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Against All Odds
A military alumnus feature
By Rachel Wegner 07
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After transferring to ORU in 1982 and taking up a major in English Bible and a minor in psychology, Todd was selected to return the following year as a resident advisor. However, a tragic motorcycle accident that summer left Todd hospitalized with a bruised and swollen brain. Doctors told his parents that if his brain swelled even a hairbreadth more, it would end his life.
Todd's family, friends, fellow church members and even an ORU representative for his state came to visit him and pray while he was in the hospital. After 10 days, he was released into his parents' care. Although he was finally home, Todd had a long road of recovery ahead. He suffered from symptoms similar to those of a stroke victim. His reflexes were delayed, and he was unable to place images with words, to control his laughter or to speak clearly.
"My mom tells me that I was in such overall poor condition after the wreck that my dad went out to the front steps one day and just cried," Todd said.
Todd spent the fall semester of 1983 at home. His attending neurosurgeon told him he should not return to college, that he should find something else to do with his life. But Todd was determined to succeed and decided to return to ORU for the spring semester. Although he faced multiple challenges to receiving, retaining and recalling information, Todd graduated from ORU and went on to earn his master of divinity degree from Duke Divinity School.
In retrospect, Todd said he remembers many moments of frustration as he struggled to learn. Then he'd envision his neurosurgeon telling him that he wasn't capable and should just give up.
"At the moment I got angry I remembered the scripture, 'I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,' and I refused to give up," Todd said. "By the grace of God I have come a long way."
Over the next several years, Todd became involved with the National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve and also taught at a local middle school. He eventually received a call from the U.S. Navy and was asked to be a chaplain. Today, he is assigned as a chaplain on the USS Vicksburg, which is currently deployed to the Persian Gulf.
Todd said some of his favorite parts of his job are to walk the deck and to offer a "ministry of presence." He builds relationships with his sailors and said he hopes to be seen as a shepherd of a flock. Much of what he does stems from being accessible, visible, reliable and trustworthy.
Todd also helps to connect sailors with their families back on the mainland. For example, Todd is in charge of a program known as United Through Reading, where a sailor is videotaped reading a book to his/her child or children. The DVD is then sent home to the sailor's family. Todd also sends out the nightly evening prayers at sea to the family members of the sailors. Many families have responded to him, saying they feel more connected knowing they can read the same prayer that their loved one heard at the close of each day. In all, Todd finds his job very rewarding and is grateful for the opportunity to operate in his gifts and calling.
"Whoever thought a young man with a head injury, who was told to never return to college, could one day go on to earn his M.Div. and to serve faithfully in the United States Navy as a trusted chaplain?" Todd said. "With God, we can do all things."
Troy and his wife, Donna, have four children: Jessica Kamberger, 22, Jeremy Kamberger, 21, Brittany Todd, 18 and Micah Todd, 16.
