Ministry to our warriors - in their homes!

April 22, 2003

We have all been blessed in recent days to see the people of Iraq liberated from tyranny. However, our warriors may not be home for some time more.

Why?

There is a new nation to protect until they get their government and defenses in place. So, our warriors are still a long way from home … and now, the boredom of police work that will make them more homesick than ever. What can we do right here at home to minister to them?

Here are a few seed thoughts for you to consider:

• First, compile a list of names and addresses of the warriors and their families from YOUR area. Ask your church family for names of people they know.
• Assign each warrior and his/her family to a Sunday School class’s care group to be adopted for ministry.
• Visit the family … express your appreciation with a card and a home made pie
• Learn birthdays, anniversaries, favorite cartoon characters, hobbies, interests
• Celebrate the special days with letters, cards and prayergrams, because their warrior can’t do it him/herself.
• Have special days at your church to specially recognize these families
• Take the boys left at home on a fishing trip … because his dad is deployed
• Take the little girls shopping, the big girls to get a manicure
• Meet needs by mowing grass, fix gutters and screen windows … love on them
• Go to Kinko’s and have some personalized stationary prepared just for them to use to write to their Warrior
• "Pound" them with grocery sacks of food once a month
• Give them a long distance calling card
• Discover an e-mail address for their warrior … if the family doesn’t have internet access … then have periodic "E-Mail Parties" at someone’s house that does.
• Send their warrior digital pictures on the internet of his family doing things (like when his son catches that two-pound bass on a worm).
• Give the family a Bible! Perhaps a family Bible and put a daily reading plan in it.
• Enroll the family in your Church’s Sunday School and upcoming Vacation Bible School.
• Enlist a personal prayer-partner for every person in the household. Send them regular prayergrams.
• Send tracts and prayer-grams to the warrior and his/her family.
• Share the good news of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for them.

Well, there are some ideas. Now, dream up some of your own. This is a great time to meet the physical, emotional and most important, the spiritual needs of a family when they need it the most. It starts with a personal burden and a LIST!