"Missionaries to the Military"

 

“Missionaries to the Military”

 

During my six years as a member of the CBAmerica (now Venture Church Network) Board in the 1990’s I was assigned to the Chaplaincy Committee. This group had the responsibility of interviewing candidates for endorsement to serve in the military, prisons, health care and other areas. This experience gave me a new appreciation for those called to these ministries and was one of the factors God used to lead me into health care chaplaincy after concluding my pastoral work in 2009. Although I “retired” in 2021 I still welcome opportunities to be utilized as a volunteer to assist those in health crises.

About twelve years ago our Fellowship’s then Chaplaincy Director asked me to be part of his Advisory Council as health care representative. This was an “as needed” panel to deal with “out of the box” situations in which he sought input. Soon God prompted me to pray for our active duty military chaplains, retirees and Reservists and National Guardsmen on deployment. So for more than a decade it’s been my privilege to uphold these men (currently 47) and their families around the world on a rotating basis and send emails inviting them to share prayer needs. Many respond with words of appreciation and requests. This has proven to be one of the most rewarding activities of my 55+ years of vocational ministry. “To God Be the Glory!”

Not long ago I read a devotional based on Deuteronomy 20. In Verses 1-4 God said through Moses, “When you go to war against your enemies…do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God…will be with you. When you are about to go into battle the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: ‘…Do not be fainthearted or afraid…For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you….’” (Emphasis added.) (This reminds me of the classic photo of Gen. Eisenhower’s encouraging American troops before D-Day in 1944—I’m sure chaplains were also there mingling with the soldiers.) So it appears that God instituted military chaplains around 1450 BC, long before the Continental Congress did so in 1775.

Our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard chaplains put their lives at risk to provide spiritual counsel and resources to those protecting our nation. These “Missionaries to the Military” and their families are in need of our prayers as they serve our Lord and country. Will you join me in keeping them before the Lord?

(For more on the VCN Chaplain Ministry go to venturechurches.org and click on chaplaincy.)

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan