ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–A Southern Baptist endorsed Navy chaplain received top honors at the April awards ceremony for the Military Chaplains Association. Lt. Mark Hendricks of Marine Corps Base, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, was named the Marine Corps chaplain of the year.
In a nomination sent to the Navy Chief of Chaplains, Hendricks was cited for “providing exceptional pastoral care to his Marines, sailors and family members.” As the senior Protestant chaplain on the base, he has developed a popular midweek after school program for children which has in turn helped to increase participation in chapel services.
His nomination further stated “he energized the Protestant worship and education programs with substantive preaching, teaching and quality programs designed to accelerate spiritual growth.”
Hendricks has served as a chaplain in the Navy since 1991, his first three years on a ship in Charleston, S.C. He has been in Hawaii for the past five years. Prior to joining the Navy, he was associate pastor of Lewisport Baptist Church in Lewisport, Ky from 1986-1991.
The Military Chaplains Association represents military chaplains through various political organizations, providing input on behalf of chaplains and issues chaplains are concerned with. Every year, MCA awards seven chaplains from all branches of the military, coast guard and veterans administration with Chaplain of the Year awards.
