Chaplain (Colonel) Wylie W. Johnson retires from the Military
Rev. Dr. Wylie W. Johnson
Senior Pastor, The Springfield Baptist Church
Springfield, PA
Chaplain (Colonel) Wylie W. Johnson retired from the US Army Reserve at an official ceremony at the Military Intelligence Readiness Command (MIRC) Headquarters, Ft Belvoir Virginia on June 21st. The MIRC Commander, Brigadier General William Duffy, addressed nearly 100 family, friends, and military attendees before awarding Chaplain Johnson the Legion of Merit for his exemplary and outstanding 25 ½ year career. CH Johnson served in five armed conflicts and numerous locations in the United States, as well as Germany and Korea. Rev. Dr. Johnson continues in his 15th year as the Pastor of the Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield PA.
Chaplain Johnson notes that his military career has been a huge positive for his local congregation. “Springfield Baptist continually benefited from the thousands of hours of military leadership training I received as well as years of unique pastoral experience. I found my time serving with the military enabled me to step away from the church and see things from another perspective (this was a very healthy advantage both emotionally and spiritually). Military service forced me into physical fitness which has become a life-long habit leading toward better health. My military service opened doors for ministry to many community leaders and veterans in our local area. Additional military income made it possible for us to send our children to college. The military paid for one half of my D.Min. and entirely for a Masters in Strategic Studies. In addition, I received my family health insurance through the military at about $3,600 per year which saved the congregation about $12,000 each year. Finally, now that I’m 60 years old, the retirement income I receive from the military will be the primary retirement income we have and make our future years, should the Lord grant a long life, very comfortable. The congregation did have to grant me extra time away for military duty, however, I was usually able to arrange to be in my pulpit between 46 and 48 Sundays yearly.”
“I found all of this to be in addition to the incredible opportunity to freely minister to soldiers and their families for the cause of Christ. Many of my soldiers over the years were unchurched and had no Pastor-Shepherd in their life. They had no one to speak of sin and salvation. They had no one to help them with marriage, family and life issues. I became pastor to a second, military, congregation expanding the mission outreach of my church. The church’s perspective on mission expanded through my ministry in the military.”
“I highly recommend the military Chaplaincy to young pastors (under 42 years of age) and their congregations. It will become a value-added ministry experience for both. Those interested in the ABC military chaplaincy program can begin the journey by looking on line at http://www.abhms.org/caring_ministries/chaplaincy/ and each of the services has information about their chaplaincies – such as http://www.goarmy.com/chaplain.html ”