MMI is looking for church planters and ministers to bring a reformed witness to the military and expatriate communities around the world, as well as encouraging reformed efforts among our military academies

MMI is a pioneering ministry started in 2008 by Southeast Alabama Presbytery of the PCA after TE Doug Hudson returned to the States. Doug spent 15 years in Germany as the pastor of Trinity Reformed Church which is located in the Ramstein/Landstuhl area.

One aspect of Trinity’s vision was to help facilitate the planting of Presbyterian and Reformed churches near our overseas installations. The initial vision is now expanding to include both church plants at military installations and international communities, as well as efforts to help and encourage a Reformed witness at the military academies.

It is estimated that there are around 500,000 Americans living and working on military installations in Europe and Asia. Additionally, there are many expatriates living near these bases. For most military personnel overseas, the options for worship are limited to local Baptist and Pentecostal churches or an on-base chapel.

MMI believes it is important for reformed churches to engage the military community with a theology that we believe is the best representation of biblical truth. This has become even more urgent with the increasing pluralism found in the Chaplain Corps.

Liberalism, political correctness, increasing paganism seen in the accommodation of a Wiccan population, Mormonism, which is now considered General Protestant, and the recent repeal of “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell” in the military requires a strong voice to speak the truth to this very important community. It is a “Great Commission” effort to minister in a comprehensive way to our service personnel and their families around the world. In addition, bringing a reformed witness to our military academies and colleges will give those young men and women a strong, biblical foundation as they embark on their journey to various places around the world.

The very first overseas military congregation, Trinity Reformed Church, was birthed out of a home Bible study begun in 1988. TE Doug Hudson and his family arrived on the field in Ramstein in 1993. The congregation has had a wonderful impact on the community over the years. In addition to feeding the congregants through the regular means of grace, the Lord used Trinity to establish the first crisis pregnancy center near a base overseas, support MTW missionaries living in Europe, host an annual Reformed Conference/Retreat in Beatenberg, Switzerland, have an extensive ministry at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (the largest military hospital outside of the U.S.), minister to families of soldiers deployed to war zones, and purchase a building in downtown Landstuhl as a permanent meeting place for the church.

Trinity’s vision has led to the planting of two additional churches overseas. Okinawa Covenant Church started in 2004. The military community on Okinawa numbers around 45,000. A church planter was also recently sent to begin a work in Wiesbaden, Germany, which is scheduled to begin in early 2012. We are thankful that God has raised up 3 churches thus far for this particular ministry. We pray that He may raise up many more men to minister to this wonderful community of soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors who sacrifice much in defense of our nation.

Our ministry longs to see more covenantal communities established among those who serve in defense of our nation. Ministers in these communities–whether overseas or near bases in the U.S., whether at the academies or military colleges–are the “tip of the spear” to carry the Gospel to the great warriors who serve our nation so valiantly. As such, we desire that our ministers be men of great faith and godly character who have a “fire in their belly” to communicate the doctrines of grace unashamedly.

Ministers who sense a call to such an exciting ministry will receive training in the area of fund raising. Familiarity with the military culture would be helpful, but is not required. Those ministers without a working knowledge of the military will receive training about our current military culture prior to moving on the field.

To find out more about the opportunities for service among this valuable community, please contact TE Doug Hudson, Director of Ministry to the Military, Southeast Alabama Presbytery, PCA. You may call 704.909.6516 or e-mail [email protected]. Our website is www.ministrytothemilitaryinternational.com