FAITH AT THE CORE OF SOLDIERING; BISHOP NG’ANG’A VISITS KDF RANGE CAMP

Soldiers who are spiritually grounded serve with greater resilience, discipline and purpose, drawing on their faith to withstand the physical and emotional demands of military life while remaining steady in character and conduct. This was the central message delivered by the Right Reverend Wallace Ng’ang’a, Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Kenya, during a pastoral visit to KDF Range Camp in Laikipia County.

Bishop Ng’ang’a addressed troops drawn from 21 Kenya Rifles, 23, 25 and 27 Mechanized Infantry Battalions in an engagement aimed at strengthening faith, personal resilience and overall wellbeing, part of the Military Ordinariate’s continuing mission to provide spiritual care and guidance to men and women in uniform.

At the heart of his message was the conviction that faith is a soldier’s inner armour. Spiritual grounding, he said, equips personnel to withstand hardship, maintain mental and emotional stability, uphold discipline and resist destructive behaviour. A soldier anchored in faith, he noted, is better placed to retain a clear sense of purpose and exercise self-control, even when the demands of duty weigh heaviest.

Bishop Ng’ang’a urged the personnel to find peace and fulfilment in military service, reminding them that professionalism is not merely a matter of skill but of character. The bishop said peace begins with commitment to duty, readiness to serve and a positive attitude sustained even in the most demanding circumstances.

Looking beyond the barracks, the bishop placed family and personal character at the centre of a soldier’s stability. He encouraged service members to nurture strong family bonds, noting that a stable home life reinforces steadiness in service. He further counselled them to manage their resources responsibly, plan early for the future and never hesitate to seek help when confronted with stress or personal challenges.

The pastoral visit closed with a call for personnel to remain steadfast in faith, uphold high moral and ethical standards and continually draw on spiritual guidance as a source of strength both in military service and in family life.