Wheaton College Alumni Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 36
ALUMNI association
WHEATON’S
BROTHERS IN ARMS
by Marisa Foxwell ’13
The Hoyman brothers have each mentored Wheaton cadets,
and U.S. soldiers in some of the most volatile places on earth.
THOUGH SEPARATED BY
YEARS AND
MILES
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Jim Hoyman, professor of
military science, and LTC John Hoyman ’92, M.A. ’06
remain close thanks to shared experiences and a
fundamental goal: “Jim and I have a common vision
of mentoring and discipling a generation of military
leaders who honor Jesus Christ,” says John.
Growing up in a military family, the Hoyman brothers
moved six times, and both remember running around
West Point as children. The oldest of three, John
says moving so frequently was difficult, but adds, “It
also helped me to be outgoing and to make the most
of every opportunity.”
“My service to the military is subservient to
my service to God. Some today would elevate
allegiance to America above any other allegiance.
I would willingly lay down my life for America
in combat, but I will not be pressured to lay
down my faith in Jesus Christ,” says LTC John
Hoyman ’92, M.A. ’06 (left), pictured with his
brother, Jim Hoyman, professor of military science.
John went to Wheaton, where he joined student
government, won the Parmalee Award as a football
player in 1992, and, of course, participated in ROTC.
After graduating, John worked at White Sulphur
Springs, a camp and conference center of Officers’
Christian Fellowship (OCF) that equips officers
to minister effectively in military society and offers
restoration to military families returning from
deployment. He moved back to Wheaton in 2003, and
while serving as assistant professor of military science,
earned a master’s degree in Christian Formation
and Ministry.
When his unit was called, John deployed to
Afghanistan and Kuwait from 2012 to 2013. While in
Kuwait, he served with a chaplain who spoke candidly
with the soldiers about his struggles with sexual sin.
The chaplain’s honesty had a huge impact, and many
of the men became believers or came to John for
counsel. John led a “new believers” Bible study group,
and ended up baptizing some of the men.
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SPRING
2014
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