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By Ayanna Eckblad

Thorne Crest Senior Living Community, owned by American Baptist Homes of the Midwest, welcomed a new chaplain about a month ago.

The Rev. Charles Alkula is an ordained clergy of the United Methodist Church. He has been in ministry for 32 years. Prior to moving to Albert Lea, Alkula served at a church in Boulder, Colorado, for five years.

“All these different experiences have led me here,” he said.

Alkula is originally from Ohio, but his education, military service and work in ministry have taken him to many different parts of the country and the world.

“When people ask me where I’m from, I always hesitate, because I’m not sure how far back I should go,” Alkula said. He added he and his wife of 27 years, Belinda, have moved 17 times since getting married.

He said he first became interested in Minnesota while staying with friends in a cabin north of Aitkin. Alkula and his wife fell in love with Minnesota, he said, and he began looking for opportunities to move to the state.

Alkula described his true passion as learning. He holds several degrees, including a bachelor’s degree from ​​Texas Christian University; a Master of Education from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina; a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from the Theological School of Drew University.

He said he is considering possibly getting a degree from Riverland Community College if he finds something that interests him.

In addition to many years of higher education, Alkula also served in the U.S. Army. Before serving in ministry, he was an officer in the Army.

“When I was in the Army in Fort Jackson, a commander there, one of the training battalions, I thought the chaplains were saving my troops’ lives. I mean, they had that kind of impact on people,” he said.

Alkula himself did not pursue a career in ministry until after he was done working as an officer in the Army. While living in a suburb of Washington, D.C., he arrived at church late one Sunday and had to sit in the first pew. That day, the pastor’s sermon was on the call of being a disciple. The pastor invited people who felt they were being called to serve to come forward, and Alkula decided to come forward.

To this day, Alkula said he is amazed that he can make a living talking to people about God.

After becoming an ordained minister and serving at two parishes, Alkula served as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy.

At one point, while serving at Camp Lejeune, he got to do a funeral for one of the sailors killed at the Pentagon during the 9/11 attacks.

His role in the Navy also took him to places around the world such as Japan and England.

Now, living in Albert Lea, Alkula said he is looking to put down roots and stay as long as possible.

“We’re just excited to be here,” he said. He added everyone in the community has been very welcoming and encouraging.

Learning to be a chaplain in an institutional setting, Alkula said, has taken some learning, but the staff at Thorne Crest have been very helpful.

He said he loves working with the residents, staff and families at Thorne Crest. The staff, especially, show a level of caring he said he knows is genuine.

Alkula considers each branch of care Thorne Crest provides — skilled nursing, independent living, assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation therapy and respite care — as separate congregations with their own different needs. Being a chaplain at a senior living community, he said, allows him to get to know the people he works with on a more individual level than he would be able to do serving a traditional congregation.

His main job, he said, is to listen to people. He said he is not there to fix anyone, and he does not want something from them.

“Everyone has a story to tell, even people who think they’ve never done anything or been anywhere,” he said. “I get to be part of their sharing [of] their life. It’s a privilege that I never take for granted.”