Ret. U.S. Army Maj. Chaplain Mike R. Keifman will conduct an installation of elders, deacons, and church officers at Edgemont Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Sunday at 11 a.m.
The service will also include the ordination of a new elder.
Keifman is a former pastor of Johnson Creel ARP Church in Alleghany County. He served at Johnson Creek ARP from June 1999 to December 2002.
Keifman was raised in Saxton, Pa. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in February 1986 and served in the Guard for 11 years as an anti-armor Infantryman (11H). He was accessioned into the Army Chaplain Corps on January 7, 2002. Keifman is a graduate of the Chaplain Officer Basic Course, the Chaplain Officer Career Course, and the U.S Army Command and General Staff College.
His assignments included the 3-67 Armor Battalion Chaplain at Fort Hood, Texas, where he deployed to Iraq; Armed Forces North (AFNORTH) Battalion Chaplain at Brunssum, Netherlands; 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion Chaplain at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he deployed to Iraq. He was also an ethics instructor for the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Ala., a deputy garrison chaplain for the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Wainwright at Fairbanks, Ark., the 10th Regional Support Group Chaplain at Okinawa, Japan, capabilities developer at the Fort Lee Sustainment Center of Excellence, at Fort Lee, and the pastoral coordinator for the Fort Lee Army Garrison.
Keifman’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Army Achievement Medal, Valorous Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (four bronze service stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Overseas Ribbon (5th Award), and the Combat Action Badge.
Chaplain Keifman graduated from Penn State, State University in 1992 with a bachelor of science degree in secondary education, Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Fla., n 1999 with a master of divinity degree, and from Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pa., in 2011 with a master of arts in theological studies.
Chaplain Keifman has been married to Susan, formerly of Broad Top, Pa., for 32 years. They have one son, Daniel.
Edgemont ARP Church is located at 2306 S. Church Ave in Covington.
“Please join us for our Sunday service, but if not, you can listen to the broadcast of the service on 88.9 FM from our parking lot or watch the service on our Facebook page. The congregation of Edgemont ARP Chruch welcomes everyone to this important and special Sunday service,” a church spokesman said.
The church can be contacted at (540) 965-3916 or by email at edgemont@ntelos.net.