by Dr. Jeff Alverson

In 1 Timothy 2:3-4 Paul told his preacher "boy" to be a "good soldier of Jesus Christ." Of course, one can be a soldier and not be a good soldier. Brother Al Sligh has been in Military Missions now for many years and has, indeed, been a good soldier of the Cross. This past August at BIMI Director’s Meeting, Al Sligh and his wife, Norma, posthumously, were honored with The 2005 Distinguished Missionary Award in recognition of their outstanding service as faithful missionaries with Baptist International Missions, Inc., for the past 32 years. This is certainly an award well deserved by this man of God.

Al Sligh retired from active duty military service on July 31, 1968, after spending twenty years in the United States Air Force. Upon his retirement he and his wife, Norma, went to Okinawa to teach at the Okinawa Christian School. It was in Okinawa that they were first introduced to military missions while attending Maranatha Baptist Church, a church dedicated to ministering to the US military personnel and their families stationed on the island. Brother Al was the first ordained deacon of this church and directed the church visitation program. As he faithfully served in this capacity he felt God wanted him to do more. Soon he surrendered his life to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus and was ordained in July, 1973. Shortly thereafter, he became the associate pastor and full-time visitation director of the church.

The following year Mrs. Sligh became ill and they were required to return to the States. Although Brother Al had earned a BS degree in Education from Middle Tennessee Sate University in 1966 while stationed at Seward AFB in Smyrna, Tennessee, he felt he needed some formal Bible training. That year he enrolled in Tennessee Temple Bible School and graduated with a ThG in May of 1975. Immediately he immersed himself in the work of military missions and moved his family to Puerto Rico where he founded and established the Maranatha Baptist Church and Academy in 1976. The church was soon averaging 160 in Sunday services under his leadership. He served the ministry in Puerto Rico for three years and moved to Panama where he established another Maranatha Baptist Church, a ministry to the US military there where he faithfully served for the next eighteen years. During the year of 1986, the church averaged 554 in their Sunday morning services.

In 1991 the base began drawing down as they made preparations for the military to leave Panama. As the military population diminished so did the church attendance. Brother Al, working with a Spanish-speaking missionary, began a transition to turn the church into a national work that is still in existence today.

After a short stay in the States, the Slighs returned to Okinawa and served again as Assistant to the Pastor at Maranatha, the place where his ministry began many years before. However, their work this time would be brief. In 2001, they returned to the States where Mrs. Sligh soon passed on to Glory. But Brother Al was not finished. In October, 2003, he went to Guam at age 73 and established the Freedom Baptist Church near Anderson AFB and turned it over to a missionary pastor in February 2004. Once again Brother Al returned to America to have surgery on both knees. Since his recuperation, he now serves as Military Missions Coordinator working out of the home office at BIMI. For the past year he has edited the GI Banner and in addition to all of this, this old soldier of the Cross now serves as our Education Coordinator and plans to be serving when the Lord gives him his final promotion to glory.

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Jason and Kathleen Heneise have been ministering to the US Military in Giessen, Germany, now for almost four years.  With the military in Europe in a transition period right now, Giessen is scheduled to close in the near future.  Please pray for the Heneise family as they continue to serve our Lord in this great work of Military Missions.

Toward the end of 2005, the facility of Faith Baptist Church was able to relocate from Giessen to the city of Linden. The military unit that the church ministers to is divided between the two bases of Giessen and Friedberg, as well as being housed in five separate housing complexes. The new facility is located in a centralized location in our military community, furthermore, the building is also much newer and the rent has been reduced to half the price of our previous location. God has exceeded our hopes and desires in providing this wonderful new church building for the ministry.

With the beginning of the New Year, we again made preparations to see off the soldiers of the 1st Armored Division. In both of our Sunday services we had a special prayer of dedication and gave each of the deploying soldiers a book written by Brother Chuck Truitt (Pop a Yellow Smoke). In the evening service, during our time of testimony, I found my heart was continually moved as families testified of the overwhelming presence of God in their lives throughout this demanding time. Following the service one of the young boys in the church came to me asking, "Are you going to Iraq too?" When I answered no he appeared kind of relieved and looking up with all seriousness he said, "Well I guess I won’t go to Iraq with my dad then, if the church will still be here." We are so thankful for the opportunity the Lord has given us to be His servants here to the men, ladies and children of Faith Baptist Church.

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Often times pastors of Military churches are not able to run a school and pastor at the same time; therefore, parents need to take the responsibility for teaching their own children.

Government schools do not teach Christian principles or encourage youngsters to even live for the Lord. In fact, many times they are encouraged to live for the world. At church they are taught to live for the Lord, and in their homes they are usually taught the same as the church teaches. The government schools teach Humanism (you don’t need God-you can do it yourself). Humanism is listed in the list of religions of the world. The child is being taught in government school a false religion which is contrary to the Bible. So, they are being taught contrary to that which they learn in church and at home. This is indeed confusing to the child.

There are several programs available for home schooling. Some of these programs are for the parent to use when not qualified to teach. There are video and computer programs which teach the child without the parent’s involvement. There are also self teaching programs which involve the parents. For more information, please E-Mail Ruth Dwire.

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Missionaries Chris and Lou Anne War have planted a new Independent Baptist Church in the Mayport, FL, area. Freedom Independent Baptist Church is there to reach the Mayport Naval and US Coast Guard bases, which are manned with approximately 17,000 military personnel plus their families, with the Gospel. The Wars are in the process of securing a storefront building to hold services within 4 miles of both bases. This is a very expensive area to plant a church, but the Wars are trusting God to meet their needs. They are in need of new or like new pew Bibles, good quality padded chairs, offering plates, Lord’s Supper trays, nursery things, office supplies, etc. Many of you know what it is like starting a new work. Let’s see how we can help this fine family as they start this military work for God.

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Brother Leo Osborne is now pastor of the Freedom Baptist Church, Yigo, Guam. Brother Osborne first saw the need for a military church near the Arnold Air Force Base, Guam, and shared the need with another military missionary, Brother Al Sligh, who organized the church but returned to the United States due to sickness. For a short time, Brother Steve Bowen was pastor of Freedom Baptist Church. Brother Osborne became the pastor in 2005.

Brother Mark Sage is now pastor of the Yokosuka Baptist Church, Yokosuka, Japan. Brother Sage was the former pastor of Victory Baptist Church, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The military departed Puerto Rico and closed all the military bases. Victory Baptist Church is now a Spanish-speaking church with a Spanish-speaking pastor. Brother Sage has located a building just one quarter of a mile from the main gate at Yokosuka. The old building was much smaller and not large enough for growth. However, the new building has great potential for meeting the large crowds anticipated.

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Richard & Patty Comer -  CENTRAL AMERICA
Brian & Jamie Cone -  THAILAND
Richard & Elizabeth Conrad -  JAPAN