By Jeff Alverson

In 1956 John Brown Finished Tenn. Temple Bible school in Chattanooga Tennessee. That same year he moved his family to San Diego to pastor a small church in the Chulas View Suburb. Pastor Brown had a desire to reach the Chulas area, but also had a burden for the military and families in the San Diego area.

Due to his outreach he came in contact with a young sailor named James Kennard who had just recently come to Christ. Immediately he saw that Jim was a new Christian with a spiritual need. Pastor Brown spent much time with him and discipled him in things of the Lord, giving him opportunities for service. He taught Jim the value of the local N.T. Church in the life of a believer. It was from Pastor Brown that this young sailor learned to be faithful and to follow the Lord.

Later Brother Brown introduced Jim to Tenn. Temple Schools where he learned the great doctrines of the Bible and graduated in 1961. While in Bible School Jim met and married a beautiful young lady named Clara Gail Hughes, who has been a faithful companion for forty-five years. After graduation they were approved for missionary service with Baptist International Mission Inc. (B.I.M.I) and served 17 years as missionaries in Japan. While working there they started a national church for Japanese speaking people, but had a burden on their hearts for the military and their families stationed on the Island. In the latter years of the 1960’s during the height of the Vietnam War some 100,000 American military troops were serving our country in that area. There was no Independent Baptist Church in Okinawa, so one day some men interested in getting a good Church started approached Brother Kennard about starting one. Some time later the Kennard’s came home on furlough. The need to start an independent baptist church was presented and Brother Bob Elzey and his family responded to the call, moved his family to Okinawa and organized a Baptist church in the living room of Brother Jim Kennard’s house. This was the first military church started by a BIMI Missionary and has been an example to follow for other church near military bases around the entire world.

A few yeas later Brother Bob Elzey returned to the States to become the European Director and the church called Jim Kennard to be their Pastor. Brother Kennard’s last years on Okinawa were spent as the pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church. Because of his burden for the military ministry the mission asked him in 1980 to be the director for military missions and repeat what had been done in Okinawa wherever our military personnel were stationed in other parts of the world. We have seen many military churches started in a number of countries and Dr. Kennard now has 91 military missionaries working with him in this ministry. Literally thousands have been saved and hundreds called into the ministry through the efforts of these churches. Little did Pastor John T. Brown realize that all this would happen when he took this young sailor under his care and discipled him in the things of God.

Dr. Kennard’s note: John and Imogene Brown meant so much to me and their home-going made me stop and think where I would be today if they had not been there for me. I will be eternally grateful for what they did for me. They were like my own family. I was asked by the family to help preach the funeral of Imogene in October 2004 and then Brother Brown in February 2005. They are in heaven now but their ministry goes on because they took time and invested in this young struggling sailor. I was not the only one. They did this for others as well.

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Brother Chuck Sligh and family, who are missionaries with the military ministry of BIMI, have started an Independent Baptist Church at Gratenwoehr training base in the country of Germany. The base will have up to 20,000 troops within the next year with an additional 20,000 at Vilseck training Base, which is located less than 10 miles from Gratenwoehr. The church was organized as Grace Baptist church in July 2004, and has a high of 67 in attendance.

The church is presently meeting at the Gratenwoehr city hall and is growing in number. The church will be forced to leave its present location soon. The church members have been searching for a permanent location and have decided on a building located approximately one mile from the main gate of the base and is now for sale. The church does not have sufficient funds for a down payment of $65,000. At this time the church has $5,000, with an additional $60,000 needed for the down payment.

If interested in helping in this endeavor please contact
Dr. James Kennard or Dr. Jeff Alverson at:

BIMI-Military Missions
P.O. Box 9215
Chattanooga, Tn 37412
Tel. 423-344-5050
E-Mail: Jim Kennard

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For many of you retired military personnel, the good old days were the times you were part of a military church overseas.

