Ministry to active-duty military… Perhaps the most relevant area of ministry in our time. It’s a bold statement. The military is a true “melting pot.” It’s hard to find a more diverse group in our society; race, creed, nationality, gender, religion or philosophy. It’s young; largely Millennials and Gen Zs. It’s a place where next-gen ministry touches every area of our culture. It’s an area where organizations like Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs, Soul Survivor Outdoor (SSO) and others are having an incredible impact.

Few would doubt that we live in an incredibly tumultuous time. America is in crisis. Fear, worry, anxiety, and uncertainty are the norm. What does it mean for Christians? From what I’ve observed, it means countless opportunities to share “the hope that is in us.” People are hungry for answers!

I believe military service members are particularly hungry. Why? They’re part of a generation that’s been told they don’t matter. Not in so many words. But it’s what they’ve been taught; by our culture. God has been taken out of the equation. The result… a lack of ultimate meaning and purpose. Add COVID-19, racial tension, gender issues, the economy, and it’s a recipe for disaster. It’s also an opportunity! It’s an opportunity to share the Truth, bring hope, and change our culture and our world from the bottom up.

Military service members, most between 18 and 25 are hungry for answers only found in the gospel. A few weeks ago, at a three-day SSO trip to Joshua Tree National Park, about fifty active-duty military attended. Nearly 100% prayed to receive Christ! This isn’t always the case, but it’s almost always 30% or more. Where else is this happening?

The door to sharing the gospel with young military members is currently wide open. The impact of military ministry is multifaceted. Individual lives, marriages and families are changed. It also has global reach. You’ve heard me say it’s strategic before. It’s true. The U.S. still has military presence in more than 80% of our world. Service members have the potential to change the whole world with the gospel.

Military ministry is exceptionally relevant for these reasons but also because military service members come from not only every background but literally every country. At a recent SSO event, three of the soldiers that attended were originally from other countries (Columbia, Gambia – West Africa, and Guatemala). This isn’t unusual.

In terms of service, it’s hard to find a more selfless community. Service members swear to uphold our constitution and defend our nation against its foes here and abroad. It’s a promise made that involves sacrifice, and it could mean giving their life for our country. Our world is a dangerous place. It’s not getting less dangerous. This commitment to sacrifice is no small thing. Few make it, and yet most service members take this oath at 18 or younger.

Today, the door to military ministry remains open. It’s an incredible opportunity to reach young, diverse, hungry, and self-sacrificing individuals. The door is open in large part because military leaders recognize they have a huge problem. Levels of anxiety, depression, and suicide are impacting mission accomplishment.

Army suicides were up more than 30% last year. It’s tragic for individuals, families, our communities, unit cohesion, and it’s catastrophic to mission readiness. As a result, senior leaders are willing to put all options on the table to solve this crisis, even faith.

How long will this opportunity last? We don’t know. It’s guaranteed not to last forever.
For such a time as this…” We live in a time where people are starved for truth, leaders are looking for answers, and the nation needs resilient, capable warriors that are ready to change the world and say “here am I send me!”

 “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” George S. Patton

It might seem strange to use this quote in the context of Christianity and doing something the Lord is calling you to do. However, I think it will take on more meaning as you read further. I also want you know that by using this quote, I’m not asking you to do something rash, be careless, or act irresponsibly. 

There are times in life when we feel God is calling us to do something, go in a certain direction, help out at church with a particular ministry, or to start something new altogether. The temptation when we think we hear the voice of God is to ignore it or question whether we really heard from Him or not.

I was recently reading through the book of Exodus where God called out to Moses from a burning bush. I don’t know how many times I’ve read that passage, but I know I’ve read it numerous times. This time it struck me, had anyone else ever passed by this place? Had anyone else heard God calling from the bush? I’m not a Biblical scholar, but I sat there thinking that others might have heard the voice of God calling from the bush, but for whatever reason just kept walking. It’s not likely that God actually spoke to anyone else from the bush. However, the bigger point is God calls but few respond. What about you?

