European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 5, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse What a the Good word Afna a Rapske delivers it by Peggy Davidson staff writer sometimes he thinks about attitudes or courage crisis or happiness. Sometimes its Faith or objectivity hanukkah or Christmas. Chaplain maj David a. Rapske makes no secret about the things he thinks about. He tells anyone who listens to american forces network radio what s on his mind. Rapske san program word in the world. Focuses on the everyday topics of life. He tries to make the Early morning messages mean something to the Soldier or airman or Sailor who May not make it to a formal worship service. A we an get complaints from both sides Quot he said. A you walk a real thin rope because you get people from the very religious right who say. A its More world than at that Point i have to respond that i m not really talking to them. The person i m talking to is the Soldier who does no to have his formation until after lie s heard word in the world. A a it a the person who s written on the door in the ladies latrine in Heidelberg sometimes i think about things like those Are the kind of people in a really talking a Rapske 42, from Olympia wash., received his masters degree in communications from Wheaton College in Illinois before arriving at an in june 1990. The 12-year army Veteran is responsible for producing two radio programs and providing the quotes for an to inspiration spots. Those spots Are a mix of old and new Testa ment scriptures and writings from islam hinduism and buddhism combined with the words of philosophers such As Voltaire . Lewis and Tolstoy. On word in the world Rapske slants the program toward w whatever religious or secular Holiday is approaching. In november the program highlighted thanksgiving. Early december highlighted hanukkah. Late december highlighted Christmas. Despite his efforts toward balance Rapske says he still gets complaints. If the Baptist chaplain does no to include religions outside his own lies accused of ignoring them. When Rapske includes them he says he a accused of tokenism. Despite the criticisms Rapske says he likes hearing from listeners. A a in a most critical of the people sitting in the pews on saturdays and sundays who say nothing a he said. Quot one of these Days we re going to lose this kind of ministry and its going to be because of apathy and people who Are silent. A when its gone they re going to really fight like crazy to get it Back and will not get it. That s my fear not the people who Rapske is Quick to Point out that an radio s word in the world and sounds of sunday and an tvs inspiration spots Are not his alone but Are part of the Usa eur command chaplain s program. Quot i just produce them. The local Cam Mand information people decide when they Are aired. 1 also gel real aggravated seeing the same spot three times in one word in the world airs on weekdays after the b . And s . News on an s am stations and after the b . News on i m. The show recently won first place in the army s Media com petition. Sounds of sunday airs on am from s . To 1 1 . It offers Christian music interspersed with Rapske s comments Rapske says he feels his radio and to efforts complement what the Community and unit chaplains do. A we consider ourselves a real part of the big team the Usa eur Rapske who works in a crowded office overlooking the front Entrance to Afna a Headquarters in Frankfurt. Germany is a bit chagrined at the notoriety that goes along with being a Media personality. He says that being recognized on the Street is uncomfortable. And he worries that some Scarvie members or their families May View him in the same Light As stateside televangelists. A this electronic playground Here. That we use to get our message out sometimes gets in the Way Quot he said. A part of that has to do with the Aura about radio and in defining his ministry Rapske said Quot i m not Here on this Earth to answer a lot of questions. I m Here to pose a lot of questions. A what we re All called to do is to Deal with the questions of life. That a far More important than the sometimes. Rapske ponders those unanswered a amps Poggy Davidson chaplain maj David Kupske lets an listeners know what s on his mind. Questions of life sharing his thoughts w Ith w Horn Ever will listen. He adds with the Ignoll lie uses on radio. A sometimes i think about things like Christian Soldier marching off to War chaplain a Apt Dean Bonura came face to face with his own mortality and found that he could face it with peace. Quot it was exciting it was tiring Quot said Bonura who deployed to operation desert shield with the 5b 1 St Supply and service in from fort Campbell by. In october 1990. Quot i had to realize that i May not come Back. I had to ensure that i was right with god. There was no special favor upon me that would keep me from getting killed. That was settled and 1 had Quot i had a lot of time to prepare a he said "1 talked to my wife to my children to god just made sure i was at peace with the whole thing. Quot it was kind of a confirmation of a this is what in a in the military for this is Why in a a chaplain a a he said. Quot i Felt Good about going Good about what i was Bonura a Baptist minister and father of Lour sons returned to the states from saudi Arabia in May. He has been the Grefrath Germany military sub Community chaplain since september. Of his time in the desert the 35-year-old said a after a while you just got used to being there knowing that you could not protect yourself. You were vulnerable and you did the Best you could to take military chaplains do not carry weapons. In Battle the chaplains assistants Are responsible Lor the safety of their chaplain. Bonura said that at no time during his eight months in saudi Arabia was he in danger. The army chaplain said he and his soldiers Quot put thousands of Miles on our vehicle. We went hours in every direction at one Point he was responsible Lor More than 1.50 1 soldiers in dozens of locations. Quot i would do live to it services a Bonura said. Quot some chaplains did a whole lot at Small Sites Bonura conducted services for anywhere from half a dozen to 45 soldiers. Up to 150 soldiers would attend services when he reached the Assembly area. The first Assembly area his unit reported to was guardian City. As the troops moved so did Boner no a unit ministering to Active duty. Reserve Anil National guard soldiers. The chaplain s role also involved comforting nervous soldiers. Quot they were concerned about where the command was going what they were doing because they did no to have the big picture Quot he said. Quot there were a lot of rumours and i would try to dispel those rumours. That was one of my Bonura said Many people had the feeling that a a in a Here for a purpose and god is in some Way working in my life. I know that in a going to learn something from this experience. Quot there were commitments made in the desert that really have affected Peggy Davidson a amps Peggy Davidson chaplain a Apt Dean Bonura ministered to troops in operation desert storm. .januar/5 a Sunna a Page
