Over 200 United States Marine Corps recruits have been baptized in recent months at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot in South Carolina, led by Nazarene Military Chaplain LT Timothy West, USN.

West has served as a military chaplain on assignment to Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot since 2023 . Parris Island is one of the Marine Corps’ two locations where recruits can complete their basic training. It’s not West’s first stop at Parris Island. 

In 1997, both he and his future wife came to Parris Island as young Marine recruits. West served in the Marine Corps for eight years. After completing his service, he went on to pastor with the Church of the Nazarene for 15 years, serving churches in Virginia and New Jersey before becoming a military chaplain. 

West says his service and similar experience give him “street cred” with many of the young recruits.

“You speak their language,” West said. “I was deployed with a child being born. I’ve been in those areas. You’re one of them immediately versus waiting for and earning that trust.”

West leads the Protestant services on Sunday morning at the base. Between 1,000 to 5,000 recruits attend during the main basic training dates.

“I get to represent the Church of the Nazarene and our theological principles at those services,” West said.

West is one of roughly 100 Nazarene military chaplains, according to Nazarene Military Chaplain Endorser Col. Jeffery Hawkins. All military chaplains must be ordained elders in the Church of the Nazarene and have earned a Master of Divinity degree. On top of that, they must be eligible for active military service. Hawkins says military chaplains are “sent from the church, by the church, beyond the church.” 

Similar to a pastoral role, West cares for anyone who comes to him for guidance, regardless of rank, role, or religious background. That care often includes walking them through homesickness during the 13-week basic training or coping with other issues from their past. 

Hawkins said that as recruits face some of the most challenging circumstances of their life, they’re searching for something to believe in and help them overcome their challenges.

“What a beautiful place to have the gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed by somebody like Tim West, who’s saying, ‘Hey, it’s great that you’re a Marine. But the deepest, most important decision you’ll ever make is not just to be a United States Marine, but even more importantly, to follow Jesus Christ and to find him to be real in your life,’” Hawkins explained.

Baptism has become a way for many recruits to express and share their newfound faith. West says many come in not practicing any religion or aren’t doing so faithfully and consistently. 

“But as they come into this environment, [the recruits] find things they didn’t even know they were missing,” West said. 

Those who sign up to be baptized attend a class to learn more about baptism and what it entails, and then go to the pool to carry out the baptisms.

During a service in October, West baptized 133 Marine recruits. The following month, he baptized more than 80 and has yet another large group signed up to be baptized in the coming weeks.

“It’s pretty remarkable what God is doing here,” West said.