Chaplain (Col.) Roy Mathis U.S. Army, Retired, pins 1st Lieutenant bars on Chaplain (1st Lt.) Greg McVey as he is commissioned to U.S. Army Chaplaincy on Sunday, June 4. For the first time in 40 years, a new U.S. Army chaplain has been commissioned in Gaffney.

Chaplain (1st Lt.) Greg McVey, former assistant pastor of Cherokee Creek Baptist Church, began basic training June 11 in Fort Jackson. After 12 weeks there, he will report to Fort Stewart, Ga., assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division.

He was commissioned as both chaplain and 1st Lieutenant on Sunday, June 4, by Chaplain (Colonel) Roy Mathis, U.S. Army, retired.

McVey is officially entering the military for the first time.

"It's kind of a relief to finally be in this position," he said.

McVey said he has wanted to be a part of the service since he was a child.

"I grew up around the military," he said. "But when I was 18 years old, the Lord called me to the ministry. I thought, 'So much for the military.'"

He went on to study religion in college. He met and came to respect a number of chaplains and realized he wanted to be one as well.

"I kept praying for the Lord to allow me to do it," he said. "In the summer of 2004, God opened doors for me. The Lord's timing is perfect timing."

McVey began to work on meeting the requirements for chaplain.

"The majority of people have no idea what it takes to be a chaplain," he said.

To be considered for the position, a person must have a Masters of Theology (a 90-hour degree), meet the physical requirements, be under the age of 35 and have an endorsing agency of believers that show their support. The endorsing agency selects the person as a representative of their own morals and beliefs.

McVey and Mathis say they see the chaplain position as being a missionary to the military.

"The military is a mission field," McVey said. "I think it's easy for people to forget that soldiers have the need to be ministered to, and chaplains help to meet that need. They act as a pastor for soldiers. They preach, counsel, and conduct funerals and weddings as any pastor would."

"You have to go where the soldiers go," Mathis said. "During war time, it's extremely intense. You have 100 percent attendance at every service and lots of chances to share the gospel."

McVey says the most important aspect of all this is the support of his wife, Conli.

"If I had all but that, I wouldn't go," he said. "I have to have her full support."

The McVeys have three children: Ashley, Alexis and Shane.

McVey will be based in Fort Stewart in Savannah, Ga.

Mathis is the only other person in Cherokee County who has been commissioned as a chaplain. He served in the army for 30 years, traveling to Vietnam, Turkey, Germany, all through the U.S., and the Pentagon. He served as active duty army chaplain for 24 years and reserve chaplain for two years. He is the recruiter for the U.S. Army Chaplaincy for South Carolina. Mathis closed the commissioning service with a prayer: "And when Greg comes to the completion of his service in the military, may it be said by every soldier under his ministry 'A man of God walked among us.'"