Chaplaincy Stories

Chaplain (COL) Andy Meverden Chaplain Andy Meverden (DOB: 1954) retired in December 2014 as command chaplain for the Colorado National Guard. He grew up in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin; graduating High School and enlisting in the US Army in 1972. He served an initial active military duty enlistment as a Brazilian language linguist and military language instructor at DLIWC, Monterey, California. He worked as a missionary Pastor in Portugal in the '80s and as a U.S. church pastor from 1990 to 2003. The first 14 of his 40-year military career, he served as an enlisted soldier in Military Intelligence, Psychological Operations, Medical, and Armor units before commissioning as a chaplain in the Army Reserve. During his 26 years as a Reserve/Guard chaplain, he served Military Police, Hospital, Aviation, Special Forces, and Joint Forces units. He deployed in 2002-03 to Afghanistan with the Colorado Army National Guard Green Berets. There he established conversational English classes for Afghan High School boys and girls. He also led humanitarian missions to orphans, widows, and support the local ex-patriot NGO community in Kabul. From 2015-2020 he served as Director of Chaplaincy (chaplain endorsing agent) for CBAmerica, overseeing 200 military and civilian chaplains. On March 17, 2018, he had the unique honor of serving as commissioning chaplain of the USS Colorado (SSN 788) the first nuclear submarine without a propeller! On April 1, 2020, he "retired again" to assume a part-time position as associate endorser. The son of a WW2 Soldier and Italian war bride mother, Chaplain Andy knows the pain and pride of honorable military service during war and peace. His first book published in May 2020.

Joyce grew up in Alabama in a very committed Christian home. She met her husband, Richard, in college, and upon graduating they married, and soon after, returned to Richard’s home state of Arizona where he took a position as his dad’s assistant in the bi-lingual, inner-city church he grew up in. In 2004, God called the Mercados to plant a church in Goodyear, Arizona, which is where they serve today. They have now served in ministry full-time for over 35 years.

Joyce comes to VCN with an extensive background in administrative work. After working in Christian education for 8 years, Joyce moved into the political consulting field where she worked as an Office Manager, Project Manager and then Operations Manager. After leaving the political field, Joyce joined the team of a Christian non-profit advocacy group as the Executive Assistant to the President. Her background in ministry, management, and administrative work in both the corporate and non-profit worlds has prepared her for her role as Executive Assistant for Dave.

Joyce and Richard have 4 grown children spread across the country from Arizona to South Carolina to New York City. They enjoy their grandson Gus and are anticipating the addition of twin girls in the Spring.

Joyce enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, walking in the desert foothills, being a grandma, eating out, and traveling. She enjoys meeting new people and encouraging those around her in their walk with God so that they can live victorious, content, committed Christian lives.

Chaplain Brandt began his military career in 1976, enlisting in the United States Air Force as a Dietary Technician right out of high school. After a spiritual conversion he exited active duty in 1980, joined the Air National Guard as an Air Force Cook and attended Bible College and Seminary in Denver, CO. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Chaplain Candidate, while attending Denver Seminary in 1988. He was called to active duty as an Army Chaplain in preparation for Desert Shield/Desert Storm in January of 1991 and served his first Chaplain assignment with the 17th Signal Battalion, Frankfurt Germany and Kitzingen, Germany (1991-1993). Other assignments include Chaplain Officer Advance Course, Fort Monmouth, NJ (1994); Battalion Chaplain 1-8 IN, 4ID, Fort Carson, CO; Brigade Chaplain 3rd BDE, 4ID, Fort Carson, CO (1994-1997); Clinical Pastoral Education, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX (1997-1998); Chief, Dept. of Ministry and Pastoral Care, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, KY (1998-2001); Chief of Plans, Training, Operations, and Resource Management, U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM), Fort Sam Houston, TX (2001-2003); Brigade Chaplain, 2BCT, 1ID, Schweinfurt, GE and Tikrit, Iraq (2003-2005); Family Life Chaplain, Schweinfurt, GE (2005); Garrison Chaplain, Ledward Brks, Schwienfurt, GE (2006), Director of Pastoral Care - United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB), Ft. Leavenworth, KS (2006-2008); Deputy MEDCOM Chaplain, Ft. Sam Houston, TX (2008-2010); Personnel Assignments Officer, Office of the Chief of Chaplains, Pentagon, Washington, DC (2010-2013); Senior Military Corrections Complex and 15th MP BDE Chaplain as well as Director of Pastoral Care, USDB (2013-2014); Command Chaplain for the Western Regional Medical Command, JBLM, WA (2015); Command Chaplain for Regional Health Command Pacific (Provisional), JBLM, WA (2016); Command Chaplain for the Regional Health Command – Central at Ft. Sam Houston TX (2016-2018); He retired as the JBLM Garrison Chaplain, JBLM, WA (2018-2019).

Chaplain Brandt is endorsed by the Conservative Baptist Association of America (CBAmerica) and has 43 years of combined military service (AD AF, AFNG, Army Reserve, and AD Army), the last 32 as an Army Chaplain. He is currently serving as the Director of Chaplaincy for CBAmerica.

Chaplain Brandt’s military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (6), Army Commendation Medal (2), Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2), Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2), Iraqi Campaign Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Air Force Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (5), the Air Force Training Ribbon, and the Combat Action Badge.

Chaplain Brandt is married to the former Ms. Julie K. Widner and they have two daughters, Sarah (31) and Rebecca (28).