Chaplain Capt. Patrick Shane Moore (USAF), of Chesnee, has seen and heard it: an airman reports having a close call while serving in Iraq, then receives a card from home telling of a prayer offered up just at the time the mortar round came by.

Moore, 32, associate pastor, Arrowwood Church, Chesnee, and on the South Carolina Baptist Convention (SCBC) Chaplain Ministry Steering Committee, is serving through mid-October as a Protestant chaplain assigned to the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. He deployed to Iraq on Wednesday, July 7.

“God is good and we should all be proud of our soldiers,” Moore said from Balad. “They are living out John 15:13 (NIV): ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.’ ”

“Iraq enjoys more freedom today than it ever has,” Moore said. “My hope is that with freedom comes the gospel. We’ve got some of America’s finest paving that road.”

Moore’s ministry is at Joint Base Balad, about 42 miles north of Baghdad, which supports more than 5,000 airmen and a joint base population of about 25,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and Department of Defense and civilian contractors. Joint Base Balad is one of the largest American military bases in Iraq. It is the central hub for forces in Iraq and is the busiest single runway operation in the Department of Defense and the Air Force Theater Hospital. It is the busiest trauma center in the Iraqi theater of operations and the coalition medical hub for all of Iraq.

“I minister daily to those who go outside and look for insurgents,” he said. “They’ve seen some bad stuff - death, explosions, IEDs (roadside bombs), rocket and mortar attacks, and even buried Iraqi children. I provide spiritual support for these heroes, who are working to liberate Iraq and also secure the area around the base.

“Although they represent the toughest men the Air Force and Army have to offer, they are still broken by what they’ve experienced,” he said. “They’ve seen stuff that no one should ever see. I counsel, pray, and share the hope of Jesus Christ with each soldier and airman.”

He said, “We’ve seen young men come to Christ. We’ve seen commitments for marriages to be strengthened, for men to become better husbands all because of a closer walk with Jesus.”

Moore also leads services on Wednesday night and Sunday morning.

In addition to American forces inside and outside the base, Moore also leads three worship services each week for Ugandan Forces. The Ugandans are contracted guards who work alongside the American troops.

“Many of the Ugandans have a deep passion to live for Christ,” Moore said. “I provide worship services for them at their own schedule. They are such a blessing and I’ve learned a lot from them.”
Moore begins each day with personal prayer and Bible study, depending on Christ for the day ahead. Every day is different and comes with new challenges.

“I then visit different locations and check on my troops,” he said. “It may mean putting on full body armor and helmet, riding in a Humvee, going to towers, riding in an MRAP (armored vehicle), going to a flight line, or even walking patrol with the guys. Each day varies, but most days the troops are thirsty with questions about Scripture. Many have reconnected with or connected for the first time with what it means to live for Christ.”

Moore spends his afternoons counseling others, preparing sermons, and leading Bible studies and worship services. “We have a full worship band made up of gifted Air Force and Army volunteers,” he said. “The services are usually packed and well attended.”

Calling home to wife, Ashley, who is expecting their first child in January; exercising; and reading are generally part of an average day, too.

Moore enlisted in the Air Force after high school and felt God calling him to ministry during that time of service. After his enlistment ended, he returned to school, earning a bachelor of science degree in secondary education at Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, and then earned a master’s of divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2005. In 2007, he completed the Chaplain Basic Course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and in 2010, the EMEDS (Expeditionary Medical Support) Training, Brooks City Base, San Antonio.

“When I was in college, airmen from the local base came to campus and kept telling me that they could see me as a chaplain,” Moore said. “I prayed about it and God opened doors for me to be a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves. Besides salvation and the call to ministry, this is one of the best journeys I’ve ever been on.”

Moore’s ministry doesn’t end when he returns to the United States. He picks up his role as associate pastor at Arrowwood Church, Chesnee, where he ministers to youth and college students, and career-focused young adults.

“Shane is radically devoted to living his life for the glory of God at home and abroad,” Arrowwood pastor Daniel Godfrey said. “He will tell you that he’s tired of playing it safe and is ready to risk all to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. At home, he is my partner in ministry and is out among people all the time. I am thankful for him.”

As Moore deployed for Iraq this summer, more than 50 church members gathered at his home for prayer and fellowship. At a commissioning service, where he also preached, members came forward to pray over him. The church has rallied around his wife Ashley, Godfrey said, and prayer for the couple is at the top of the church’s prayer ministry.

Richard Sale, consultant, Chaplain Ministry, SCBC, said Moore, an endorsed North American Mission Board (NAMB) chaplain, is a key member of the state’s steering committee for South Carolina Baptist chaplains.

“Shane is one of our strongest leaders,” Sale said. “He is very dedicated - not just to the work of South Carolina Baptists and the military, but to chaplains throughout our state. He is always ready and willing to help others serving in hospitals, hospice, law enforcement, truck stops, and all those associated with state chaplaincy.” The statewide Baptist chaplaincy includes almost 400 chaplains, including 200 endorsed by NAMB.

Military chaplains, like Moore, have a significant role in South Carolina Baptist chaplaincy, Sale said. All military chaplains are trained through Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina.

Moore said, “Chaplaincy brings a global aspect to the Kingdom Building Call. I’ve been able to fulfill my passion for sharing the gospel throughout this journey in the different places the Air Force has taken me.”

The South Carolina Baptist Convention will hold its annual Chaplain’s Equipping Conference at White Oak Conference Center September 27-28. The theme of the conference is “Helping Those Who Hurt.” The course on suicide prevention is offered by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (CISM). This conference is open to chaplains, church leaders, and professionals in the field of crisis intervention. Registration information is available on-line at www.scbaptist.org/missions.