 Many church members, when asked if there are military members in the congregation, would reply "No." They would respond that way because most people think of the military as just the active duty force, and often overlook veterans of previous service, and the Reserve and National Guard forces. For the last 10 years, however, all elements of the military have been subjected to an unprecedented pace of operations involving repeated overseas deployments, family separations for training, and a host of other stresses.
Active duty families have some support infrastructure at their home bases. Reserve and National Guard families, however, rarely have such support networks, and must rely on one another or their communities to help them cope with the challenges of repeated deployments, the lost income from a higher paying civilian job while mobilized, and re-employment uncertainty upon returning home.
Churches can help meet both the practical and spiritual needs of all military families by seeking them out and ministering to them as they would any other group in the congregation. Because the military is a unique culture, however, military ministry may require some additional effort to learn about the military way of life, and perhaps team up with civic organizations, veteran's groups, or even a military base if one is nearby. As the head of Military Missions Network, a group of military friendly churches across the nation puts it, "the first step in any missionary effort is learning the language."
As we reflect upon the horrific events of 11 September 2001 this week, let us not only honor and remember those who were lost that day, but also the thousands of military members who have made the supreme sacrifice to keep us safe since. Pray that churches across our nation will be moved by the tenth anniversary of 9/11 to begin ministering to the military in their midst.
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