Since the events that happened on 9/11 it has been a standing policy on military bases that only active duty and retired military personnel have access to military bases.

This has created some problems for pastors of military churches overseas. Many of our pastors are not retired military and are having trouble gaining access to bases where most of their members are housed. There are a few exceptions made, but for the most part, pastors are prohibited from entering military bases without a military member escorting them. This policy creates many problems for the pastors of military churches. We are in dire need for military retirees to become associate missionaries to these particular churches to help in such situations. Retired military personnel not only have access to base entrance but also have use of the base facilities such as exchanges, commissaries, recreation, and medical facilities. These associate missionaries could be used as visitation directors, day school directors and/or teachers, Sunday school directors and/or teachers, bus directors or in other programs.

Associate missionaries would be required to comply with the BIMI POLICY FOR ASSOCIATE MISSIONARIES:

(1) Associate missionaries must conform to BIMI separatist ecclesiastical Baptist position in their relationships on the field with both national leaders and resident missionaries.

(2) All activities of the associate missionaries must be in harmony with the work of local BIMI resident missionaries in the country where they serve.

(3) All ministry activities being planned by associate missionaries and under consideration must be planned in advance with the cooperation and approval of the Field Director of that country.

(4) The associate missionaries understand that they and their spouses are to comply fully with the dress codes set by the mission for all missionaries while they serve with BIMI.

(5) All projects for the purpose of raising funds to be brought before local churches must be coordinated and approved by the Field Director of that country.

(6) Associate missionaries must understand that they will not be eligible for the insurance and retirement programs offered to the full-time missionaries of BIMI.

(7) Bibles, literature and all other printed materials must conform to the quality and content standards of BIMI. Samples of all materials should be forwarded to BIMI and the Field Director.

(8) Associate missionaries are not to make promises to nationals on the field which BIMI cannot or will not be able to keep.

(9) Associate missionaries are not to sign any legal documents on behalf of the ministry of BIMI in that country.

(10) Associate missionaries are not to obligate BIMI for the purchase of properties such as cars, buildings, etc.

(11) Associate missionaries must attend BIMI candidate school as well as meet with a screening committee and the trustees for approval.

You will have your retired military pay along with other support you will raise as needed. Also, retired military personnell and their dependents are eligible for space-available air travel.

If interested, please contact
Dr. James Kennard, Director of Military Missions or
Dr. Jeff Alverson, Assistant Director at:
P.O. Box 9215
Chattanooga, TN 37412
423-344-5050
E-Mail: Jim Kennard
E-Mail: Jeff Alverson

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FThe Military Ministry has a special on-going fund called the Military Fund. It is used for the purpose of helping with the needs of our military churches and the missionaries. Sometimes there are emergencies that require immediate funds. Other times the fund is available to help get another military church started. Then there are a number of miscellaneous needs such as the expense of sending flowers in times of sickness and bereavement. The fund is also used to print and mail the GI Banner.

If you would like to help with this fund please send support to BIMI Military Fund #642. If you would like more information about the Military Fund please contact the Military Director at BIMI.

Send donations to:
BIMI Military Fund #642
P.O. Box 9215
Chattanooga, TN 37412

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We had three new Military missionary families in the BIMI Candidate School this year, which was conducted June 3-10 at the World Missions Center in Harrison, Tennessee. The Tom Lancaster, Mark Lancaster and Kevin Byers families completed Phase I and will return next year for Phase II.

In addition to these, two families returned for Phase II. Chris and Luanne War are on their way to Mayport, Florida to work with the 17,000 sailors stationed there and hope to be on the field by January 2006. The Jason Ludeking family are associate missionaries working in construction. They have been in Puerto Rico working the past several months.

Please pray for these good missionary families as they raise their support and head for the mission field.

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Scot C & Katie Daku -  AMERICAN SAMOA
Paul J & Wendy Daku Jr -  FIJI ISLANDS
James & Dawn Daley -  INDONESIA