I don’t believe that hearing from God is restricted only to the prophets of old or the New Testament apostles. Having said this, I’ve probably gotten a few of you thinking that I’ve lost my mind. Clearly not everything we “hear” is from God. This is true even when we’re living a life of faith and doing our best to follow Him. Peter, when he rebuked Jesus in Matthew 16:22 for speaking of His pending death on the cross is one example. We can also be sure that when we hear a voice that contradicts what God has already said in scripture, we’re on the wrong track.

There are other times, however, when it isn’t clear whether God is speaking to us or not. Sitting in church we hear an announcement asking for help with children’s ministry, a need in the junior high group or high school ministry, an announcement for volunteers to help with homeless ministry, you name it. Should we get involved? Do we have a “heart” for kids, the homeless, etc.? If we can’t stand to be around kids, chances are we’re probably not being “called” to children’s ministry; not discounting God changing our hearts. On the other hand, many of us have a heart for a lot of things and are happy getting involved in just about anything. What then? How should we spend our time, energy, and money? 

Most of us are familiar with the Parable of the Talents. In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus tells a story of a man going on a trip and assigning three servants a certain amount of money “according to their ability” and then immediately going on his journey. What we read in subsequent verses is that when the man returns, he expects each of his servants to have done something with the resource he assigned to them. Two of the servants took what was given to them and multiplied it through their efforts. One of the servants was afraid to do anything and buried the money in the ground for fear of losing it, investing in the wrong thing, or ending up empty handed. The servant who did nothing was obviously afraid of something. Perhaps he was afraid of the man and the repercussions of losing the money. Perhaps he was just risk-averse. Whatever the reason, the man who left each of the servants in charge of a certain share of money, was pleased with the two, and extremely displeased with the one.

It’s easy to sympathize with the man and his frustration with the servant who did nothing. But, how many of us have essentially done the same thing? I’m not sure I’m cut out to help with children’s ministry. I’m not sure what I would say to a homeless person. I don’t feel called to go on the short-term mission trip. I can’t coach and know nothing about t-ball. Others have been, or are being called, to launch a new ministry in an area or in a way that no one has done it before. But is it really God calling?

My advice in each of these situations is to pray and then do something! It might sound simplistic but it’s really the best course of action as long as it isn’t something God has already said not to do. Whatever you do, don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis. We so often get stuck debating with ourselves; an opportunity passes us by, and we end up doing nothing. It’s legitimate to have concerns, but doing nothing is a bad plan. Not only does doing nothing keep us from being all that God has made us to be, it is clearly considered evil in the sight of the Lord not to use what He’s given us.

The best way to get out of analysis paralysis is to Do something! Get involved. Some have used the analogy of a sailboat to further illustrate this point. It’s hard for a sailboat to do much without sails. It’s also a lot easier to see where the wind is coming from and how strong it’s blowing when the sails are raised. Doing something is a lot like this. When we move out in a direction and seek God’s guidance in the process, we tend to quickly get confirmation as to whether we’re moving in the right direction. In my own experience, when I believe I’m hearing from God and start moving, God uses other believers, situations, circumstances, further instruction, and sometimes “the wind” to further guide me.

At this point I have a confession to make. My last tour of active duty was in a place where I was responsible for supervising wounded Marines. As I went about my daily routine it became increasingly obvious that this group of service members was dealing with more than the physical and psychological consequences of war. It seemed God was saying there was a spiritual condition at the root of it all. This realization led to doing some work with these service members that the Marine Corps now calls spiritual fitness. It also looked like God was calling me to start a ministry to active duty military that involved sharing the gospel through outdoor adventure. Frankly, it seemed crazy at the time! How would it be done? Where would the money come from? These were just two of my many of questions.

Wondering whether God is really calling, dealing with questions, facing our fears, doing things that make us uncomfortable; it’s all part of the equation. In this lifetime few of us will ever hear perfectly from our Creator. That’s why it’s called faith. Unfortunately, this often leads to the analysis paralysis I mentioned earlier and in ultimately doing nothing. Doing nothing is one of the enemy’s tactics. His hope is that we never hear from God, and if we do, that we’ll never actually do anything.

