CEEC Chaplain Promoted
Pictured above: CH (COL) Brad Hanna, Chief of Army National Guard Religious Affairs [L] offers a welcome to the promotion ceremony of CH (LTC) David Evans [R] of the CEEC.
On Thursday, 11 January, 2024, Chaplain David Evans was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) in the District of Columbia National Guard. The promotion ceremony took place at Memorial Chapel on Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall, Arlington, VA, and was attended by several chaplains and service members, both active and retired, including Major General John C. Andonie, Interim Commanding General of the DC National Guard, as well as Chaplain Evans’s wife, Rachel-Mikel ArceJaeger, and their two sons.
The ceremony was led by CH (COL) Brad Hanna, Chief of Army National Guard Religious Affairs and featured speeches from Chaplain Evans’s former supervisors and co-workers. All of the speakers spoke of Chaplain Evans’s excellence in his work as a chaplain, his ability to transform ideas into a working project or procedure, but above all in his love and service to all those he has served during his tenure as ARNG Operations and Training Chaplain and Command Chaplain of the DC National Guard, and prior posts. All the speakers agreed that the ARNG needs more chaplains like Chaplain Evans.
CH (LTC) Evans receives his new shoulder pins from his wife and sons.
CH (LTC) David Evans offers his reflections on his promotion and his career thus far.
After the pinning ceremony, the newly-minted Lieutenant Colonel was asked to say a few words. He was very gracious in his remarks, speaking in humility about the people he had served—both under their command and as a chaplain—and the grace and power of God that has been with him throughout this journey. “Father Evans has dedicated his life and ministry to extending the love and message of the Gospel in word and deed”, said Bishop Ryan Mackey, Endorsing Agent, CEEC-USA. “His promotion ceremony not only honored his hard work and the sacrifice of him and his family, but also re-emphasized the necessity of godly men and women serving as chaplains in our armed forces and other institutions”. Bishop Mackey noted that several of the attendees spoke to the need for more qualified chaplains to serve the military. In response to Chaplain Evans’s promotion and the sentiments expressed by those present, may we “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:38, ESV).