Reverend Answers Call, Enlists In Army

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. -- He has been sharing his Christian faith from the pulpit for years, but a Zionsville reverend's ministry is about to take a much different path than he and his family ever expected.

After eight years leading the Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zionsville, Rev. Glen Wurdeman is leaving his congregation and his family to become a chaplain in the U.S. Army, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to reach out the love of God and Christ Jesus to the soldiers," the 47-year-old said. "I believe in the work, that there's a comfort that's needed by the soldiers as they go thorough very arduous and difficult works."

The military is currently in need of chaplains and Wurdeman said he felt it was his responsibility to answer the call so he enlisted. The decision came as a shock to his family.

"Probably first [my reaction was] 'oh boy,'" said Wurdeman's wife, Gala Wurdeman. "And that I'm proud of him for wanting to do that and just OK, here we go."

For now, the couple's children -- Andrew, David and Anna -- will remain in Zionsville with their mother. The family plans to join Glen Wurdeman in Fort Campbell, Ky., when Anna graduates from high school next year.

Wurdeman will be assigned to the 101st Airborne after the soldiers return from Iraq and Afghanistan this winter. He plans to remain in the military as long as he's needed and said that he hopes to bring peace to his fellow soldiers.

"[To show them] that even in the midst of horrible circumstances that they're not abandoned," he said.

Wurdeman will begin officer training in South Carolina on Sept. 14.