Armed Forces Baptist Missions

March 15, 2013 – Carragher Chronicles

Doug Carragher — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:42:22 +0000

Dear Praying Friends,

We are very thankful for your faithful support and prayers. You’re a wonderful gift from God.
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises….” ~2 Peter 1:4

The Lord’s precious promises are such a help to us as we labor with the U.S. Military. Sharing His promises make our lives worthwhile.
The Lord continues to provide opportunities and laborers. Below, find our praises for the last couple months:
The Lord called Donny and Christy Brown to be missionaries to Camp Casey, South Korea.
The Lord called John and Nikki Glenn to be missionaries to Camp Darby, Italy.
Debbie and I traveled and trained in two different colleges.
We conducted deputation training for two families. AFBM shipped Bibles to soldiers on three bases.
We’re currently working with four families for missionary service.
We have coordinated six internships Overseas.
The Lord saved nine souls through our ministry.
We now have 12 locations for future church plants.
Debbie and I traveled 8,000 miles by car without incident or injury.
Doug II will graduate from college on May 3rd.
Daniel is now receiving treatments for allergies that should help with his asthma.

As always, we continue to face attacks, but we never thought that they would come from our own government. Almost weekly, we continue to read about changes and regulations removing our ability to distribute Bibles or visit on some bases. At the same time the news is filled with military support for same sex marriage and benefits. I would never have believed that gays would share military medical
benefits. To pay for those benefits they continue to cut retiree’s medical benefits. We received a letter informing us we would face increases in our payments by at least 300%. Fortunately, we still have the best insurance from heaven.

Prayer Requests:

That Christ would receive the preeminence in our lives and ministry.
For the safety and souls of our heroes and their families.
For the families and friends of our fallen heroes and that the Lord will use their sacrifices for His glory.
For a new binding machine used in the process of binding Bibles. The current one we use is fifty years old and at times failing. If you know a church or former ministry that has one they are no longer using please let us know.
For more churches to have an AFBM Bible Conference or military themed missions conference. Pray for more churches to reach out to local Veteran homes and hospitals.
For our veterans — 18 veterans commit suicide every day.
For the families of the 5,700 heroes that have died in Afghanistan and Iraq; and the 34,000 that have been injured.
For our families’ health and safety as we represent the ministry and reach out to our heroes and their families.
For open doors on bases and in VA hospitals.

Again, thank you so much for your financial and spiritual backing that makes it possible to carry on our military ministry. Please know that the Lord is using you to reach our heroes for Christ.

It’s an honor to remain your servants for Christ,

Doug, Debbie, Doug II and Daniel Carragher

March 15, 2013 – The Armor Bearer

Doug Carragher — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:33:32 +0000

Dear Praying Friends,

We can never thank you enough for your prayers and support. The Lord is using you for His glory with our military heroes.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! ~Romans 10:13-15

Updates and requests from AFBM missionaries around the globe.

Pray for two missionaries serving in combat zones. Monthly we receive reports of Bible studies and souls coming to a saving knowledge of Christ.
Pray for the Anderson family as they finish furlough and return to Twentynine Palms, CA and the US Marine base.
Pray for the Brown family as they begin deputation to reach our heroes at Camp Casey, Korea. This is the largest base in the military without a church.
Pray for the Cooke family and Wright family as they labor at Fort Carson and seek a new building for their church and serviceman center.
Pray for Ellen Davis as she heals from Rotator Cuff surgery.
Pray for Les Dillon as he has surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in his Colon. The margins seem clear and he should not require further treatment.
Pray for the Drylie family as they labor in Vicenza, Italy and for the Lamont family to raise their support quickly and join them.
Pray for the Glenn family as they begin deputation to reach our heroes at Camp Darby, Italy.
Pray for the Knode family raising support to reach our military heroes at Offutt Air Force Base, NE.
Pray for the Kohr family outside of Cherry Point Marine Air Station, NC.
Pray for Lovdie Kreynus to heal from surgery and to return home.
Pray for Rick Mahaney and his therapy and the Lord would allow him to walk better.
Pray for Mike Marshall’s health and complete healing from Pancreatic cancer.
Pray for Steve Martinez as he awaits a Kidney transplant while laboring at Fort Gordon, GA
Pray for the Paul family as they open a (free) coffee house on Fort Jackson to reach our military heroes.
Pray for the Russell family as they return to Korea after a short furlough.
Please pray for a family on deputation that is desperately in need of money to buy a suit and dress to begin deputation.
Pray for another missionary that needs the funds for braces.
Pray for the Lord to provide $2,000 for a project to reach our military heroes.
Pray for additional laborers for the unreached bases around the globe.
Pray for the health and needs of the missionaries which were not mentioned in this email.
Pray for Mrs. Darden our administrator and for her family.
Pray that God would give wisdom to the leadership of AFBM as they lead AFBM into their fifty-first year as an organization.
Pray for our military heroes safety and souls.
Pray for the families of the almost 5,700 war dead and that the Lord would use their deaths for His glory.

