“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:10-11

This week our country takes time to honor the veterans of our Armed Forces. Most of us have some connection to someone in the service currently or in the past. There are a trio of us at my congregation, Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that share that “veteran” connection as women who have served in the Armed Forces. We also share our service in LWML—Lutheran Women in Mission.
Carol, Debbie and I all entered the service during the Viet Nam conflict. Carol served 4 years in the Army. Debbie served in the Air Force for 33 years and added Desert Storm service. I served for 3 years in the Navy doing active duty at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Virginia.
There are many more of us LWML veterans around the country. I’ve met some at the Rocky Mountain district convention held in Colorado Springs last year. I served with another LWML district president from South Dakota who was a veteran and I know there are more out there. I’m hoping to make contact with many of you veterans next summer for the fall issue of the Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly which will feature LWML veterans and active duty women.

I’d also like to recognize you who are wives and mothers of servicemen. You may be interested in reading more about our mission grant, “Christ for Veterans and Their Families”. This grant is for the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces to host a national three-day training event empowering Operation Barnabas districts, congregations and chapter members to bring the Good News of God in Christ to veterans and their families.
Maybe you should consider what your LWML group can do to reach out to our military chaplains, active-duty and veterans, and their families as they stand ready to defend and protect each of us on a daily basis. You can start by praying for their safety and personal encouragement (think Barnabas). Then you can help fund the “Christ for Veterans and Their Families” mission grant through your Mite Box offerings.

Happy Veteran’s Day to all of you veterans and your family members!

Patti

http://www.lwml.org/2017-2019-mission-grant-3

https://www.lcms.org/ministry-to-the-armed-forces

Pictured is Debbie, Carol, and Me