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JANICE BACKER
Assistant Editor
JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-A candle has been lit in the sanctuary of Myrtle Grove Baptist Church in Pensacola each Sunday morning since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pastor Ron Lentine said the candle is lit by one of the military families with loved ones involved in the conflict in the Middle East. In another part of the church, a picture board displays images of service members.
"It is a constant reminder for us to pray for each by name," Lentine said.
Churches near military installations in Pensacola, Jacksonville and Tampa face unique challenges and opportunities in peacetime. However, when church members, sworn to defend and protect the nation, deploy during a time of war, congregations mobilize prayer and support ministries not only for those in harm's way, but also for those awaiting their return.
On the northeast coast, Oak Harbor Baptist Church and Neptune Beach Baptist Church regularly minister to military families.
About two miles from Jacksonville's Mayport Naval Station's main gate, 200-member Oak Harbor Baptist Church in Atlantic Beach provides its members an opportunity to do missions up-close, according to pastor Randy Crews. "We have always been a military church, so this is nothing new to us," Crews said. "We see our church as a mission church. We disciple them for a time and then send them out to the world."
At Neptune Beach Baptist Church about 35 percent of their 600-member congregation is either active or retired military. The adult Sunday School classes provide support groups for the families of the deployed service members, according to pastor Tom Bary.
"It is amazing that God has placed these men and women in leadership with us. They are students of the Bible and prayer warriors," Bary said. "They are the most courageous people, but for them it is business as usual."
Only a mile from the main gate at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, 75 percent of the membership of First Baptist Church in Tampa are either retired or active military, David Bland told the Witness. Bland, a deacon, surmised that since MacDill is the location of U.S. Central Command, members of the church would likely stay in Tampa. "We are here for them when they are in need," said Bland.
At First Baptist Church in Brandon about 50 men and women from MacDill are deployed, according to Pastor Thomas Green, who is also president of the Florida Baptist State Convention. Besides prayer and support for the military families left in the Tampa area, the church is reaching members in Middle East via the church Web site where they can listen to Sunday services.
At First Baptist Church in Orlando, the congregation supports the troops through "Operation Home Fires." Members may volunteer to write to troops or plan to do something special for them-garden, babysit, picnic or invite them over for Easter dinner.
On the Space Coast, though not near a military base, members of First Baptist Church of Merritt Island sponsored "Operation Barnabas" March 23, assembling care packages for the troops.