Southern Seminary Magazine (Vol 90.1) The Light of Truth: Apologetics in the 21st Century

alumni
kitchens, sbts alum,
promoted to air force
chief of chaplains
by travis hearne
In 1994, Captain Claudia Foss couldn’t sleep. She thought
she believed in God, but her family didn’t go to church,
and she never considered becoming a Christian.
Then desperation kicked in.
After exhausting all other options, Captain Foss, a
rising star in the Air Force, called her chaplain. Randy
Kitchens, a young Baptist minister just four years removed
from seminary, answered.
Twenty-eight years later, Foss continues to write and
speak publicly about that night when Kitchens shared the
beauty of the gospel with her. Soon after, Kitchens baptized
Foss as a Christian in an indoor pool.
But Foss is just one. One of the many American airmen
and airwomen touched by the life and ministry of
Kitchens. Kitchens remains called to serving his God
and country. And God has multiplied his role. Last year,
Kitchens achieved the rank of major general and rose
to become Air Force Chief of Chaplains with the unanimous
consent of the Armed Services Committee.
“My promotion was a humbling experience and I recognize
the magnitude of this responsibility,” Kitchens
said. “My family has always supported God’s call and
leading within my life, career, ministry and military service.
My parents, wife, children, and their families are
excited about this new level of leadership and service,
especially for a time such as this.”
Kitchens will lead the Department of the Air Force
Chaplain Corps—consisting of 2,200 active and reserve
chaplains and religious affairs airmen. He will also continue
serving on the Armed Forces Chaplains Board by
providing insight to the Secretary of Defense and the
Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters related to religion, ethics
and quality-of-life.
“I realize that God’s calling upon my life and new
areas of service have prepared me for the present and
future,” Kitchens said. “As a pastor at Big Coppitt First
Baptist Church in Key West, Florida prior to seminary,
I learned a great deal about ministry, identity, service,
love, compassion, and people that created a great
foundation—which then blossomed during my time at
Southern Seminary.”
Chaplain Kitchens was ordained as a Southern Baptist
minister in 1983. He joined the Air Force Reserves
in 1987 and served as both a Chaplain Candidate and
Chaplain. In 1989, he received a master of divinity from
Southern. Entering active duty in the Air Force in 1993,
Kitchens went on to earn a PhD from Louisiana Baptist
University in 2001.
Said Kitchens, “Both of our children were born while
my wife Sherri and I learned all we could grasp about
ministry, missions, theology, scripture, and methodology.
I began my military career as a USAF Reserve Chaplain
Candidate with summer training during those years
at Southern. This aided my framework and understanding
of theological pluralism within military chaplaincy
and greatly prepared me for chaplaincy and my role today
as Chief of Chaplains for the US Air Force and US
Space Force.”
The road to promotion, however, wasn’t always easy.
In 2017, Kitchens overcame a cancer diagnosis which
resulted in surgery.
“While many have called this a miracle, I have called
this a journey of faith and trust in my God who has
guided, delivered, prompted, and ordered my steps and
movements during my life. Overcoming this challenge
has given me a greater understanding and resilience
during difficult times, which enables me to live each day
and lead each person with a renewed compassion and
fervor unlike before.
“Pray for the Lord to give me wisdom as I serve the
religious needs of our Airmen, Guardians, and their families,
and for the Lord alone to be glorified in my new
ministry responsibilities.”
summer 2022
55