LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 24

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24

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

G. Ministry to the Armed Forces
The greatest blessing is that God has sent us faithful pastors to
serve as military chaplains during these most challenging times,
both culturally and on religious freedom. During a time when
many denominations are having a difficult challenge getting qualified pastors to serve in the military as chaplains, the LCMS has
been blessed! We have several who have answered the call to serve
the men and women of our armed forces by bringing them Word
and Sacrament ministry and showing the compassion and mercy
of Jesus Christ to those whom they are “called to serve.” Yet we
still need more! If not us, then who? Your Ministry to the Armed
Forces (MAF) chaplains voluntarily go into harm’s way, serving in
physically dangerous and austere conditions to preach the Gospel
of Jesus Christ in season and out of season to their flock of military
personnel and their families. These chaplains truly are shepherds
who live, train, eat, and suffer with their flock. What a blessing God
has given to His church for faithful pastors who serve as faithful
chaplains in bringing the love of God in Jesus in everything they
do! We ask all to continue to pray for our chaplains and their families and all who serve our nation selflessly and voluntarily.
We will need to continue to receive good pastors to serve in the
military to replace those who are retiring. We need to be present
with chaplains who will preach the Gospel in its truth and purity
to those men and women who are sacrificing so much to defend
our way of life. Currently, we have 55 active-duty LCMS military
chaplains. Another 104 chaplains serve in the Reserve, National
Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Coast Guard auxiliary, and Department of
Veterans Affairs. We also support three Directors of Religious Education (DREs). Your MAF continues to support them with prayers,
pastoral care, Lutheran continuing education, religious liberty, and
supplies for Lutheran worship and catechesis. We also coordinate
with the Department of Defense to ensure your chaplains remain
endorsed properly and in good standing with the LCMS and the
Department of Defense as qualified chaplains who are free to be
faithful.
Our goal is to have 70 active-duty chaplains and 120 Reserve,
National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Department of Veterans Affairs chaplains by 2025. We continue to recruit and encourage our young pre-seminary university students,
seminarians, and parish pastors to consider serving our Lord and
His Church as military chaplains. The average age of the personnel
served by military chaplains is 18–25 years old. It is a challenging
calling; however, it is very rewarding as chaplains are always present, no matter what time or place, with these brave young men and
women who serve our country so faithfully.
One of the challenges for our chaplains is the cultural shift on
biblical issues. Be assured that your chaplains continue to preach
the Word of God faithfully where they are called to serve. They
treat everyone with dignity and respect without compromising the
clear Word of God or our Lutheran confession. Chaplains are still
protected by law and policy of the Department of Defense to preach
and teach in accordance with the tenets of their faith. While certainly living in a challenging environment, they are still free to be
faithful and uphold the teaching of the Word of God and the LCMS.
There is no doubt that MAF will keep an eye on this and ensure our
chaplains receive the support they need, as there is a constant pressure from organizations and individuals seeking to mandate compromise and violation of conscience and religious liberty.
MAF continues the Ministry-by-Mail program, where we publish over 16,000 copies of Lutheran devotional materials and re2023 Convention Workbook

sources (including Portals of Prayer and So Help Me God) per
quarter and mail them to over 3,500 military and retired personnel throughout the world, as well at Veterans Affairs hospitals. Our
goal is to increase that number by 1,000 each year, as we know
there are LCMS members who are serving our nation in uniform
who have not contacted us. We will continue to encourage parents,
grandparents, local congregations, and friends to submit contact
information of their loved ones serving in the military so we can
reach out to them with this program as well as put them in touch
with LCMS chaplains and congregations where they are stationed.
We need the help of our LCMS members to send in the contact
information for those who are currently serving in the military so
we can support them.
One key highlight for MAF centers is caring for veterans. Operation Barnabas, organized in 2007, supports not only our pastors
who are also Reserve chaplains but also our Lutheran veterans in
the pew and the millions of veterans who live in the shadow of
our churches but never attend any church. It is estimated that there
are currently more than 18 million U.S. veterans alive today from
all wars. This is an unprecedented mission field and opportunity
for the church. MAF is leading the way to reach veterans and all
military-connected people to draw them back to the cross of Christ.
Throughout the history of the Lutheran Church, God has moved
His people to actively display His love for military communities.
To assist the LCMS in sharing the forgiveness of sins Christ Jesus
won for us on the cross, the Holy Spirit has moved us to joyfully
build upon the work and strength of our church in service to the
military. This effort, called Operation Barnabas, has grown into a
united network of care responding to the unique needs of militaryconnected people.
The vision of Operation Barnabas is that every military-connected person lives in the hope and peace of God’s love and mercy
as revealed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Operation Barnabas
engages, empowers, and equips LCMS faith communities, called
by Christ’s love, to provide hope, healing, and support to militaryconnected persons living in their community.
The Operation Barnabas project has made a positive difference
in the lives of veterans who are members of LCMS congregations
and also to the veterans in their communities. The training and networking have greatly increased the mercy and compassion of the
local congregations to all military-connected people in their own
congregation as well as in their community. An Operation Barnabas congregation is a place where veterans are respected for their
vocation as military members and are provided hope, healing, and
support in their time of need through the sharing of the Gospel and
the compassion of the congregation. Currently, 636 congregations
have joined Operation Barnabas, providing outreach and care to
their local military-connected individuals.
Many new veterans are returning to the civilian world after serving their country. We need to continue to establish Operation Barnabas congregations that will be equipped to welcome them and give
them the support they need as they transition to other vocations.
Our goal by the end of 2024 is to have 1,000 LCMS congregations
join Operation Barnabas, either as congregations or chapters, and
be a part of our network of care for military-connected people.
Adopt-A-Chap is a program that connects congregations with
currently serving LCMS military chaplains. Through this program,
the congregation supports a chaplain during his military ministry through prayer and communication. This helps the military
chaplain feel connected to the church body while educating the