“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19)

Saints of Christ Lutheran,

Peace to you from Camp Pendleton, California, the home of the 1^st Division of the United States Marine Corps! Over the past two weeks, I’ve been adjusting to life on what we call the “Green Side” of the Navy, serving with Marines. My first assignment was with the “Blue Side”, the Sailors attached to ships. This has been a demanding and exciting change.

My new unit is easy to remember. It is the 1^st Battalion of the 1^st Marine Regiment of the 1^st Marine Division. No wonder it is called “The First of the First” or simply, V11. These are infantry Marines, affectionately called “grunts,” who do the difficult, dirty tasks necessary to defend our Nation and facilitate a world of greater peace. I’ll be honest with you that I felt a lot of emotions my first day on the job because this unit has an incredible legacy of service and courage.

What does my day to day look like at V11? I am now a pastor to US Marines. I go where they go, do (mostly) what they do, and look for ways to help them. I arrive to work around 0630 for PT-physical training. To say my over-40 body is challenged by these 18-24 year old grunts is an understatement, but I love it. I ride out to the rifle ranges where they train. I attend meetings and listen to their stories.

The US Marine Corps strongly values what is called “Spiritual Fitness.” General Eric Smith, the current USMC Commandant, recently released a new document, in which he said, “Spiritual fitness is ‘inner strength from higher purpose.’ While grit and determination are crucial, Marines and Sailors find greater strength from looking beyond themselves to higher, more enduring sources of meaning and purpose. We need something greater than self alone to meet the challenges of the ‘decisive decade’ before us.”

As a Chaplain, my purpose is to help Marines develop spiritual fitness. I look for ways to build this. Often, there are openings to share the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Recently, a Marine told me that he felt a lot of people would love a Bible Study, so I am looking to implement this soon. Each day, I am impressed by the men and women of the USMC who do hard things so we can enjoy our freedom. Meanwhile, I am glad to say my wife Megan and sons are adjusting well and finding new friends here in SoCal.

In the book of Isaiah, the Lord offers an incredible promise. God is doing a new thing! As I start my work at a new unit like V11, life is exciting and busy. Yet I lean on the truth that God is doing a new thing for each of us in Christ. Faith only asks us to keep moving forward trusting the Lord to provide for us in each new season. And God does so abundantly and more than we could imagine. I continue to thank God for Christ Lutheran and for your love, support, and prayers.

Semper Fidelis “Always Faithful”,

Chaplain Drew Goodson