My advice… Do something!

Creator?  Big bang?  Accident?  Purpose?  No purpose? 

The truth is you’re not an accident!  You were created on purpose with purpose.  You are loved!  This is the message of the Bible.  It is at the core of our true identity, of who we really are, and were created to be.  It is the primary message delivered by Soul Survivor Outdoor to active duty military service members at outdoor adventure events.

John 3:16, a verse most are likely familiar with says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son.” He gave us His son!  Amazing!  Why would He do that?  Think about that.  If you haven’t heard this recently, or you haven’t heard this at all, there is a reason it sounds intriguing.   That’s because it’s true!

Like it or not, believe it or not, we will all one day die.  That’s pretty obvious, but most people live as though they will be on this planet forever.  We will all slip into the dust of history, never to be heard from again on this side of eternity.  In the Bible, the book of James describes it this way, “What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  What will be left of who we are, of who you were?  What will be your legacy?  Will it even matter?  How we answer these questions is of the utmost importance and forms the foundation for what we believe, how we act, and how we live.

If we are honest, we’re faced with the fact that our lives don’t hold much meaning if everything is simply a product of random chance.  Even secular research indicates the levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicide are higher among people who hold to a creatorless belief system.  A recent study by Dr. Kopacz of the Veterans Administration, shows veterans who attempt suicide have a lower emphasis on spiritual fitness than those that don’t.  Another study showed “negative spiritual coping” is associated with increased mental health related diagnosis and the severity of symptoms exhibited by patients.

If as the Bible declares, we are created by the God of the universe, that our identity and value come from Him, that our lives are defined by His purposeful act of creation, and a life of purpose He has created for each one of us, then one’s outlook on life is different.  People with a faith mindset are likely to cope better, live lives less impacted by stress, and generally respond better to issues that produce anxiety.  People of faith are also less prone to thoughts of suicide.

However, there is a widely held competing viewpoint.  It too has the potential to shape our thinking and how we act and live.  This viewpoint lacks a creator and suggests that all of creation is essentially a cosmic accident, a product of evolution, of billions and billions of years of random selection, a series of random events, that brought about what we see today.  This philosophy is taught with religious fervor throughout western culture.  The primary delivery method is from public schools, but it doesn’t stop there.  It is taught in virtually every form of media; movies, television programs, etc.  This philosophy leaves us wanting for answers.  And, this philosophy is a lie! 

The Biblical viewpoint is clear about the Creator, “in the beginning was God.”  This viewpoint declares that there is a loving Creator behind humanity and everything else in creation, that we are designed with intent, forethought, and are created on purpose and with purpose.  It is a viewpoint that is currently unpopular and is typically not taught.  It is said to be unscientific.  

Whether we acknowledge it or not, both worldviews impact how we think and act on a daily basis.  Those who hold to a worldview with no creator, are ultimately faced with an identity crisis and struggle to find answers to basic human questions of existence.  It shouldn’t be surprising that adherence to this belief system increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide. 

If we are a cosmic accident, then what informs our identity, our decisions or our self-worth?  Is identity found in race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, career, education, financial status, political affiliation, how we “feel” about something, the car we drive, the clothes we wear, the phone we own?  The simple answer is yes.  In this worldview identity is built on what a person thinks or feels about themselves, how others think or feel about them, whether culture, community, or tribe values them or not.  What happens when that value is no longer relevant, taken away, becomes outdated, worn out, when we change our minds, or one feels differently about it?  Do people really even have value? 

The aforementioned point of view, one with no creator and no fixed moral absolute, has an ultimate outcome that is dangerous.  This might seem extreme, but there really are consequences to what we believe.  It’s dangerous because, in this belief system man and popular opinion are the final authority.  This is already being played out in society.  There are those who are deemed less valuable or are perceived to have no value, who are not granted the opportunity at “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  Societal views on abortion, which are not only acceptable but praised, are an example.

