James Kennard, Military Director

he year was 1968. America was at war in Viet Nam and had built up her armed forces in many of the pacific regions in order to support her combat efforts. One of the major areas of build up was on the island of Okinawa, southeast of mainland Japan where several thousand troops were stationed. Missionary James Kennard, who now serves as Director of Military Missions at BIMI, was working with the Okinawan people and saw the great need for a ministry among the many Americans serving their country there on the island. In September 1968, in Brother Kennard’s home, the Maranatha Baptist Church was started and thus launched the worldwide ministry of military missions at BIMI. Missionary Bob Elzey responded to this needy ministry and served as the first pastor. After Maranatha was established, other missionaries saw the vision and had a passion to work with the military stationed in other countries. Since then, BIMI missionaries have started and pastored churches in most all of the countries where we have a military presence, including the USA.

The ministry of military missions involves going into areas where there are military bases and starting a Bible-believing church, then ministering to that particular military community through the local church. This includes evangelizing the G.I. through gospel literature and door-to-door soul-winning visitation, establishing local Bible-believing independent Baptist churches near military bases, and equipping the troops through local church training. This prepares them to serve the Lord in other ministries after they transfer to their next duty station. This local church, ministering to the service personnel and their families, also is involved in the work of enriching the lives of the military people through Bible-centered programs. Finally, the military missionary makes a great effort to encourage the lonely hearts of single and unaccompanied troops through Christian fellowship and activities.

God has greatly blessed our efforts. Literally thousands have been saved and many hundreds called into Christian service through the influence of these military churches. One church in particular has had more than 400 to enter full-time service for the Lord. Our missionaries are constantly reporting of great successes in their work. Seldom is there a BIMI Board Meeting when missionaries are approved that some candidate does not testify that he was influenced in and through a military church.

There is perhaps no ministry in the world that is more exciting than working with our military personnel and their families overseas. Most men and women in the service are young people, some as young as late teens and early twenties. For the most part, hard hearts and “stubborn” ways have not yet gripped their lives. Many are more willing to listen when they find themselves stationed overseas several thousands of miles from home. A missionary in Korea recently said that the troops could do one of two things when they come to Korea on the remote assignment - to sin or to go to church. This is why it is so vitally important for a missionary to be there and present the gospel to them and reach them for Christ at a young age.

Military people are also enthusiastic. Once they get saved they want to serve the Lord. They are so oriented to service and regulation that it is only natural to transfer that philosophy over to the spiritual realm when they get saved, if they are properly taught to do so. This is where the ministry of the local church is vital. A missionary pastor is there to teach them the Word of God (the regulation Book) and train them to serve faithfully in Christian service.

Military people are also very transient. They are only going to be in a place for a relatively short period of time, usually two to three years at the most. Therefore, they must be taught as much as possible about simply knowing Christ and how to serve Him in a practical way. When a military person is trained right to serve the Lord, he actually becomes a missionary, because he will be shipping out and going to another area of the world. Most of the time they will go on to be a blessing to some local church and if there is no good church in the area of their new assignment, they are often instrumental in helping to get one started.

The military personnel and their families are indeed a “field white unto harvest.” There are many good BIMI missionaries doing a great job attempting to reach this mission field. Steve and Frankie Nutt are serving at Yokota Baptist Church, Yokota, Japan. Almost every Sunday people are walking the aisle for salvation. The Dan Mouw Family, Al and Norma Sligh and Warren and Uraivan Allshouse at Maranatha Baptist Church and Chuck and Linda Truitt at Maranatha Too Baptist Church are having wonderful results on Okinawa. In Japan we have the Heaths in Sasebo, the Griffins at Yokosuka and the Abbotts at Iwakuni, the Monteiths at Misawa, all preaching the gospel to sailors, airmen and marines serving their country in the Far East. It is such a joy to know that even in “Paradise” Hawaii that BIMI military missionaries Bill and Florence Hewitt and Tom and Shirley Bowlin are reaching the men and women in uniform.

If you know someone stationed in Puerto Rico, Missionaries Sammy and Joan Popwell, Billy and Linda Aulds and Chuck and Sharon Strebin are “standing in the gap,” telling the sweet story of saving grace. Chuck and Susan Sligh are serving in England. Ricky and Jackie Bonds as well as Mike and Helen Hearrell, are laboring faithfully in Italy while Roy and Ellen Smith serve in Rota, Spain. If you know anyone going to Germany, they will find Missionaries Gary & Karen Craft, Chris and Sherri Davidson, Harold and Karin Pierce, and Larry and Phyllis Simenson all ministering to the thousands stationed there in that great country.

We have Chris and Junior Parker in Meridian, MS; Craig and Kim Bell in San Antonia, TX, Dan and Lori Kirk in Killeen, TX, and Bill and Lois McClure in Phoenix, AR, who are ministering to those that need to be reached for Christ that are stationed in the continental US. There are also twelve families that are on furlough and deputation at this time.

The problem we have in America is that our government is committed to improving the quality of military life in order to fill its ranks. They have built everything from recreation facilities to theaters, from golf courses to nightclubs. Yet the greatest need is neglected - that is, to introduce the service person to the source and essence of life, Jesus Christ. Without a personal relationship with Christ, everything else in life, no matter how satisfying it may seem, will leave one without hope.

BIMI has seen the need and is acting in obedience to our Lord’s command to “preach the gospel to every creature.” This includes the more than two million US service personnel. Nowhere in the New Testament do we find where God gave The Great Commission to the United States Government. But over and over we read that our Lord so commissioned, challenged, charged and commanded the local church to take the gospel to all. By no means have we completed this task to military people. In spite of the huge drawdowns since the end of the Cold War, there are still great needs in military missions. We do not believe that present government-related methods are biblical for the most part and certainly not efficient to reach the military for Christ. Therefore, more laborers are needed in this ripened, reachable and ready field. May the Lord of the Harvest be pleased to send forth more laborers into this open opportunity of service.

Monday, March 15, 2010

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.

KEITH & MARLA HERNDON -  MOLDOVA
ANTHONY R & DAWN HESS -  UKRAINE
KEVIN & MARY BETH HICKOK -  BRAZIL