It is fairly common to hear of religious groups across the spectrum of faiths contributing care packages, religious books and materials, and other resources to our troops downrange.  (Previous stories have included organizations providing support for military members practicing Judaism, Islam, and Wicca, for example.)

One church took it a step further and “adopted” a deployed Chaplain.  For Chaplain Jeff Bryan, this meant not only resource support, but knowing that a congregation at home was praying for him and emotionally supporting him.  The article recounts that Bryan not only received Christmas stockings, audiovisual equipment, and correspondence, but also emails from the Pastor during some very dark days–his unit would ultimately see 34 killed and over 200 wounded.

Even now, as the Chaplain has moved on to a different stateside assignment, a reserved area in his adopted church has a tribute to the men from his unit who died.