(ABP) — Col. Bob Page, command chaplain for the Air Force’s Air Combat Command, believes that, while the military branches have developed more programs and services for military families, support from churches and other non-governmental groups remains crucial.
That support is particularly important for reservists and National Guard members. Active-duty personnel living on base have the greatest access to military programs. Reservists and guardsmen may live up to 150 miles from the nearest military base and, consequently, have few connections to other military personnel.
Page suggests a three-pronged approach to ministry to service members.
1. Prevention: Provide regular opportunities to strengthen marriages and families and to help deal with the stress of military deployment. Churches could provide communication workshops, marriage seminars or retreats, financial-management tools, parenting classes, stress-management workshops and opportunities to renew marriage commitments.
2. Support: “Church members should ask themselves: ‘What can we do for spouses?’” Page said. Common sense generally can guide types of support ministries. “Start a telephone ministry. Just call [military families in the church] and ask how you can help,” he said.
Families of deployed service members welcome emergency home repairs, yard care, programs for children and youth and other practical services, Page added. Church members will discover particular needs as they telephone or visit spouses on a regular basis.
3. Recovery: Provide immediate care for spouses facing crises — divorce, death of the military spouse or other family member, child-rearing issues and other life-changing experiences. Help them connect to military and civilian services for which they qualify. Provide continuing support through small groups.
Page emphasized that no local congregation has all the resources and skills to meet every need. He encourages churches to develop partnerships across denominational lines, with other groups and with the military. “Get with the chaplains at a base near you so you understand [issues and needs military members face] and find out ways to partner with them.”
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