- Discipleship & spiritual formation
Sometimes, getting out of bed is all it takes to see God move. But what if it’s 1 a.m.?
Navy Lt. Ryan Daffron (O-3) knows God is faithful, even at that hour. At least once a week, when deployed, the chaplain sets his alarm for 0100. A few minutes later, he starts a conversation with the sailor monitoring the sea and dark sky.
While thousands of sailors sleep, the two start getting to know each other, talking back and forth about life, deployment and missing family.
‘What do you think about when you’re out here on watch?’ Daffron asked at one point.
In-N-Out burgers, the young man answered. The Converge chaplain couldn’t deny those burgers are great. But, he suggested, ‘Why not ask God to show himself to you?’
The sailor said he’d never done that, but he said he would. Two or three days later, the young man told Daffron he thought the Lord had actually said something.
“You just have these great conversations,” Daffron said after asking people questions about God.
That’s awesome, but no surprise since God never sleeps, always loves people and constantly looks for ways to reach us.
Daffron is not new to ministry. He invested 20 years working in West Coast churches after growing up in Ecuador, where his parents were involved in missions. But being a Navy chaplain since August 2020 is “the best job I’ve ever had,” he said.
He delights in caring for sailors, Marines and Coast Guard service members of all faiths and no faith. He facilitates religious needs for those of other beliefs whenever they ask. Daffron also advises senior officers on morale and ethics within the command. As a Converge-endorsed chaplain, he also leads worship services, performs baptisms and engages in other ministry activities.
The Navy requires chaplains to be as trained and ready as any sailor. So Daffron went through basic training and officer development school. He wears the uniform, takes orders and learns military culture, expectations and language.
He said chaplains “are pastor-missionaries into this interesting, institutional workplace that’s also men and women who are giving their lives for this country.”
That opportunity doesn’t always require Daffron to set a 1 a.m. alarm. Every night, on every ship with a chaplain, an evening prayer is heard throughout the ship.
Daffron reads his own short written devotional and prays. Then he tells everyone, “Shipmates, I’m proud of you and I love you. Chaps out.”
That’s one way sailors can know the Lord loves them, whether alone in the midnight darkness or conducting daytime missions. Some long for burgers and have no faith, while others practice Norse spirituality and miss their family.
But for all of them, at any time or in any situation, Daffron cares for them and faithfully represents the God of the Bible with love, respect and meaningful questions.
“I’ve seen God at work almost every day in big moments and in little moments,” he said.
Converge currently endorses 60 chaplains for Federal chaplain ministry with the Army, Air Force, Navy, Veteran's Administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Learn more about becoming a Converge chaplain.
