“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field…Luke 10:2(NIV)
At the Army Logistic Training Centre (ALTC) at any one time there are about 1650 trainees and about 750 staff, along with their families. When explaining those figures to a ministry colleague recently, his comment was you have a very large “parish.” At ALTC we have two fulltime chaplains and one part-time chaplain, thus our ministry is always busy if not at times quite hectic. This is where as a chaplaincy team we really appreciate the support, fellowship and ministry of EWS. Chief Commissioner Ken Matthews and Representatives Len Bergin, Kristian, Kemper, Neil McGinn, along with Lou Hochwimmer, Christina Kemper, and James Black, are a valuable part of ministry at ALTC.
As the coordinating chaplain for ALTC I meet weekly with Ken and his team for prayer, fellowship and support. I also included Ken and his team in our regular team meetings and keep the EWS team up to date with relevant information from the ALTC chain of command. Chaplains will go out with the EWS Rep on brew runs thus supporting the EWS Rep and the troops in the field.
The focus of ALTC is to train ADF logisticians and ADF medical personnel; thus we have large number of young people at the start of the career in the ADF. Many are away from home for the first time, and many have little or no Christian instruction in their lives. My point of view has always been that, as Christians, we are all here to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have seen ministry work as that of a symphony orchestra- every player and every instrument are equally involved in producing the wonderful symphonic music. Therefore, at ALTC, the chaplains, EWS and Focus Ministries all cooperate in ministry, each playing their part to glorify our Lord and Saviour. As Jesus taught us, there is a plentiful harvest but workers few, at ALTC we hear the call of the Lord of the Harvest and go out into the field.