A Sydney minister is leaving the city jungle to don camouflage and join the ranks as an air force chaplain.
After four years the Rev Atsushi Shibaoka is leaving his position as the Senior Associate Minister at St James', King Street " in the heart of Sydney's legal district " to join the chaplaincy team at RAAF Richmond in January.
His last day at the church will be this Sunday, November 12.
Mr Shibaoka will be one of the three full time chaplains at the base and part of a team of chaplains from Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Uniting Churches.
"There was a real opportunity presenting itself and I was at a time and place in my life where I thought "I can do that'," Mr Shibaoka says.
Mr Shibaoka was stationed in the Middle East with a group of RAAF personnel for six months earlier this year.
He says the needs of the air force personnel are similar to the needs of those in a parish church.
"The issues that come up are similar because they are issues of human existence. There's work place issues, relationship issues, people who are unfulfilled wanting to find their purpose," he says.
"The skills you need in chaplaincy of listening to people and asking questions of people, and journeying with people are the same you need as a good parish minister."
Together with his wife Trish, Mr Shibaoka will remain on one of the St James' Sister Freda Teams who feed homeless and needy people in the CBD.
He says saying goodbye to Christian friends at St James' is not easy but at least the army base is in Sydney.
"I have really enjoyed my ministry at St James' over the last four years. The good thing about remaining in Sydney is that I will be able to keep in touch with those friends," he says.
There is one more thing Mr Shibaoka regrets about leaving St James'.
"I am absolutely going to miss the choral and organ music at St James'. Without a doubt, it is the best in the country!"
