Training a force of faith

Former Pocahontas man now mentors military chaplains

To say Mark Steiner has lived a simple life would be an understatement.

Steiner, who was born and raised in Pocahontas, is a group chaplain for the U.S. Navy stationed in San Diego.

As a group chaplain, Steiner provides oversight, training and mentoring for 14 active duty chaplains and four reservist chaplains. While he has not been deployed to Iraq, he acknowledges the fact that he may possibly be deployed in the future.

During the Desert Storm war, Steiner was deployed on several occassions to the north Arabian Gulf.

"During the first two deployments I was a destroyer squadron chaplain and was hoisted via helicopter from ship to ship." Steiner said. "The deployments were great opportunities to minister our sailors and marines."

Throughout his life, Steiner has been stationed at many locations throughout the country. More recently he lived in Washington, D.C., where he served as the deputy executive assistant to the chief of chaplains.

He was in the Pentagon immediately before and after the terrorists attacks on September 11, 2001.

"After the attack, I was among hundreds of military and civilian personnel who gathered to assist in the rescue efforts," Steiner said. "When I finally returned home after the attack, my youngest daughter was in the front yard with our dog. I greeted her and asked what she was doing with the dog, she responded, 'we're bomb-sniffing.'"

Steiner's daughter's school was close to the Pentagon and she heard the explosion from the plane striking the building while she was on the playground.

Currently Steiner is in the process of writing a book in order to complete his doctorate of ministry degree.

"The purpose of the book will be to equip Christians for spiritual warfare," he said.

Steiner's lived all over the country, but he still calls Southeast Missouri home. Some of his favorite memories include fishing with his brother at a pond near his childhood home.

"Over the years, especially after I come back from being deployed, I have returned to that pond bank because it represents home," he said.

There's no doubt Steiner's experiences serving his country have shaped his life and his faith.