THE UNIQUENESS OF THE MILITARY CHURCH

Many American churches think of the military churches overseas as just another American church. However, the military independent Baptist church overseas is very different from the average independent Baptist church in the United States; therefore, requiring a different program and challenge. Some of the difference comes from the short time we have the members. The average time is approximately twenty two months in which we have them in our churches. Many of them don’t trust the Lord until they have less than one year left in the area. Generally, the average tour of duty overseas is between two or three years.

Pastors just dread summer months because 25 to 30 percent of their members will rotate back to the US. Most of their members are saved while stationed overseas. Our training programs are on-going due to the need for trained workers. Very often they rotate back to the US or to another base overseas shortly after completing their church training.

Our greatest asset is our soul-winning program. Every military church is encouraged to set up a visitation and a new converts program. Our teacher-training program is on-going in order to have qualified Bible teachers.

There are some military churches that train their people to set up Bible classes in combat zones and authorize the teachers to baptize the new believers into their own military churches. Very often we have our teachers or choir members called out for duty or deployment only hours after notification. This required the church to have a back-up system implemented for such occasions.

The military church overseas provides a place of security for the military people without dependants and also for the families that have husbands or fathers deployed to combat areas or naval cruses. In addition the military church provides special Bible studies and get-togethers for the single military, often providing a service center for them in which to spend weekend time. We almost always provide a Sunday afternoon meal after church since most of the dinning facilities on base close before they return from the Sunday morning church service.

Most of our churches are small and located in high priced areas. We try to locate as close as possible outside the military base. When starting new churches the pastors are often called upon to provide the funds for the building and equipment. Yes, the military independent Baptist church overseas is very different from the average independent Baptist church located in the United States, but God uses that uniqueness in His own unique way to reach many for the Savior and train them for His service.