Chaplain of the Year award given to Alabama pastor

Although he is pastor of what most people would consider a small church — Pine Level Baptist in Montgomery Association — Bob Anders’ congregation more closely resembles that of a large one. In fact, it stretches to nearly mega-sized proportions.
   
For, in addition to serving as pastor of Pine Level, Anders serves as chaplain of the 908th Airlift Wing, United States Air Force Reserve, at Maxwell Air Force Base, ministering to 1,200 plus their families, about 5,000 people total.
 
In that capacity, he preaches, counsels, visits, marries and buries because, as the reservists often remind him, in civilian terms, “I’m their pastor.”
   
Anders’ qualifications for ministry include a stint in the Army, where he served as a chaplain’s assistant, and staff positions at various churches. He graduated from California State University and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley. While serving as pastor of First Baptist Church Nanakuli in Hawaii, he joined the Air Force National Guard and was commissioned as chaplain.
   
Anders, who has acheived the rank of lieutenant colonel, is endorsed by the North American Mission Board. He came to Maxwell in 1985 when his wife, Carol, enrolled at Troy State to pursue a dream of becoming a nurse practitioner. She also is a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve and is chief nurse for the 908th Aeromedical Staging Squadron.
   
As chaplain at Maxwell, Anders’ ministry has been notable. He was awarded Chaplain of the Year in 2002 by the Reserve Officers Association, an award normally designated for active duty personnel. Last August while deployed in France, his wing commander recognized Anders for his support there.
   
His desire to be deployed may be one of the factors that has caused others to take note of Anders’ efforts. “We believe in being mobile,” Anders said, “and going to where the people are instead of waiting till they come to us.”
   
Anders went along last year when some 45 reservists were deployed to Little Rock, Ark., for two weeks supply and transportation skills training. Lt. Col. Nancy Kirk, who was commander, discovered a new appreciation for a chaplain’s ministry. “I am so thankful he was there.”
   
For example, when a pregnant reservist became ill, Anders was on site to help deal with the emotional stress of the emergency as well as practical details. He discovered which hospital she’d been taken to and went there.
   
“People don’t really realize what an asset and a resource it is to have a chaplain on deployment,” Kirk said, adding that Anders served as her sounding board, something “a commander needs sometimes.”
   
Anders also values deployment because it allows an opportunity get to know reservists and for them to get to know him. “Relationship-building is very important. That’s one of the great things about deployment.”
   
While in the field, he dines with the other reservists and works beside them. “Then when they need somebody, they know who to talk to,” he said.
   
Deployment, however, is only a part of Anders’ ministry. He ministers at Maxwell in a variety of ways. Anders said he spends enough time in the office so that he can handle counseling appointments and get paperwork done. Other times, he tries to “go to where the people are.”
   
Being mobile means Anders cannot describe a typical day in chaplaincy, other than he can be sure it involves making contact with reservists.
   
“Wherever our people go, we go.” He carries a beeper so he can be available 24/7. He conducts weddings, attends pinnings as officers are promoted, greets newcomers during unit training assembly (drill weekends), goes to induction services, plugs into humanitarian projects, makes sure he’s around when squadrons have special assignments and conducts invocations. Last year he attended 15 Christmas parties.
   
He ministers during illness and death, and encourages them through separations. “I hate to see it when families break up.”
   
His office also focuses on problems that may affect military personnel. For example, Anders took specialized training on suicide prevention.
   
“There were four to five instances in 2002 where we intervened. Sometimes you catch it earlier than other times. Sometimes you catch it in the emergency room of the hospital.” Anders also helps reservists confront the fear their work may trigger. Everyone who has been on deployment processes through the chaplaincy office. Trauma calls for critical incident stress debriefings. “We let them download, let the steam off.”
   
As their pastor, Anders also tries to help reservists find faith. For example, one reservist about to be deployed went to Anders to discuss what would happen if his plane went down. Last year Anders baptized three reservists, using the facilities at Pine Level Church.
   
He draws obvious comparisons between his two congregations. His Maxwell constituency may be larger, more mobile and need shorter sermons, but “they’re very similar,” according to Anders, “because people need a pastor, whether civilian or military.”
   
Although most reservists have churches and pastors off base, Anders understands that his responsibility to them is not limited because of that. Just as he is pastor at Pine Level, he is called to Maxwell. “I am blessed with two congregations.”