Lieutenant Colonel Sang Joon (Tim) Won is a Christian Reformed chaplain who has spent the past three years overseeing an intensive program that prepares military chaplains to serve as community counselors at U.S. Army installations worldwide. As director of the Chaplain Family Life Training Center in Fort Cavazos, Texas, Won is part of a team that provides over 5,000 hours of pastoral counseling annually, serving soldiers, Department of Defense personnel, military retirees, and their families. The center also trains chaplains to earn the Family Life Chaplain designation, equipping them with the skills to provide vital emotional and spiritual support to military communities.
Currently, 11 chaplains at the rank of major are enrolled in the program, undergoing rigorous academic and practical training. In partnership with Texas A&M University Central Texas, these chaplains pursue a master’s degree in counseling while completing over 500 hours of supervised counseling. Their education includes 100 hours of theological integration training, incorporating spiritual practices such as prayer and Scripture reading into their counseling practice, and 100 hours of training in evidence-based counseling methods to ensure a robust and qualified approach to providing chaplaincy services.
For Won, this role is more than a profession; it is a calling. “God’s grace motivates me to be faithful in my role,” he said. “We have two Chaplain Family Life Training Centers in the U.S. Army, and I am one of two directors entrusted with leading and training military chaplains. As a first-generation immigrant to this country, this is huge. It is such an honor and privilege to have a job that honors God, brings joy to my life, and benefits our community, the U.S. Army, and our nation.”
Having immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1983, Won experienced the challenges of marginalization. Today, as a senior Army chaplain, he embraces his leadership role with a sense of duty and humility. “I’m entrusted to lead my students with intelligence, experience, maturity, and poise,” he said. “Such responsibilities bring me joy and excitement. While acknowledging my own shortcomings, I am also proud to provide and promote cultural richness and diversity.”
One unique aspect of his time at the center has been serving alongside Chaplain (Major) Neal Muasa, a fellow chaplain from the CRC. “It is a rare occasion when two CRC military chaplains get assigned to the same installation,” Won noted. “Neal is a pleasure to work with every day. He is intelligent, mature, and grounded. During our theological integration group sessions, we often share our Reformed perspectives with other students, promoting dialogue and diversity together.”
Balancing the demands of his role requires a deep well of spiritual discipline. Won credits his ability to stay grounded to his commitment to daily spiritual practices. “Morning prayer and devotions set the attitude for the day. Listening to sermons and audiobooks during my 30-minute commute helps me learn new things. And plugging into a spiritual community through worship and Bible study sharpens my spiritual edge.”
Chaplain Won remains steadfast in his dedication to equipping the next generation of chaplains. His leadership not only affects those he trains but also reverberates throughout military communities worldwide, offering faithful support to those who serve.
“I am consistently encouraged by the ministry of our CRC chaplains,” said Rev. Tim Rietkirk, Chaplaincy consultant and endorser for Thrive. “Please continue to keep military chaplains such as Lt. Col. Won and Maj. Muasa in your prayers as they provide the ministry of presence to service members.”
About the Author
Kristyn DeNooyer is a communications specialist at Thrive, the congregational support agency of the CRCNA. She lives in Grand Rapids, Mich., with her husband and daughter.
