Since October is Clergy Appreciation Month, I’d like to focus on that sometimes-overlooked group—the military chaplain. These self-sacrificing men and women minister to members of the military from all faiths and often in the midst of stressful life situations.
Chaplains are called on to help during deployments—either with the deployed abroad or at home to those left behind. They conduct religious services, counsel families and married couples, help the children of military families and ease the transition of service personnel returning home. Any of those tasks could easily be a full-time job.
Read More: A Soldier’s Letters of Hope
Here are three things we can do to support these amazing men and women:
1) Pray for them.
Not only do they need prayer for themselves and their families, they need prayer support for those to whom they minister.
2) Offer to help pay for a retreat.
It’s not possible to get water from an empty well. It’s also hard to serve others when your own spiritual well is depleted. There are many programs that support military chaplains. (One that will be coming up in November is the Military Chaplain Retreat at the Billy Graham center in Black Mountain, NC.)
3) Contribute supplies.
At times they run low on resources—even here at home. We can close the gap by providing Bibles and other supplies that they need to serve those under their care. Reach out and ask them what they need.
So this month, in addition to honoring our own pastors, let’s remember to honor those who serve.
“Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:17)
