St. John, Bingen is committed to care for those who care for us. This includes those who serve in the armed forces, police, firefighters, EMS, and other first responders. This page includes information about our efforts to identify and support those who serve as well as their families. Our chapter of Operation Barnabas is ready, willing, and equipped to serve such families with whatever they may need - from snow removal and lawn care to professional Christian counseling at no cost to the family or government/public servant.
The LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces supports almost 200 chaplains, who represent the church on active duty, the reserves, the National Guard, and Civil Air Patrol. Chaplains meet the needs of military personnel and their families. St. John, Bingen's chapter of Operation Barnabas reaches out also to first-responders in our community as well as their families. This includes police, firefighters, EMS, etc.
The LCMS and St. John, Bingen care deeply for those who currently serve our nation and community, for those who have donned the cloth of our nation in uniform, and for those who served our nation and live in our communities. We care also for their families who also sacrifice for the public good.
For example, our pastors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod serve honorably and with distinction as military chaplains. From the Civil War through both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and current areas of conflict, our chaplains bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to those protecting our great nation. Some chaplains serve on forward bases in harm’s way, others onboard ships maintaining vigilant watch over the seven seas, and others walk the flight line on isolated Air Bases engaging Airmen on faith and family as they load fighter aircraft for combat operations. These “pastors in uniform” provide Word and Sacrament ministry while enduring hardship, constant peril and danger.
The LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces assists and trains congregations through project Operation Barnabas. The goal is to equip and encourage local LCMS members in compassionate care and witness by training outreach to all military connected people (active, reserve, retired, veterans and their loved ones). Bingen's chapter of Operation Barnabas also serves our community's first-responders and their families.
Our LCMS Barnabas congregations and chapters reach out to these families through witness and mercy at the local level, whether it is the families of loved ones deployed, the families of loved ones who serve as police, firefighters, and EMS, or assisting those who have served to reintegrate back home with their family, their church and their community.
Download LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces Information Sheet
Operation Barnabas
In 2007, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Ministry to the Armed Forces launched Operation Barnabas. Through this program — the only one of its kind in the U.S. — together with our congregations, we accomplish several key goals here at St. John, Bingen:
1. Care for Reserve chaplains and their families and congregations.
2. Organize and facilitate our congregation to care for, support, and reach out to all military-connected people, police, firefighters, EMS, and other first-responders both in our congregation and community.
3. Serve as a resource to other organizations that provide care to military-connected people, police, firefighters, EMS, and other first-responders.
Our desire is to enable our congregation to lead our community in welcoming military families back home, provide services to their families while they are away, and care for all of our public servants and their families who sacrifice to serve us.
The Joe and Jane Project, Inc. partners US Military Veterans with local youth for a mentoring program that concentrates on community volunteer involvement. Together we empower one another to find our purpose through life to help reduce the risks of suicide and self-harm rates within our community. Click on "The Joe and Jane Project" above to learn more.
You may ask: “Why is it called Operation Barnabas?” Barnabas was Paul’s companion, who helped him in his missionary journey. His name means “son of encouragement.” We hope to encourage our military and their families with the Gospel in action.
Operation Barnabas is the LCMS’ network of care to our nation’s military members, families and veterans. We reach out to all branches of the military with a special emphasis on our Reserve and Guard members and their families. St. John Bingen's chapter of Operation Barnabas also serves our police, firefighters, EMS, and other first-responders along with their families.
Download Operation Barnabas Information Sheet
Help from congregations
The LCMS encourages congregations to reach out to military families in the following ways:
Thank you. Two simple words, but they are so necessary for those who serve us as first reponders and military families who wait for their loved one to come home from their shift or deployment.
Your loved one is never far from your thoughts, and we want to let you know that you are not forgotten.
The LCMS wants to help. Contact us with your email address, city and state. We will give you the name and phone number of an Operation Barnabas team in your area. St. John, Bingen has one such chapter. You can connect with them, and, if you choose, meet them — on your terms.
Congregations That Support Military Bases — View of a list of military bases with nearby LCMS congregations offering assistance to military families.