Military Insider: Spring 2025 Delta Edition
Chaplains Charge: Words of Encouragement from the Center for Chaplaincy
Liberty University’s Center for Chaplaincy is proud to train and support chaplain candidates, as a long-term tradition at Liberty. The Office of Military Affairs is excited to feature a special word from our Center for Chaplaincy in each newsletter edition to provide encouragement for you as you follow the calling the Lord has placed on your lives.
Word of the Day: The Journey
By Chaplain (MAJ) Brian Harvey
As I sit and quietly reflect on my life, I can’t help but think of the many years I have spent serving our country and the many places I have been. From my early days in basic training to my deployments in combat zones, the phrase that comes to mind is, The Journey. Oh, how accurate that phrase is; life has been and will continue to be a journey, a quest of ups and downs, good and evil, and right and wrong. The truth is that life is a journey for all of us that will follow distinctly different paths. The trouble is that many, if not most, never realize where they are going, why they are going there, or worse, never go anywhere.
I have been in all these places – going the wrong way, getting frustrated because nothing seems to go as it should, and just giving up and not going anywhere. In these darkest days of this journey, I realized that I was going about it all wrong. I was following my plan and not surrendering to God’s plan. My plan was leading to ultimate burnout and depression, but God’s plan speaks of peace, a prosperous future, and hope. God said, “11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV). These words spoken to the Israelites held captive in Babylon still ring true for you and me today. God plans to give direction, bring peace, prosper the future, and provide hope. Here, I surrendered my plan for God’s ultimate plan for my journey. So, how do I surrender this journey we call life? It’s by getting out of the driver’s seat and letting God take control. I challenge you to get out of the driver’s seat, stop driving your plan, and let God direct you in His. God declares that He will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go (Psalm 32:8).
I find strength, resilience, and hope in God’s direction for my life, knowing that even when I stumble, and the Journey gets hard, God will NEVER leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6). My prayer for each of you is that you find the peace, future, and hope that God’s plan has for you. While our journey may be distinctly different, I am deeply grateful to each of you for your service and sacrifice and for allowing our paths to cross, even if only for these few words.
Upcoming Events
Military Family Fun Day
Liberty University service members, veterans, spouses and their families are invited to attend our annual Military Family Fun Day. Enjoy a day of fun activities for the whole family including tubing, skiing, snowboarding, lunch, activities, and more! Admission is free, but an RSVP and proof of service are required for entry. Visit our events webpage for more information.
- Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025
- Time: 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. EST
- Location: Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center
- RSVP: Click here to RSVP
Military Graduate Recognition Ceremony
Liberty University’s Military Graduate Recognition Ceremony for graduates of the class of 2025 will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2025. This ceremony will honor our service members, veterans, and military spouses who completed their degrees during the 2024-2025 academic year. Families of military graduates, as well as military staff and faculty from Liberty University, are invited to attend to celebrate the achievements of these military graduates. For those unable to attend, there will be a live stream broadcast on the Commencement Live Stream web page. Please RSVP if you plan on joining us to celebrate your accomplishment!
- Date: May 8, 2025
- Time: 10:00 a.m.
- Location: Thomas Road Baptist Church Worship Center
- Keynote Speakers:
- Major General Jason Q. Bohm, U.S.M.C. (Ret.)
- Katrina T. Bohm
- Address: 1 Mountain View Rd, Lynchburg, VA 24502
- Graduate Attire: Graduation Regalia or Military Dress Uniform
- RSVP: Click here to RSVP
- Livestream: Watch on the Commencement Webpage
For any questions regarding Commencement events, please visit our Commencement webpage or email commencement@liberty.edu Please email militaryoutreach@liberty.edu for questions regarding the Military Graduate Recognition Ceremony
If you would like to share your graduation story to potentially be displayed during the ceremony, on our website, and social media accounts, click here!
Resource Highlight:
Military Course Equivalents Calculator Tool
Did you know that transfer credit for military training has been added to the Transferable Credit Hours Calculator Tool? You can utilize it to estimate what transfer credit you may be eligible to receive and apply toward any outstanding requirements on your degree completion plan. To have the credits officially evaluated for military training for college credit, submit a copy of your Joint Services Transcript (JST). If you submitted your JST during the admissions process, the evaluation has already been done. For more information on how to request your JST and receive an evaluation, visit www.liberty.edu/military/benefits/transfer-credit-and-degree-plans/.
Stay Connected
Make sure you’re following the Office of Military Affairs on our Facebook, and Instagram accounts to get helpful reminders, and stay connected with everything going on in the LU military community. It’s a joy to be able to serve our students!