Created on purpose with purpose.  This viewpoint produces a different result, a different outlook on life, and how we think and act.  This in and of itself doesn’t mean the questions asked about identity or one’s value are never asked.  This worldview does, however, provide a framework for answers.  In this system of belief, answers are not subjective, they are not based on popular opinion, and the “right” answer doesn’t change from generation to generation.  When the God of the Bible is the basis of belief, we can be sure that our value is intrinsic and does not depend on our own or anyone else’s opinion of our worth or value.

When we start from a Biblical perspective, we start from an entirely different vantage point relating to identity.  From Genesis on, the theme is of purposeful and deliberate creation by a loving Creator.  Genesis 1:26 says that we are “made in God’s image.”  We read that God formed us out of the dust, and He Himself breathed life into us.  Think mouth to mouth resuscitation.  Sound strange?  Maybe.  But think of it!  Random accident, or made by a God who has a personal and intimate interest in each and every one of us?  It is staggering to think and understand that we have a God who actually cares and loves us.

I have a degree in design.  It therefore makes sense to me that before anything is constructed there is a concept or idea, and before any building materials are purchased or assembled, there is a detailed set of drawings.  The more complex the project, the more detailed the drawings. 

This is the concept of intelligent design, that the thing, object, plant, animal, human being, has a designer, a creator.  This is what is portrayed in Jeremiah 1:5 which says “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you…” The book of Jeremiah goes on to say of Jeremiah that he had “a future and a hope.”  In the book of Zephaniah, it says that “the Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves,” and that “He will take great delight in you.”  This is an entirely different notion than being a random accident, the outcome of an evolutionary process.

Everything in our world cries Creator!  In Romans 1:20 it says that “for since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–His eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”  One doesn’t have to look far to see the intricacy of design in everything around us.  Every living thing has DNA, the code, the design, the building blocks for creation. 

And yet, the majority of our world believes we are products of random chance.  Amazingly, those that adhere to this way of thinking would never look at a cell phone, computer, car, building, or any other created thing and think that it was a random object without a designer or intelligence behind it.  This belief is firmly held even though man-made objects are infinitely less complex in structure than a single blade of grass.  This thought process, that man-made objects are designed and created, but that all of nature is an accident, not only takes more faith to believe than believing in a Creator but is detrimental to the human soul, as previously indicated and substantiated by research. It is also the height of human arrogance. 

Conversely, when identity is rooted in the God who created us, and nothing else, not what we think of ourselves, not what anyone thinks, not whether we are successful or not, our value is intrinsic.  In this system, all of humanity, man, woman, child, black, white, brown, are created equal.  As the Founding Fathers said more than 200 years ago, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator…”  This is unshakable truth!

The Bible is replete with examples of the value God places on His creation.  It is also clear that we are God’s design, His creation, and not an accident.  From the Old Testament… We are made in God’s image, Genesis 1:26. God breathed life, Genesis 2:7.  God knew us before we were born (had our design in mind), Jeremiah 1:5.  God delights in us, Zephaniah 3:17.  From the New Testament… God sent His own Son to earth to save us, John 3:16.  God wants us to know the truth, John 8:32.  God wants us to enjoy life and have life in abundance, John 10:10.  God doesn’t want anyone to perish, 2 Peter 3:9. 

This is profound! God sent His Son. It’s why the Bible is called the “Good News.”  However, it’s only good news if we accept it. The Bible is clear about our condition, our sin, and there really is only one way to deal with it. I think the Message, a modern Bible translation, says it best in Romans 2:3-4, “Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.”  If we are to be set free from our sin, to find our true identity, we need to align our lives with what God has said.  Though “God loved us while we were sinners 1 John 4:10, God has also given free will to choose to believe and receive the free gift of His Son.  When we “confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ is Lord,” Romans 10:9, we become partakers in what Jesus calls “life more abundant.”