Again, we cannot thank you enough for your role in reaching our heroes for Christ. The Lord only knows the fruit in which you partake. We will continue to labor and try tirelessly to earn your trust.
We respect and love you in the name of our Lord,

Douglas Carragher, General Director

November 1, 2012 – The Armor Bearer

Doug Carragher — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 15:26:11 +0000

Dear Pastors, Friends of AFBM and Prayer Warriors,

We cannot thank you enough for your love of our military heroes and missionaries. Daily we thank the Lord for your trust.

According to Matthew 9:35-37, there came a point in the ministry of Christ that he stopped to take a look at the multitude of followers who sought his attention. As he looked upon them, he saw the desperation of the crowd and his heart was moved with compassion. Jesus said,

“…The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matt 9:37,38)

Today, over 2.6 million men and women serve in our armed forces, deployed to approximately 490 bases in 80 countries around the world. Though the United States meets their physical needs better than any in the world, AFBM is dedicated to meeting their spiritual needs.

Our veterans number 23.6 million, each one with a unique set of experiences as they served our country. These national treasures have secured and maintained our freedoms. We will do whatever it takes to share the Gospel with every one.

Family members are probably the most overlooked segment among our military heroes. Spousal abuse is at its highest level in recorded history. We seek to introduce these families to a great Savior.

As you can see AFBM is on a worldwide quest for the souls of men and women in uniform, veterans and their families. We seek to introduce them to the Savior and lead them to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. We also help train them to be soul- winners and Bible teachers, turning the evangelized into evangelists. We supply them with Bibles and tracts and encourage them to sow the seed of the Gospel in their places of duty and in their communities.

AFBM first works to plant churches outside military bases around the world. Our organization then strives in these and other existing local churches to encourage them to develop a military evangelistic outreach program. In these churches near military bases, AFBM works to establish Military Service Centers, which are an ideal means for reaching young, single military personnel. In local churches near veterans’ homes or hospitals, AFBM strives to effectively minister to veterans. AFBM also works through local churches to assist the families of both the veteran and the deployed.

Our needs are many:

WE NEED MISSIONARIES called by God from the local church to our heroes and their families. We continually seek additional laborers for this mission field. We need help in Asia, Europe and at home.

WE NEED PRAYER. Will you pray that Christ will have the preeminence in our ministry?

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE? Review our website at www.afbmissions.com or contact us at director@afbmissions.com.

There are many needs on our mission fields, but in the words of Christ, the laborers are few. Would you pray that the Lord would send some laborers into the field? Maybe you could be a laborer yourself?

Thank you again for your faith and trust in our ministry. We pray the Lord will bless you,

Douglas Carragher, General Director

November 1, 2012 – Carragher Chronicles

Doug Carragher — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 15:17:42 +0000

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.~II Chronicles 7:14

Debbie and I cannot thank you enough for the hospitality and precious fellowship during our recent visit. We thank God to be your friends. Please join us in fervent prayer for much needed support. We’re having to slow down our outreach and are praying for the Lord to find partners.

Almost daily, someone will call and ask a question about our base access and ability to continue on with our ministries around the world.

