Covenant News

Faith Covenant's Program Ministers to Military Families

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (May 14, 2004) - Faith Evangelical Covenant Church is giving a lift to military personnel in the area by caring for some basic needs and honoring them in a special way during worship.

Pastor Ken Moore and Rick Osmun, an Air Force Colonel from the church, helped start the program about 15 months ago by placing a wreath with the names of church members serving in the military in the church foyer. Each person's name is listed on a star. Those currently deployed overseas have a yellow ribbon on their star.

Through Operation Red, White and Blue (ORWB), the church supports about 15 church members and their families via prayer, email, cards, and care packages. On Easter Sunday, Faith Covenant held a "welcome home" reception for returning military members from Afghanistan and Iraq. It served as an outreach tool as members invited friends and family to the service. Military personnel will also be honored this Sunday on Armed Forces Day (May 16).

"The ministry to families, in some cases, is just as important or more important than to the personnel," said Moore. "The church is able to provide Christian community to them and act as an extended family, for many are away from their homes of origin. We've had some significant prayer times with church elders and some of the elders, and we've had a growing children and family ministry under Stephanie Kugler because many of the military families have young children."

Moore said that the value of relationships he has build with military personnel couldn't be underestimated. Several members who had been stationed Afghanistan had teenagers at the church and was impressed by how adults paid special attention to those students.

Moore mentioned how one family came to the church as a result of a conversation at a local bagel shop. The woman saw Moore and church elders praying, inquired about the church-- the family had just moved into the area--and learned about Faith Covenant's ministry to military personnel. The woman's husband recent returned from Iraq. She and her husband hope to contribute to this ministry.

Moore said that the church has talked about starting small "house churches" on local bases to further the ministry. Both Moore and Osmun are glad the church has been able to provide this practical ministry to military families.

"Due to the higher stress of the military lifestyle on individuals and families, I think ORWB has . . . to provide(d) a special focus on these unsung heroes," said Osmun. "Constant prayer and recognition is always warranted for these selfless servants." He said his wife Rhea, B.J. Bowling, and other military spouses have been an integral part of the program's success.

Faith Covenant has also developed an Early Learning Center for those age one through kindergarten. The daycare center has 50 students enrolled (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and has ministered to military families who aren't attending the church but need a safe place to send their kids during primary work hours. Summer Family Fun Nights are being coordinated to add an outreach element and provide practical education for parents.

For more about Faith Covenant, call Moore at 719-574-2324 or check the church's web site at www.faithcov.org.

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