written by SAD — Having served in local churches for all of my life (my dad was a local pastor and of course, S served for 16 years in church ministry), one would think that I understood what the body of Christ was all about. It was not, however, until we followed God’s call into the military chaplaincy that the body of Christ has become real to me. This post is a list (and probably a partial one at that) of people, churches or organizations that are supporting S and our family in some way…through prayer, packages, emails, etc.
FBC Midlothian — GLOW , the children’s Wednesday night program, handmade and sent S a birthday card for EVERY soldier in his unit…EVERY soldier means 400 cards.
The 9:30 Adult Bible Fellowship class, led by Jim and Susan Norris and class directors Matt and Stacy Helms, prays for my husband and our family EVERY Sunday morning during Sunday school. They also call and email to check on me as well as send cards and packages to S.
FBC Richardson — One of the adult Sunday school classes collects and sends S unsigned birthday cards so that he can sign and distribute a b’day card for EVERY soldier in his unit…EVERY soldier means they have sent 400 cards.
East Ridge Baptist Church — 2 Sunday school classes collected and donated money for our FRG (Family Readiness Group) to help fill stockings to send to our soldiers. We filled 190 stockings. They also pray for us and send blank cards for the soldiers to send back home to family for special occasions.
China Spring Civic Club — collected and donated phone cards for S to hand out to soldiers who don’t have another way to phone home. They have also sent goodies for S to have on hand for soldiers who just drop by.
FBC China Spring — The pastor, Mike Copeland mentions and prays for S and our family almost EVERY Wednesday night at prayer meeting. The ladies Bible study group also consistently lifts our family in prayer.
FBC Perryton — The Women on Mission donated Clinging Crosses to S for him to hand out to soldiers. They also sent packages at Christmas and pray for him on an ongoing basis.
The Missions Committee, led by Carolyn Thurman, recognized the families who follow these “missionaries” into service during a worship there in January. Our friend Rita Sell stood on behalf of our family during the service.
Roach, Howard, Smith, and Barton Insurance Agency packaged and sent S various supplies and goodies when he left for Iraq.
Rancho Community Church in California has adopted S as their chaplain. They send numerous packages full of Bible study materials, tracts, Bibles, and any other things they think might help S in his ministry. Pat Karlin, the point of contact for this Sunday school class, also emails me and the kids to encourage and minister to us. We have no prior connection to anyone from this church or Sunday school. They just found S’s name through the Adopt-a-Chaplain program.
Bobby Smith – chaplaincy relations director for the Baptist General Convention of Texas– prays for my family and is just a phone call away for me…in fact, he called and left a message just last night…reminding me that he was praying for me and thinking of us this Valentine’s Day….(by the way…if you want to support the corporate chaplaincy ministry, think about sending an offering to the BGCT Chaplaincy Relations Office or include a special portion of your church budget to them. In supporting them, you’re supporting all the chaplains endorsed by the BGCT…military, hospital, public service, etc)
The list of individual people who have sent cards, emails, packages, or who have prayed for us is too large to even include on this post….friends, family, friends of family that we’ve never even met, former church family who still remember us…it’s amazing!
Thank you for showing me that the body of Christ is not limited to the body where you serve or where your membership lies. And thank you for reminding me that though we may not see eye to eye on every doctrinal issue, we do love and serve the same Lord of lords and King of kings…Thank you for bringing to life I Corinthians 12:12, 27 “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ…Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
“There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6
For God and Country 