Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 1

11112012 1 I i L. I I i LJ V.J JOURNAL GAZETTE TIMES-COURIER SERVING CHARLESTON, MATTOON SURROUNDING AREAS i WWW.JG TC.COM 1 11 4 IV "mm -74y'; k' jfc 1 Ken TrevarthanSlatt Photographef AT LEFT: Chaplain Captain Chris Linzey, senior pastor at Central Community Church in Mattoon is shown Tuesday in his office. The wooden army vehicles on his desk are gifts his parents have presented him on special occasions, Including his recent promotion to captain. Submitted photo ABOVE: Chris took a photo of his patrol cap and coffee up while at a recent training exercise in North Carolina. 'Every Operation Center runs on copious amounts of coffee, so I took a picture of my patrol cap with my coffee cup.

No matter what the Chaplain's rank, we still wear our religious insignia on our Chaplaincy is a by Sarah mii i fr IllTTTTriTI I I II BY SARAH MILLER cap instead of our Chris said. Mattoon pastor iiti'R 1 .) fit' for L. was having a tough time find ing full-time employment, Chaplain Lt. Col. Paul Linzey encouraged Chris to become a chaplain, but he wasn't interested.

"He finally said, 'Back off dad. That's your calling, not So I did," said Paul Linzey, who currently serves with the Army Reserves in the Chief Chaplain's Office in the Pentagon and lives in Bartow, Fla. "I knew from the time I was a kid that I wanted to be a chaplain," Paul said. "I had hoped that he would because I believed he would be very successful at it." The oldest of three boys, Chris changed his mind when the family came together for his brother's wedding, and in 2009, Chris joined the Army Reserves. "Chaplaincy is a nice hybrid," Chris said.

"For me, it's a perfect fit." Chris is currently serving with the 159th Military Police Battalion, headquartered in Terre Haute, Ind. While he had at one time looked into law enforcement, his assignment with the 159th" MP wasn't by choice as reserves are based off of v' i all service men and women past, present and future." The pastoral care of ministry is what Chris enjoys most about his role as a chaplain. "I love the fact that soldiers welcome me to be wherever they are. Even non-religious soldiers who would never attend my services still smile and say 'Hey, when 1 walk up," Chris said. "I believe that is because they know that my sole purpose is to care for them, regardless of their personal faith." He is trained to be a chaplain on the casualty notification team, but has not been called to perform that duty, he said.

He also has not yet been in combat, but expects his time will come. "Any soldier has to be ready to go. It's just a matter of when," he said For Chris is happy serving others, whether as a senior pastor or as a chap-' He has reserve days once a month and also for a two week span each year. During See CHAPLAIN, A2 Charleston. TUESDAY 2 p.m., Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas, Effingham Performance Center, 1325 Outer Belt West.

Effingham, www.the- 4 epc.org, 21 7-540-2788. 6-9 p.m., Marty's Fundraiser Ao benefit Shop with a Cop, Marty's, 217-345-8422. 8 p.m., Open mic, Friends and Company, 509 VanBuren, Charleston, 217-345-2380. 6:30 p.m.. Coles County Board Building and Grounds Committee meets, courthouse.

7 p.m., Coles County Board meets, third-floor meeting room, NEWSROOM: 217-235-5656 I nil it' 4 'perfect rTJiITTTTTI ing. Rather than enlist, he decided to attend Bible college, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in biblical studies from Vanguard University of Southern California and Vanguard University, respectively. He thea attended Liberty Theological Seminary to earn his Master of Divinity. While in college and seminary, Chris pastored at three churches in California, After learning that his son readers. From www.jg-tc.com, click on www.crosscountymall.com, 217-258-8513.

12-5 p.m., Downtown Areola Holiday Open House, downtown, Areola. 217-268-3576. 2 p.m., Bluegrass Acoustic Circle, Jackson Avenue Coffee, 708 Jackson Charleston, www.jacksonavenuecoftee.com," 217-345-5283. 2 p.m., "Bye. Bye Birdie," Neoga High School.

790 E. Sev-: enth St Neoga, 21 7-895-2205. p.m., Twilighters perform, Forest park, Shelbyville, 217-774-2251. 2-7 p.m., American Red Cross blood drive, Salisbury Church, Charleston. 6:30 p.m., First Sunday Submitted photo ABOVE: Chaplain Captain Chris Linzey is pictured with his father, Chaplain Lt.