First, access is unique to each base. Some chaplains and commanders are very helpful. Others will often placate us, stringing us along, or just grant no access whatsoever. More and more we’re seeing a greater need for exactly what we do–starting autonomous, local church ministries off base with the Lord on the throne alone.

Second, many ask about Walter Reed and other hospitals banning Scripture from our heroes. In fact, last year the commander of Walter Reed feeling pressure from higher headquarters, blocked any religious materials (Bibles) from being carried into the hospital by clergy, family or patients.

Tens of thousands of folks just like us wrote the president and congress demanding a change. Representative Steve King from Iowa took the battle to the floor of the House of Representatives demanding the president and commanders allow our heroes the freedoms for which they fought. We won a great victory with the hospital back-peddling from the hospital’s policy of blocking religious materials and again allowing Bibles.

How long this ban will be lifted is anyone’s guess. Many of us will never forget the Democratic National Committee forcing the delegates to add God to their platform. How long will they leave Him on their platform?

During the same briefing about the Bibles, Mr. King also quoted a Chief of Chaplains of Navy document allowing Navy chaplains to marry same sex couples everywhere except in nations where it is not prohibited. In other words, not in Kuwait or Afghanistan, where same sex marriage carries a death penalty. Of course, chaplains of like faith with us would never commit such a tragedy. Please pray for our good chaplains, our missionaries and our military heroes. We will with the Lord’s help keep the Lord on the throne. (http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihOXKHUYWgo)

In addition to the blocked access and Bible distribution, we have been notified we can no longer print Bibles with with each branch’s logo. The Bibles we distributed over the past five years with Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard logos/monikers are no longer legal to print. The DOD claims they will not associate the Word of God with each branch. Their stated reasoning is not to offend any Americans. One example is that Muslims and Wiccans are offended. A quick look at statistics from 2009 place these two people groups at less than one percent of our service folks.

Of course, with the Lord’s help, we will print the Bibles with a beautiful cover honoring our heroes.

Prayer Praises:

For a new missionary family.
Four souls saved since our last prayer letter.
Doug II losing 25 pounds.
Daniel losing 28 pounds.
Seven college visits.
Five new candidates.
New military outreach.
Helped find churches for military families moving.
For Grace Baptist doing new Navy SEAL Bibles.
Researched and identified three bases desperately needing churches.
A missionary on duty with our military in Kuwait.
Prayer Requests:
For Christ to have the preeminence in our ministry.
For our military heroes– their health, souls and their families
For Debbie’s arthritic pain.
For our health.
For open doors on bases around the world.
Plane tickets to visit our missionaries.
For our missionaries’ health and families.
For supporting churches and their families.
For the Lord to allow continued Bible distribution and for a great new set of covers.

We stand in awe of how the Lord has placed you into our lives. You hold a special place in our hearts and in the Lord’s Army. When I pray for your partnership in our ministry, I cannot help but ask God to provide a vision of how He’s used your prayers and support to reach our heroes.

You too are heroes and we cannot thank you enough. We love you,
Doug, Debbie, Doug II and Daniel Carragher

August 10, 2012 – The Armor Bearer

Doug Carragher — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:41:18 +0000

Dear Pastors, Prayer Warriors, Supporters, and Friends of the Ministry,

We are honored to share an update from the AFBM Asian Director, Jim Taylor:

“Those of us who have served in the Armed Forces have a clear understanding of the military ‘mission’. There is a broad and all-encompassing mission ‘to support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies – foreign and domestic’. Each military installation also has a more specific mission in support of the main objective.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen”. ~Matthew 28:19-20

The Great Commission is our mission. No single church, however, can accomplish the Great Commission by itself. God has given each church a more specific mission of reaching its local community and sending missionaries into the field to preach the gospel in areas that the local church cannot reach.

AFBM, likewise, has a mission. Our mission is to “establish fundamental, independent, evangelistic ministries near [military] bases under the auspices of the local church”. This statement defines who we are and what we do and explains our part in the responsibility of completing the the Great Commission. Each missionary and member of AFBM, as well as each sending church, has a part in “completing the mission”.

