First Baptist pastor closes out Army career as chaplain with 9 baptisms in North Atlantic Ocean

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. (KT) – A Kentucky Baptist pastor had a memorable “last hurrah” in the U.S. Army.
Brigade chaplain, Maj. Tyler Shields, the senior pastor at First Baptist Barbourville, baptized nine soldiers in the North Atlantic Ocean during the annual training TREADEWINDS 25 in Trinidad and Tobago in his last assignment in the Army National Guard.
A 20-year veteran in the Guard, Shields said he began praying about the assignment’s potential months ago. In 10 years as chaplain, Shields said he has shared the gospel multiple times, but this was the first time he had the opportunity to baptize any soldiers.
“When I found out where we were going and looking at the layout, it was right on the ocean,” Shields said. “Knowing this was my last big event in the military, I started praying about being able to baptize. That’s when I started planting those seeds and there were nine soldiers that got baptized, including several from my unit.”
Shields said it was the perfect way to end 20 years of service.
“I told my family over the past 20 years I’ve done some incredible things in the Army and seen some incredible places,” he said. “This was the pinnacle. It is the best thing I’ve done in the past 20 years.”
The pastor said he would be sharing about the experience on Sunday morning, and it is the primer for the following Sunday when FBC Barbourville and Piney Grove Baptist, a church they helped revitalize, have a river baptism planned.
As for stepping away from the Army National Guard, Shields said “it’s a mixed bag of emotions. It is something I’ve done my entire adult life. It’s a big change, a big shift that will free me up some to focus more on church and family, and I only have to travel when I want to.”
He said it has been a great experience in the Army. “I’ve been all over the world. It has been a joy.”
When he joined at the age of 18, Shields did it with the goal of being a chaplain.
“At 18, I had a way to go,” Sheilds said. “Chaplains have to be educated. I had a lot of incredible experiences in the meantime doing combat-related jobs, but I am ending on a high note by baptizing these folks.”
Shields said that being a pastor has made him a better chaplain and being a chaplain made him a better pastor.
He has faithfully preached the gospel to soldiers for the past 10 years all while leading FBC Barbourville with great success. “We can’t require them to come (to services). I’m there to support everybody’s First Amendment rights. As a Baptist preacher, I offer services when we can. You are a pastor for those soldiers assigned to you.”