The fact that humanity has intrinsic value as established by our Creator, resonates with most people.  This should come as no surprise because it is the truth.  When this message is thoughtfully delivered to individuals or audiences that have heard repeatedly that they are essentially an accident, they tend to listen.  This is our message and one every Christian can share with a world that lacks true identity and life without hope.

When people think of military ministry, chances are they think in terms of the crises of anxiety, depression, and suicide, that we read about in the headlines nearly every day.  What Christians likely don’t think about is military ministry as a component of strategic global evangelism.  Ministry to active duty service members has enormous potential to impact the entire world for Christ.

Like the leaders at Mighty Oaks, I too believe that anxiety, depression, and suicide are serious issues that need to be addressed.  However, I believe both Soul Survivor Outdoor and Mighty Oaks understand that ministry to the U.S. military is bigger than these issues and has even greater implications in terms of world evangelism.

That Christ is the answer to anxiety and depression within the military, and to the world’s problems, this I am sure.  In their book, Path to Resiliency, Chad Robichaux and Jeremy Stalnecker said, “those who are resilient are those who align their lives to the blueprint for life given by their Creator.”  Aligning our lives with the Creator is not only the first step in conquering anxiety, depression, and suicide, it’s the first step in building a firm life-foundation that is the ultimate key to resiliency.

But what next?  Where do we go once we’ve given our lives to Christ?  The Bible makes clear that we aren’t meant to live our lives in a vacuum.  We aren’t made whole through the blood of Christ so that we can keep this new life to ourselves.  We’ve been given the Great Commission which asks us, even commands us, to “make disciples of all nations.”

Who better to “make disciples of all nations” than members of the U.S. military?  Of course, advancing the gospel by force is not what I’m talking about.  Nothing could be further from my mind.  What I am talking about is the enormous potential that already exists for sharing the truth of the gospel with the world, by those that are already deployed across the globe.  To a degree, this is already happening.  

In an article published in June 2017, Christianity Today spoke to this very issue.  From the article, an Iraqi translator noticed that a member of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne, “had a book in his knee pocket all the time.”  This book was the Bible, and the Iraqi translator that was assigned to the soldier’s unit, immediately “realized there was something different about him.”  Not long afterward the Iraqi came to Christ by way of the American soldier.  How many more stories there are like this one isn’t known, but it’s likely there are many.  Read the full article on ChristianityToday.com.

In a recent interview I had with Talia Wise of the Christian Broadcasting Network, I said that “the church was missing an opportunity.”  I went on to say that we “have only begun to scratch the surface” in terms of reaching the active duty military community with the gospel.  I believe this applies to the church as a whole that, in large part, sees military ministry primarily in terms of benevolence and help rather than as a component of strategic global evangelism.  Organizations like Mighty Oaks and Soul Survivor Outdoor are only part of God’s larger strategy to reach the world for Christ, but what about the church by way of the U.S. military?

The U.S. military is in a unique position to have global and strategic impact for the gospel.  I recently attended a meeting where the issue of unreached people groups was being discussed.  This subject represents a huge challenge and is something both church and parachurch leaders have devoted significant time, energy, and money to for many years.  Entire organizations like Joshua Project, Global Frontier Missions, and others, exist for the sole purpose of reaching the unreached.

As I stared at the map of unreached people groups, I couldn’t help but think that this map also largely represented where U.S. military forces are already deployed.  There are currently 165,000 U.S. military forces deployed to 150 of the world’s 195 countries.  That’s nearly 80% of the globe!  After looking at the map, it was clear that the world’s unreached people groups and U.S. military presence largely overlapped.  Coincidence?

This begs the question, what if?  What if the U.S. military were filled with Christian service members actively living out their faith, like the soldier in the 82nd Airborne?  Having served nearly thirty years in the Marine Corps, I can confidently say that the U.S. military is not largely Christian.  But, what if the church here in America and organizations like Joshua Project, Global Frontier Missions, and others, were actively engaged in reaching the U.S. military, an organization that is already in most of the places where we find unreached peoples?  What if the same level of effort applied to winning souls on college campuses was applied to the U.S. military?  What might the world look like in just a few years?