Poster - Worship Slides

Poster - Front-and-Center Slides

Poster - Event Slides

This month we are highlighting the Mission Grant of $27,750 to the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, supporting their Operation Barnabas program. This grant is one of 22 Mission Grants that were approved at the 2017 LWML Convention.

Christ for Veterans and Their Families

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Ministry to the Armed Forces (MAF) is authorized as the mission arm of the Synod to support and serve all military chaplains—active and reserve—their families and the veteran population. Operation Barnabas, an extension of MAF and the only program of its kind in the United States, provides a network of care through trained congregations that want to reach out to members of the military, their families and the veterans in their congregations and communities.

Our military has answered our nation’s call to protect and defend us. In every time and place they have stood the watch, far from their families. Congregations have focused on deployment care with good reason. There is a need, however, for support to military personnel and their families when they are reunited after repeated deployments. Operation Barnabas focuses on connecting soldiers with their families after deployment and reintegrating them back in the worship life of their church.

Ministry to the Armed Forces Operation Barnabas will 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. The goal is to train and equip Operation Barnabas leaders and their congregations to reach out to veterans and their families so that all have an opportunity to know that the only source of true peace comes from Jesus Christ.

The name “Operation Barnabas” comes from Paul’s missionary companion and aide, Barnabas, whose name literally means “son of encouragement.” Providing encouragement is a key component in the ministry to military members and their families. Operation Barnabas works through relationships that offer encouragement and thanksgiving centered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, the LWML has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and by supporting global missions. For more information on each month’s mission focus, visit LWML.org. Saint John’s Mission Guild (LWML) meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Room 301. All ladies of the congregation are invited to attend.