Two recent articles, among others, demonstrate the strength of the relationship between the US military and the local church — especially churches that go out of their way to serve the military community.

The relationship between the military and Manna Church in Fayetteville — outside Fort Bragg — was documented at Religion News Service:

This dynamic megachurch is similar to many others across the country, except for this: 70 percent of church members are military families based at Fort Bragg, the nation’s largest military installation. And despite a rapid turnover of members, due to deployments, retirements and transfers to other bases, the evangelical church has not only held steady, but grown.

Manna Church actually spreads through the movement of its members, with new locations for the church popping up near Eglin AFB, Langley AFB, and — in an affront to Michael “Mikey” Weinstein — the home of the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

Interestingly, the church’s founder, Michael Fletcher, thinks in this era of shortages and constraints the spread of Manna Church could be a good thing for military retention and recruitment, with troops knowing they’ll always have a familiar church home wherever they go. His goal, according to the article:

open a campus in every city with a large military base.

In other news, the JDNews.com from Jacksonville, NC, makes a statement of the obvious, if largely ignored, when it notes that “religion plays a role in lives of many military members.” Within the article US troops highlight the fact their faith aligns with their service and leadership, as well as the role chaplains sometimes play in helping service members find houses of worship that meet their faith needs. Also, from Chaplain (Capt) J.P. Hedges:

Hedges feels societal headwinds are making it difficult for military personnel to practice their faith, but it doesn’t discount the importance of remaining faithful.

“It is always important to practice ones faith; however, it is a little more difficult to do so today than it was a generation ago in view of current social trends,” Hedges wrote.

That’s not something often said publicly, particularly in reference to the US military.

But that makes it no less true.

ADVERTISEMENT