Written by Major Steven E. West, USAF
A young woman walked into my office in tears and asked if she could talk to me. Before I could respond, she sat down, buried her face in her hands and began to cry uncontrollably. Two weeks earlier her husband had walked out of the house and had not returned. She had only received a few short e-mail messages from him. The only certainties were that his life was in danger and he might never come home.
The picture she painted is all too familiar to many pastors, chaplains and counselors today. Her husband is a member of the United States Armed Forces, deployed to an undisclosed location to serve his country in uncertain times.
These men and women and their families are more than just military folk; in fact, they are integral parts of churches around the world. They need our prayers, help and support. They also need to be at the forefront of our thoughts right now as they cope with the challenges of responsibility and commitment. Here are some ways you lead class members to minister to families of deployed personnel.
Provide security—Military families relocate frequently, with no relatives living nearby. Spouses of deployed personnel need someone who will be a friend, calling and visiting frequently to check on family needs. Take a military spouse out to a movie or dinner. Invite a military family into their homes regularly to develop deeper friendships.
Provide home and auto assistance—When a spouse deploys for several months, mechanical problems involving the house, appliances, and cars arise. Church members with experience can volunteer to provide repairs at little or no cost. A church could compile and distribute a list of members willing to offer their services to these families.
Provide child care—Almost all of our military service families are in the child bearing and child rearing years. When a parent is deployed, the remaining parent is responsible for everything. A little free time can mean the difference between coping with life or losing it. Provide childcare occasionally while a parent relaxes or runs errands.
Provide youth involvement—Teenagers represent a valuable asset to the families of deployed personnel. Mowing or raking yards, doing odd jobs, and even helping with child care issues by babysitting can be a big help to these families. Another good way responsible and spiritually mature teens can help is by becoming a big brother or sister to children who are missing Mom or Dad. Just showing up for their ball games or school events can be a great source of joy to both the child and the teen.
Don’t assume every family gets all of the support they need from the military. Although support services exist, many people don’t access them. Reach out; accept the challenge of helping families of military personnel. Reach out to military families. Pray for the soldiers, sailors, and airmen who are prepared to stand in harm’s way.
