Blog 133: Now, A Military Ministry

By Vernon M. Herron, Brenda Jones, Angela Peterson and Cornell Wilson
  
     Recently, a church denomination held a workshop and offered a lecture on “Ten Reasons Why the Church Does Not Grow.” That session was so popular, attendants crowded the room space and even stood in the hallway. 
     It is not known what ten reasons were given, but we do know that one that is basic for church growth is programs for the whole family, i.e. children, youth, adults, senior citizens, males, females, etc. One of the determining factors which encourages church membership is its unique and comprehensive program. 
     Friendship Missionary Baptist Church has a membership of more than 8,000 persons. It has over eighty ministries, among which are Global Relief Ministry, Seniors’ Ministry, Parish Nurse and Health Issues, Marriage Enrichment, Community Economic Development, Spirit of Christmas, activities and ministries for children, youth and singles, International Children’s Outreach, Child development Center, Angel Tree Ministry, Christian Education, etc. 
     The need for another ministry has been identified. It is called “Military Ministry.”
     The church is constantly seeking new ways to serve people better. Now,  under the direction of Pastor Clifford Jones, First Lady Brenda Jones and others,  a Military Ministry has been conceived.  
     As of November 2012, all 38 deployed family members were in the USA. However, we just recently learned that two female Friendship members were deployed to Kuwait and Afghanistan.
     The Military Ministry focuses on the needs of veterans, not only in combat but also during the “peacetime” when they are training, executing change of duty stations or getting out to face an uncertain future in the civilian world.  The Ministry also supports the families that are affected tremendously by the challenges faced with a spouse or parent in the service.  
     Pastor Jones requested that the ministers’ wives of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church organize for the purpose of supporting and encouraging the families as well as the soldiers who were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. 
     Most recently on each Sunday, all service personnel are remembered in prayer during the intercessory prayer period. Prayer is one of the purposes of the Military Ministry but there are other agenda items as well;
     1. Make contact with the families at least once per month.
     2. Share comforting Scriptures.
     3. Pray together.
     4. Fellowship as a group.
     5. Refer for counseling, if needed.
     6. Plan workshops
     7. FOR THE DEPLOYED: Send packages that include snacks as well as CDs of the church services and bulletins.