CityView Magazine

faith Ties That Bind T he civilian and military commu- nities of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg have been inextricably linked for many years. One place that link is vital to members of both com- munities is in our churches. I have expe- rienced this from both sides of the fence now, having served two tours at Fort Bragg as a young officer in the early 80s and early 90s, and now as pastor of one of the many great churches in our community. What our local churches provide to the military community is a church fam- ily away from home. Military families as- signed to Fort Bragg come from all over the United States. They live a somewhat nomadic life, moving from place to place every few years if not sooner. Some of those places are far away from home and family and the traditional support system they provide. Many of these military fami- lies are people of faith. They need from this community – as much as anything – a local church home and family where they can worship as they choose and find Christian fellowship, encouragement and 16 | September/October • 2011 Everyone benefits when churches reach out to military families | BY PASTOR JOHN COOK support akin to what they would find in their churches back home. Many of our local churches have min- istries targeted specifically to the military. These are always good, but not necessarily of first priority. Speaking as a former sol- dier of 26 years on active duty who carted his family all around the world, we just needed a church home and family wher- ever we were assigned. Having deployed to combat both times I was assigned to Fort Bragg, I am forever grateful to Snyder Memorial Baptist Church for taking such great care of my family while I was away. But the point I want to make is that this link does not benefit only the military community. Military families are looking not only for a church home, but a place to serve God through the local church. Mili- tary service is more than an occupation; it is a way of life – a life of service to our nation and its citizens. Serving is in the DNA of our military families. And serv- ing God and others is what Christianity is all about. What the military community brings to our churches is a ready-made pool of Christians looking for a place to serve. It doesn't matter that they might be here only a short time. They are used to putting roots down quickly and making a difference for as long as they are here. Local churches that embrace this population and their propensity to serve will find their fellowship and ministries strengthened. Our church has always embraced this mostly transient military population and we are much richer for it. Some of these "transient" people have re- tired and stayed here in Fayetteville solely because they didn't want to leave their church home away from home. We simply became their new church home. Our military families are indeed bless- ed to have so many great churches avail- able in our community. And our churches are blessed to have such a servant-oriented population anxious to serve through the local church. CV John Cook is the Senior Pastor of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville. www. snydermbc.com

• Cover