TURNER — An honored guest is returning to Maine on Sunday, June 23. The Rev. Jeffrey Martin Young will speak at the North Turner Union Presbyterian Church, 58 Howes Corner Road, North Turner, at 9 a.m.

Many will remember Young from the ministries he and his wife Monika served in North Turner, Livermore, Leeds, Hartford, Wales and East Sumner in the mid 1970s through 1980. Young left parish ministry in fall 1980 when he was called to active duty as a chaplain at Ft. Dix, N.J. He started chaplaincy in the 133rd Engineer Battalion (Combat Heavy) in the Maine National Guard, Portland.

Rev. Young is a decorated chaplain who counseled and ministered to service men, women and their families for three decades in posts around the globe. Young was privileged to work with soldiers in Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. His final active duty assignment was as the command chaplain at the Intelligence and Security Command at Ft. Belvoir, Va.

Prior to that ministry Young worked at the Department of the Army in the Office of the Chief of Chaplains at the Pentagon. He served at all levels of the Army in both staff and teaching assignments and always remained committed to ministry in local chapels, wherever he was based throughout the world.

In 2009 Young “retired” from the Army but immediately became a senior analyst at the National Guard Bureau Joint Chaplain Office where his focus was “Warrior Care, Spiritual Fitness, Resiliency, Caregiving and Mentoring.” Young later became strategic adviser to the NGB Air National Guard Chaplain Office at Joint Base Andrews.

“We are honored to have Rev. and Mrs. Young join us for worship at their former church,” said Rev. Lissa Bradford, who is the current pastor. “Though Jeff and Monika served our area many years ago, they left a significant imprint of their love for the people of our community.”

Young said, “Monika and I feel like we are coming home, reuniting with friends who have been like family to us for more than 30 years.”

A reception will follow immediately after the service.

For more information contact Rev. Lissa Bradford at 207-233-9801.