A Message of Faith, Hope and Patriotism from Lt. Zack Parker, Chaplain, USN

A Special Message from Washington D.C. to the Space Coast

Lt. Zack Parker, Chaplain, U.S. Navy, will be authoring Space Coast Daily a special devotional message on the first day of each month. Lt. Parker, a Merritt Island High School graduate, is currently stationed in Washington, D.C. and is the Installation Chaplain of the Washington Navy Yard, which is the oldest shore command in the United States.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – We recently lost an American hero– Jim Lovell, retired United States Navy Captain and Apollo astronaut. His patriotic legacy leaves us with stories of courage and timeless words of inspiration. After reading numerous tributes to Lovell, one quote struck me, as it echoed deeply with my own upbringing on Merritt Island, FL. 

We do not just look at the stars; we learn how to reach them.”

On Christmas Eve 1968, Lovell led the crew of Apollo 8 as they orbited around the moon. That evening, each member famously took turns reading verses 1 – 10 from the first chapter of the Book of Genesis detailing the creation of the heavens and the earth to over 10 million viewers.

The Apollo crew looked at the stars, learned how to reach them, and then declared to the world who made them.

Lovell was raised Presbyterian and found purpose in his faith throughout life. On Christmas Eve, the day before Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, astronauts orbiting the moon read from the Bible to the whole world. Coincidence?

Have you ever been walking through Publix or Walmart and encountered someone you were just thinking about (or talking about)? Have you ever experienced a reflective mood, and a song turns on that captures exactly how you felt in that moment? What about scrolling through social media or phone memories and a picture of someone that has been heavy on your heart pops up?

Whatever the case may be, do you primarily resort to thinking of situations like these as a coincidence, random, or happenstance? Or that something (or someone) bigger is at play?

In life, we experience many events and details that may appear as a coincidence, but with faith, it can be seen as God working out his plan.

The Bible is scattered with what theological scholars call “divine arrangements” that perfectly support the reliability of the God’s Word.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

God has a special way of revealing divine arrangements in our lives, whether on large platforms or in little places.

For me I first noticed these divine arrangements near the intersection of Pineda Causeway and South Tropical Trail.

It was there, by the roadside, that I first noticed the sign welcoming travelers to Merritt Island, Florida:

“Welcome to Merritt Island…Where Dreams are Launched”

My parents divorced when I was in preschool and early on my mom lived in Melbourne while my dad resided in Merritt Island. The split custody arrangement meant weekly handoffs at this rendezvous point.

As a child on the Space Coast, I learned legendary names like Jim Lovell, John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin, and of course, Neil Armstrong. This sign stirred my imagination and cultivated a desire to learn how to dream and maybe even launch to the moon someday myself.

In retrospect, the sign also provided an escape from the instability of moving between two homes each week.

During second grade at Tropical Elementary, I had a pivotal year. A first ballot Hall of Famer in my life – my teacher, Mrs. Faye Ernst, blended tenderness with toughness. She was the quintessential elementary teacher. Her steady presence strengthened my character and challenged me to work hard.

She was a proud alumnus of Florida State University, and I was an impressionable young boy who loved sports. She modeled what it meant to carry both school spirit and high expectations. From that year and on into eternity, I proudly embrace the garnet and gold – and still to this day, I cannot understand how anyone likes the color combination of orange and blue!

When I began sporting FSU shirts to school, Mrs. Ernst reminded me that dreams don’t just come true by wishful thinking; we must learn how to reach them.

Three years later, in fifth grade, my dad took me to my first Florida State football game at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL.

Surrounded by a beautiful array of brick buildings and southern charm, there was no question – this was the place for me. Before the game, we sat down for an early lunch with a former babysitter and family friend, now a proud student at Florida State.

Over pizza and laughter, she spoke about campus life and mapped out what I would need to do if I hoped to one day call FSU my home as well. After departing from the local restaurant, we began making our way to the stadium among 83,000 other fans clothed in garnet and gold.

One might call it a coincidence, while another may call it a divine arrangement, but a sea of fans had parted, and there was the tender and tough Mrs. Ernst. Shocked and surprised, we hugged, smiled, and marveled at the moment.

As I write this, it still warms my heart.

Between the weekly visits to the Merritt Island sign, the wisdom from Mrs. Ernst, and the support of an unconventional but loving family, I graduated from Merritt Island High School and headed up to Tallahassee. I am now a proud alumnus of Florida State University. It wasn’t until 15 years later that I would see Mrs. Ernst again.

The clock was ticking, and it was about 10 minutes before I’d watch a beautiful, God-fearing woman walk down the aisle to take my hand in marriage. We were holding our wedding ceremony at Calvary Chapel in North Merritt Island. Because both of us had grown up in Brevard, we invited just about everyone we knew.

In a crowd of a little less than 83,000, but 700 strong, I was hustling around to huddle up my 12 groomsmen to thank them for their brotherhood and friendship over the years. But before I did that, I went searching for my dad to give him one more hug.

As we looked at each other with tears of joy in our eyes, he noticed someone walking through the entrance.

“Zack, look who it is.”

One might call it a coincidence, while another may call it a divine arrangement, but there was Mrs. Ernst, accompanied by my sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Bray, another first ballot Hall of Famer and Florida State alumnus, with smiles a mile wide. They both pulled me in and squeezed me like I was the little boy they once had in class.

God has a special way of revealing divine arrangements in our live,s whether on large platforms or in little places.

He can reveal himself through astronauts orbiting the moon, on the roadside to comfort a little child, or at a moment’s notice on a special day.

Most notably, he revealed himself through his son Jesus, who died for us, rose again, and offers forgiveness of sins.

Next time something appears to be a coincidence, I encourage you to take a minute and explore if there is something (or someone) bigger at play.

It might just be a reminder that God is working out his plan.

Whenever we take a trip back home to Merritt Island, I try to go visit the sign at the intersection of Pineda Causeway and South Tropical Trail.

During those weekly handoffs, as a child, life felt unstable, but the sign does not serve as an escape anymore.

Now, when passing by, I am reminded “…for those who love God all things work together for good…”

Because since then, my parents reconciled and have become great friends over the years. Truly a dream come true.

Sponsored by Erdman Automotive.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In August 2020, Chaplain Parker reported for active duty as a staff chaplain at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL. While aboard NAS Jacksonville, he spearheaded an initiative selected as a 2022 Navy-wide best practice and was published by Pennsylvania State University’s Clearinghouse for Military Readiness.

In January 2024, Parker reported as command chaplain to the USS RAMAGE (DDG 61), supporting the crew in a permanent homeport change from Norfolk, VA, to Mayport, FL. Parker earned the Surface Chaplain Officer qualification pin onboard and was awarded 2nd Place at the Surface Navy Association’s National Symposium for his team’s video production.

In August 2025, Parker reported as installation chaplain to the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. His scope includes supporting 33,000 Sailors, civilians, and contract personnel across seven National Capital Region fence lines.

He serves as an adjunct professor for Liberty University, instructing courses in ethical leadership, spiritual growth, and professional chaplaincy studies.

Parker began his formal education at Florida State University, graduating with a B.A. in Editing, Writing, and Media (2012). He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Liberty Theological Seminary (2016) and a Doctor of Ministry degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2020). Chaplain Parker has been awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (1 gold star), and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

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