- Baptist Press - https://www.baptistpress.com -

SBC leader pens gratitude, encouragement to chaplains

[1]

DALLAS (BP)–A special letter to military chaplains has been penned by Southern Baptist Convention President Jack Graham.

The “strategic work” of the chaplains entails “holding forth the Word of life in an hour where doom and death surround us,” Graham, pastor of the Dallas-area Prestonwood Baptist Church, wrote in the letter, released March 20.

That word, he wrote, is “the blessed hope of our Savior Jesus Christ.”

The full text of Graham’s letter follows:

As American soldiers step forward to engage in a defining battle against evil and terror, I want to express my support with that of the entire Southern Baptist family as you proclaim Christ and minister in His name during these difficult days.

The strategic work to which you are called has never been more important than today. Your mission is to extend the Kingdom of the light of God’s Son in a time of oppression brought on by the ruler of darkness. Our hope and confidence is in our Lord and His Holy Word. Our prayer is that you, your family and those men and women to whom you are called to serve may experience strength, protection, grace and peace in this hour. We are praying for a sweeping revival of faith to invade the US forces as they are called to serve in conflict. We are trusting in a swift and decisive end to the malevolent control held over the Iraqi peoples and the harboring of those who proliferate terror in our world. We are praying for our President, his cabinet, and all branches of military leadership in this hour. But personally, I am praying for you and your role of chaplaincy during these crucial hours.

[2]

Thank you for your obedience to Christ and for holding forth the Word of life in an hour where doom and death surround us. We share the blessed hope of our Savior Jesus Christ and our prayer is for many to embrace and extend this hope in these days. On behalf of a grateful nation and with the faith and prayer of thousands of churches and fellow believers I send this word of love and encouragement to you. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

For the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ,

Jack Graham

Romans 1:16; 1 Timothy 1:7
–30–