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OUR MISSION:

To assist in the training and encouragement of international evangelical Christian chaplains worldwide and in the establishment and growth of chaplaincies worldwide which include evangelical Christians.

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How did the IAEC get started? It was really interesting. The Military Christian Fellowship of Brazil was holding a national conference in 1977. They invited several other countries to send delegates, and six countries, including the United States, sent delegates. A special meeting was announced for all the leaders which turned out to be an opportunity for a delegate from Angola to talk to us. He told us he was Major Leo Sungo from the Angolan Air Force, and that the reason he was in Brazil was to attend a Baptist seminary. He wanted to become the first chaplain in the military of his country. Since Angola was a communist country at that time it was an almost impossible dream. After he shared all his difficulties with us we spent some time in prayer with him. Talking about it afterwards, an idea hit us like exploding fireworks. Those of us from the United States who were there remember it clearly because it was the 4th of July. We sensed the Lord saying it was time to form some sort of organization to help people like Leo who dreamed of becoming chaplains to the military of their nations. One delegate said “This is just like when Paul received the call from Macedonia.”

To make an idea become a reality is not easy. But God had already arranged for this before hand. One of the US delegates was Chaplain (Colonel) James Edgren who was at that time the Executive Director of the National Association of Evangelicals Commission on Chaplains. He had been invited to the conference in Brazil to talk to a small group of Evangelical chaplains in the Brazilian Armed Forces. So Jim took the idea to his Commission suggesting that they start such an organization. They approved the idea, making the IAEC a ministry of their organization, and Jim became the Executive Director.

The concept was to provide a community. A community where Evangelical chaplains, those preparing to become chaplains, and those doing the work of chaplains in their respective military and security forces communities, even if not recognized officially, could feel at home. It would be a place where they:

  • belonged
  • had an identity as a chaplain
  • were not alone
  • could communicate with others to share prayer requests and victories
  • could learn about what chaplains do
The IAEC created this community by giving Certificates of Membership, holding International Conferences, creating a Prayer Shield, and teaching Chaplain Training Courses.



The IAEC grew rapidly. After holding International Conferences in Austria, the United States, Brazil and the Philippines, and conducting training classes in Singapore, Argentina, the Philippines and Trinidad, the IAEC had members in 58 countries and five continents. It had affiliated with the World Evangelical Alliance. At that point a decision was made for the IAEC to become an independent organization, no longer a ministry of the Commission on Chaplains. That happened in 2006.

So that is how the IAEC got started and grew to where it is now. It really is interesting, isn’t it? We praise God for what He has done.