Alabama pastor moves into military ministry role

In 2002, when pastor Gary Sanders began encouraging churches to develop strategies to reach the military, it was a “fun part-time job.” Little did he know how quickly it would become full time.
   
“I saw this developing into a full-time ministry. (But) I did not originally intend to leave the (church) ministry so soon,” said the former pastor of Gateway Baptist Church, Montgomery, whose last Sunday was Oct. 24.
   
“But the desire (of churches) to develop more of a strategic ministry to the military is so big out there.”
   
Begun in 2002 and incorporated with the state of Alabama this March, the interdenominational Military Missions Network seeks to encourage churches to intentionally try to evangelize the military as a people group.
   
The church then seeks to equip those Christians with the means to witness to others in their spheres of influence.
   
This includes their fellow servicemen and women as well as people in the areas and countries where they are stationed.
   
“I want to get churches thinking about this as a way to impact the world,” Sanders said. “[The military] is a transient people group.
   
“Reaching a transient people group is a way to network to fulfill the Great Commission.”
   
Sanders pointed out the military is one of the most racially diverse groups in the United States, and many servicemen and women tend to take on leadership positions in the civilian community when they retire.
  
All of these make it important to reach the military, he said.
   
He noted that viewing the military as a people group gives churches a starting point and direction in evangelism.
   
“The best people to reach people in a specific group are people indigenious to that group,” he said.
   
Another goal of the network is to coordinate and connect the work of churches, chaplains and parachurch organizations. “These three streams of ministry already exist and flow through the military,” he said. “We want to promote better relations and to utilize that network to better care for the military.”
   
Sanders said he has been in touch with state Baptist leaders to develop resources and is also working with other denominations.
   
He noted that many denominations are represented within the military. “The Kingdom is big, so we need to reach beyond [denominations],” he said. “It’s a necessity to work together.”
   
For more information, visit www.thealabamabaptist.org.