While deployed in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Chaplain Micheal Anderson and the Task Force Brawler Unit Ministry Team (UMT) offered a special Good Friday “Stations of the Cross” experience 30 March during Holy Week.

For five hours, the UMT used the Task Force conference room to establish eight prayer stations, all focused on the crucifixion of Jesus. Participants could move freely and take time to reflect, guided by the instructions printed at each station. The stations were multisensory, including feeling a crown of thorns, hammering a nail, and tasting bitter vinegar. The use of red chem lights and audio/video presentations added to the dramatic feel of the event.

“[It is] difficult to put Jesus’ suffering into perspective," one participant said. "Yet, physically going through these stations provides a glimpse of what our Savior experienced on our behalf.”

Additional participants said the biggest takeaway was acknowledging the need to set time aside for Christ, no matter where someone may be. 

This drop-in service was a convenient way to allow busy soldiers to tend to their spiritual lives. Multisensory stations allowed for maximum impact for different personalities. This event, among other Holy Week events, helped to prepare these believers for the celebration of Easter Sunday.

"The Church of the Nazarene can be proud of this young chaplain," said Don Wilson, military chaplain endorser for the denomination. "He creatively used the materials that he could gather to make a significant place of worship for the soldiers on Good Friday."

--NCN News submissions

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