
I wanted to share with you what God has been doing since I graduated from chaplain school in December. As soon as I finished school, we moved to Fort Hood, TX, where I was assigned to the 4-227 Attack/Recon Battalion of the 1st Air Cav Brigade, 1st Cav Division. In April 2009, we deployed for Camp Taji, Iraq, just north of Baghdad. We are scheduled to be here until April 2010.
We are an attack/reconnaissance aviation battalion (AH-64 Apache Longbow Helicopters). Being in an aviation battalion is quite different from much of the rest of the Army. For a chaplain, this is as comfortable as it gets in a combat zone. Additionally, in three months our pilots have not fired a single shot–there hasn’t been a single engagement. Things are very quiet. Neither has there been a single mortar or rocket attack on our Forward Operating Base (Camp Taji). It doesn’t feel much like war, but we are all trying not to become complacent.
Monica is doing very well. She has been studying English at the University of Tennessee, living with my folks. This week she moves to Miami where she will begin an LL.M (Master of Laws) in Intercultural Human Rights. We’re both thrilled about her opportunity to do this, as this kind of law is something she loves. She will be living with a woman from my mentor’s church, and will be surrounded by a wonderful community of people.
Thanks for your love, support and friendship–many of you have been such a huge part in God’s grace in my life, and I thank you. I’ve attached my prayer letter as a means to stay in touch.
Love in Christ,
Pete
Report from Iraq – May 19, 2009
Hey, loved ones!
I’m writing you from camp Taji, Iraq, just outside Baghdad. We arrived via Chinook helicopter early this morning at about 3am. That was a cool ride! We had to wear all our protective gear and we took off with no lights in a group of 3 birds. For a few minutes I thought I was a special forces dude going in for a secret mission. Then I remembered I’m a chaplain without a gun and I’m going to a huge post that has Baskin Robbins and Taco Bell, internet and a/c. Well, someone has to be a chaplain.
Things continue to go well. I’m developing the kind of relationships with the staff, commanders and soldiers that I would want. I pray that they will continue to grow deep and rich with the presence of Christ. After living together in tents for 3 weeks in Kuwait, there’s a greater sense of family. It’s like going on a big mission trip…only with guns, helicopters…and mostly non-believers. Kind of cool.
I’m asking the Lord to lead me in developing a ministry schedule that includes Bible studies, preaching prep, personal prayer, and of course time just to be with soldiers in a casual way. I’m really hoping God blesses my desires to start some discipleship groups with soldiers who say they want to grow. I’ll keep you posted as things develop. But please keep in your prayers my desire for God to bring people into the Bible studies. I long to see the Word transform us all together.
Camp Taji is comfortable and dirty. The food is more than you could imagine. All kinds of varieties at every meal. Anything you could want, just about, is here at one of the 2 dining facilities. Nothing here feels like you would imagine a war feeling like. It feels like summer camp on steroids. Summer camp and a massive missions trip blended together.
I hope to be in better touch as soon as I figure out where my office is, get internet, etc.
I love you all deeply, and live here with such joy in my heart knowing where I came from, and remembering the wonderful people that surround me in Christ.
-Pete
Pete Stone has been accessioned by the U.S. Army as a Grace Brethren Chaplain and will start Chaplain School in September.
Pete and his wife Monica came to the FGBC from an Independent Bible Church in Arkansas and have joined the Fountain of Life Grace Brethren Church in Johnson City, TN (Dr. Vic Young, Pastor). Pete successfully passed his ordination exam as a Grace Brethren minister at the FGBC National Conference in Tampa, FL (see picture).
Pete is a graduate of Bryan College with a B.A. in Christian Education and a minor in Bible and received an MDiv from Gordon Cromwell Theological Seminary. He has had a number of ministry experiences in his career to this point, including missionary service in Bogota, Columbia and Manila, Philippines, and as Director of Operations for Shoot for Life in Montgomery, AL.
