Church of God Chaplains Commission

04/30/2026

Air Force Chaplain Chris Underwood Leads Team to Large Chapel of the Year

Congratulations to Air Force Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Underwood whose ministry team won the Large Chapel of the Year (2025) award for Air Force Special Operations Command. Chris serves as the Wing Chaplain at Hurlburt Field located in the Florida panhandle. Some of the ministry the Hurlburt Chapel team provided included 24/7 spiritual care for 65 units, ministering to 24,000 personnel and their families. They averted 88 suicides after identifying a 42% increase in suicidal ideations. Additionally, the team distributed 9,200 pounds of care packages to 1,800 deployed members and provided 10 marriage and family retreats. The team also worked with six local charities and 617 volunteers to distribute 112,000 pounds of food to over 9,000 needy individuals. Please extend a heartfelt congratulations to Chris for a job well done leading his team in such an impactful ministry.

04/22/2026

Mark Testroet Named Prison Fellowship Chaplain of the Year

The Chaplains Commission is pleased to announce Mark Testroet as the recipient of the Prison Fellowship Outstanding Chaplain of the Year Award for 2025. This award honors chaplains who have gone above and beyond to serve those behind bars, working creatively and compassionately to meet the needs of those in their facility and of their families. Chaplain Testroet was nominated by residents of the facility to recognize the exceptional, heartfelt work he performed. Additionally, Mark was also named Employee of the Year for the North Dakota State Penitentiary. We know that his vital work behind bars requires immense dedication and perseverance, and we are grateful for his hard work. Please extend to Mark congratulations for these tremendous accomplishments.

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04/21/2026

04/20/2026

Mark Testroet Named Prison Fellowship Chaplain of the Year

The Chaplains Commission is pleased to announce Mark Testroet as the recipient of the Prison Fellowship Outstanding Chaplain of the Year Award for 2025. This award honors chaplains who have gone above and beyond to serve those behind bars, working creatively and compassionately to meet the needs of those in their facility and of their families. Chaplain Testroet was nominated by residents of the facility to recognize the exceptional, heartfelt work he performed. Additionally, Mark was also named Employee of the Year for the North Dakota State Penitentiary. We know that his vital work behind bars requires immense dedication and perseverance, and we are grateful for his hard work. Please extend to Mark congratulations for these tremendous accomplishments.

04/15/2026

THE CHURCH OF GOD CHAPLAINS COMMISSION WELCOMES ASSOCIATE ENDORSER LANCE GIANNONE

The Chaplains Commission is honored to welcome Lance Giannone as the Associate Endorser for Vocational Chaplains.

Chaplain, Colonel (Ret.) Giannone recently retired from the U.S. Air Force after 25 years of service, most recently serving as Chief of Personnel, Budget, and Readiness in the Office of the Chief of Chaplains.

Before becoming a Chaplain, Lance enlisted in the Air Force in 1986 as a Dental Assistant, a role he served in for six years. It was during this time, while stationed in Germany, that he became a Christian.

Following his enlistment, Lance attended Lee University and later the Church of God Pentecostal Theological Seminary. After graduation, he re-entered the U.S. Air Force as a Chaplain and served at various locations, including the U.S. Air Force Academy, Air Force Recruiting Service, and the Pentagon, as well as deployments to Turkey and Afghanistan.

Lance is married to Christina, and they have two daughters, Sophia and Sarah. The Giannone family currently resides in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Welcome, Giannone family!

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12/15/2025

Christmas Greetings From The Church of God Chaplains Commission

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, the Church of God Chaplains Commission extends heartfelt gratitude to each Vocational Chaplain, Community Service Chaplain, and faithful partner who stands with us in this sacred calling. Your presence in workplaces, clinical facilities, correctional institutions, the military, and a multitude of community establishments reflects the light of Christ in places that need it most. This season reminds us that God entered the world with hope, peace and compassion. You continue that ministry every day through your service, sacrifice, and steadfast care. May the joy of Christ’s coming fill your heart and home, and may His guiding presence strengthen you for the year ahead. Merry Christmas and blessings to you and your family.

Please note that our offices will be closed for the holidays from December 17 through January 4 and will reopen January 5.

11/11/2025

11/10/2025

We would love for you to join us for Chaplains Week Chapel on Wednesday, November 12 at 11:00AM ET. We are excited to hear from Chaplain Sheneka Land. If you aren’t able to join us online, you can find the livestream at: https://www.ptseminary.edu/pts-chapel-spn.php

Sheneka Land is a clinical chaplain for the CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga market, working primarily at the Hixson, TN campus. Sheneka serves in the three-hospital system as a member of both the Professional Advisory Group for the Clinical Pastoral Education program and the hospital Ethics Committee.

She is board certified through the Association of Professional Chaplains. Sheneka earned a bachelor’s degree in religious education at Covington Theological Seminary and graduated with an MDiv from Pentecostal Theological Seminary where she received the 2019 Pentecostal Ministry award. She is co-author of a book: From Rejection to Validation: Letting God Redeem Your Story. Sheneka is an ordained minister in the Church of God of which she has been a member since age 9.

Land is mother to four adult sons, two daughter-in-loves, and one chihuahua. She is grandmother to a grandson and a granddaughter. Sheneka and her husband Jon currently reside in Chattanooga, TN.

09/23/2025

We celebrate a successful Community Service Chaplaincy training for the East Central Hispanic Region, which was held at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary and trained 34 new Community Service Chaplains.

Chaplain Jose Cedillo served as the instructor for this course which included participants from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. We are especially grateful for the work of Yamitza Lopez to help coordinate the training.

We are thankful for our partnership with the East Central Hispanic Region and look forward to seeing the ways that these newly equipped CSCs impact their local communities.