Col. Paul Linzey, at the Sept. 16, promotion ceremony held at Central Community Church In Mattoon. Chris was sworn as a captain by his father during the ceremony. location, Chris said.

It was the nearest open slot to central Illinois when he moved to Mattoon with his wife, Tene, and their children, in the summer of 2011, to become a pastor at the Central Community Church. "I like the MP's. It's a good group of guys," he said. Chris has found that his duties as a chaplain and a pastor are quite similar marriage counseling, holding services, conducting retreats and overseeing funerals. "I do a lot of similar things in the army as I do here (in the church)," Chris said.

"Anything I would do as a pastor, I would do as a soldier. Being a pastor makes me a better chaplain." One experience that has defined Chris as a chaplain happened last year as he conducted a funeral for a veteran. "What struck me was that here was a gentleman whom I had never met, who was in the Army before I was even born, yet there was a link- that connected us," he said. "As a chaplain, I serve more, than the soldiers in my immediate unit. I exist to serve the spiritual needs of Charleston.

11 a.m., Veterans Day ceremony, Charleston VFW Post 1 592, courthouse square, Charleston. 11 a.m.-l p.m., Hay Livestock Auction, Arthur Sale Barn, Arthur, 21 7-543-3255. 2-4 p.m., book signing for New Apple II User's Guide," Booth Library Marvin Foyer. East ern Illinois University- www.library.eiu.edu, 217-581-6064. 2:30 p.m., Veterans Day parade, Riddle Elementary School, Mattoon.

6:30 p.m., Global Girlfriend founder presentation, Lumpkin Hall, Room 2030, EIU, JG-TC Staff Writer Gn this Veterans Day, Chaplain Captain Chris Linzey will perform the service at the Central Community Church in Mattoon in his dual role as a chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserves and a senior pastor. The 33-year-old, three-year veteran will be wearing his uniform. The question is will be be wearing his pajama-like camos or his dress uniform? His congregation will soon discover the answer. "It (Veterans Day) is about saying thank you to all who chose to serve in some uniform putting the good of their nation ahead of themselves," Chris said.

"For me, it's about celebrating that link that connects me to everyone who ever served in the Armed Forces." Growing up near San Diego, Chris experienced firsthand the link that all servicemen and women have. father. Chaplain Lt. Col- Paul Linzey, was a chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserves and the California Army National Guard, although his A 'Sunday Night Football' Houston Texans at Chicago Bears 7:20 p.m.

on NBC IF today Is your birthday; Your ability to effectively communicate with people from all walks of life will be greatly enhanced in the year ahead. You'll be able to make your points whether you do so in person or through one of your usual avenues. "Calendar" in the navigation bar, then select "Add an Event." Contact information Is required. full-time job was as pastor of their church. His grandfather was a Navy chaplain.

His two younger brothers are also active duty military. While Chris has followed in his father and grandfather's footsteps, he has taken a path all his own to get where he is today. He had always been inter ested in some sort of service, but near the end of his high school career, he didn't feel that active duty was his call- Promote your event to JG-TC Events are subject to change. SUNDAY 10 a.m.. Military Appreciation Day, Casey First Church of the Nazarene, 1000 E.

U.S. Highway 40, just east of Casey, 217-932-4522. 10 a.m., Veterans Day Parade, east on Western Avenue and then to Broadway to Peterson Park, Mattoon. 11 a.m., Veterans Day cere- mony by Mattoon American Legion and Mattoon VFW, Peter--son Park, Mattoon. 11 a.m., Veterans Day Memorial Service, Windsor Cemetery, Windsor.

12:30 p.m., Christmas Craft Show, Cross County Mall, 700 Broadway Ave. East, Mattoon, i. I 02 J38 '00002 the JG-TC 201 2 LEE Sings, Flourishes, 140 12 Main, Shelbyville, www.flourish.es-galleryandstudios.vpweb.com. MONDAY 8:30 a.m.. Veterans breakfast, Lake Crest School.

Oakland, 217-346-2166. 8:30 a.nw Veterans Day assembly, Mattoon Middle School, Mattoon. 9 a.m., Veterans Day program, Cumberland School district, high school gymnasium, 217-923-3133. 10:30 a.m., EIU Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony, in front of Old Main. Held in Old Main if inclement weather, -4- Sunday section, published in mattoon, is an edition of the herald review PUBLICATIONS, INC.

BREAKING NEWS'AND MORE: WWW.JG-TC.COM CONTACT THE Out a "O'-V 7 if i Ovei 400 Micfa Ontine.