God has sent the Taylor family to Korea to labor in our responsibility to complete the mission of influencing Asia for Christ. Current military strength in the Asia/Pacific arena is estimated at 100,000 troops. The majority of these men and women are in either South Korea (28,500 personnel), Japan (36,700 personnel), or on board sea-going vessels (14,000 personnel). The remaining personnel are scattered in small advisory or support groups all across Asia and the Pacific. Many of these men and women remain in the Asia/Pacific arena for between one and three years, then move on to other assignments. A large number of them serve out their entire tours separated from their families. It is often very difficult and always stressful on their homes. They continue, despite the hardship, so that they can fulfill their part in completing the mission.

The number of English-speaking Independent Baptist churches in Asia is estimated at 35 or fewer. That means there is only one Independent Baptist church for every 2,857 military members in the Asia arena. I personally know of at least six locations in Korea and Japan where there are military men and women with no viable option for a church.

The Haven Baptist Church of Gunsan Air Base, South Korea, where I serve as Pastor, has never been a large church because the base itself is small and very transient. But after having been here for as long as I have, I can tell of at least ten missionaries, nine pastors, one pastor’s assistant, and at least thirty-three others in some kind of full-time service, with another twenty men serving in other church leadership positions. All of these men and women came through the doors of a small Independent Baptist church that sought to provide a “home away from home” for our men and women in the military.

For us, watching men and women leave Gunsan and go out to serve God is completing the mission!”

Thank you for your continued prayers and support for this ministry.

On behalf of our AFBM family,

General Director
director@afbmissions.com

August 12, 2012 – Carragher Chronicles

Doug Carragher — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:33:55 +0000

Dear Pastor Coles and Church Family,

“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;”~ I Corinthians 1:4

We cannot thank you enough for the awesome opportunity to serve God by reaching our Armed Forces. His grace is displayed daily through your love, prayers and support.

Since the last prayer letter, by God’s wonderful grace, our shared ministry has seen an increase of two missionaries. I am always amazed to see how the Lord can take someone like me and use me for His glory. With you, it will be wonderful to meet their fruit in glory.

Through preaching and door knocking, eight people came to know Christ. I am glad that God saves sinners… that He would save a sinner like me.”

We continue to distribute Bibles to our heroes around the world. As of the first of July, 812,000 Bibles have been shipped. Thank you to all who help provide God’s Word for the Armed Forces. Below, is a list of praises since our last letter:

a. Led seven missionary families through candidate school.

b. Completed soul winning training at three churches outside of military installations. As a result, 48 people have been saved.

c. Eight additional Bible colleges opened their doors for us to present military missions.

d. A college has asked us to develop curriculum for a military missions class.

e. Daniel graduated from high school.

f. Taught an online course to our heroes in Afghanistan.

g. Attended a graduation for a soldier I led to the Lord five years ago.

h. Received funds for car repairs. Prayer Requests:

a. Pray for the salvation and safety of our military heroes.

b. Pray for our family’s health and strength.

c. Pray for the Lord to receive the preeminence in all that we do.

d. Pray for additional support for our family and ministry.

e. Pray for the families and friends of our fallen heroes and that the Lord will use their sacrifices for His glory.

Thank you again for your love, prayers and support. You are heroes in Christ,
Doug, Debbie, Doug II, and Daniel Carragher

The Lamont Family

Cesar Edward Rodriguez — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:12:29 +0000

Our Ministry:

Church Planter, Co-Pastor/ Servicemen Center,
Vicenza, Italy

The Marshall Family

Cesar Edward Rodriguez — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:09:16 +0000

Our Ministry:

Church Planter, Pastor
Great Lakes Naval Station, IL

The Ross Family

Cesar Edward Rodriguez — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:06:16 +0000

Our Ministry:

Missionaries to Foreign Seamen
Hampton Roads, VA

The Wright Family

Cesar Edward Rodriguez — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:03:34 +0000

Our Ministry:

Church Planter/Serviceman Center
Ft. Carson, CO