May 27, 2005 A UMNS Feature By Kathy L. Gilbert* Military
men and women have had more than 6 million minutes to speak to someone
they love—free of charge—because thousands of United Methodists have
donated to a phone card campaign started in 2003. "Chaplains
have felt supported, and service members, many who have no church
affiliation, know that the United Methodist Church cares about them,"
said the Rev. Greg Hill, director for the United Methodist Endorsing
Agency, sponsor of the campaign. "As we prepare to celebrate Memorial
Day, we also celebrate what the church has done for these young men and
women." The
agency, part of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and
Ministry, has received hundreds of thank-you notes from the soldiers,
such as the one from "SRA Okorodudu." Sir or Madam, It
gives me pleasure to know that you guys are praying and wishing the
best for us. The concern and care you showed has an incredible positive
effect on our morale. Christianity
is awesome though I'm not religious yet this faith holds an esteem
place in my heart. Once again, thanks to you all and your care is simply
remarkable. Donations
from churches, individuals and groups have poured into the agency from
46 states. Phone cards are purchased and shipped to United Methodist
chaplains, who then distribute them to any military person in need. To
date, more than 100 chaplains have given out 6 million minutes. "I
wanted to thank you for the phone cards. The Marines I gave them to are
deploying soon and appreciated them very much," said the Rev. Tony
Carr, 2d Combat Engineer Battalion chaplain. "Thank you for all you do,
seen and unseen. Your ministry is blessing thousands of people." The
Rev. Kent L. Svendsen, Joint Detention Operations Group chaplain,
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said he has given phone cards to soldiers in real
need, such as the young man whose wife had just miscarried and needed to
talk longer than the 15-minute moral call provided by the military. Or
the soldier whose mother was very sick, and he was her only relative;
the young soldier unable to go home to attend his grandmother's funeral;
or the young man whose wife wanted a divorce. "These
are actual situations that I have faced, and the list is very long,"
Svendsen said. "Let people know they are doing an important ministry of
caring with those cards. The service members I work with can testify to
that!" The
Rev. Dale C. White at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, has passed out more than a
thousand free phone cards he received from the United Methodist
Endorsing Agency. "This
seems like a lot of donors, but things go fast to the 3,000-plus
members of my unique congregation," he said. "I am deeply touched. We
are so deeply moved by all the support, and no item is wasted. Folks, it
is barren out here. Oh, they feed us well, but there's no cable TV, one
radio station, sand, sand and more sand." The
phone cards feature the United Methodist Cross and Flame and include a
recorded prayer: "The people of the United Methodist Church are praying
for your safety and sense of peace. Our hearts, our minds and our doors
are always open to you." The United Methodist phone cards cost $4.95 for
120 minutes. Karen
Dempsey got a phone call from her son, Kevin Lensie, on his birthday
last year and sent a note about her phone call to the United Methodist
Endorsing Agency. "I
knew you would want to talk to me," he said. "Mom, you are really going
to like this one: The chaplain was passing out phone cards, and when I
looked down at the one he gave me, I recognized the Cross and Flame.
This birthday call is brought to you by the people of the United
Methodist Church." The
birthday call came from near Baghdad, Dempsey said. "Thank you, people
of the United Methodist Church, for touching the lives of a son and his
mother on his birthday. Thank you, too, for your prayers." The
message from the church is coming in loud and clear. For many, the
offer of prayer is the best gift of all. Soldier John Hurley sent a note
from Iraq expressing the appreciation of all the soldiers in his unit. "While
the gifts are extremely nice and we all appreciate them, what we really
need is prayer," he wrote. "A lot of soldiers are beginning to get down
and feel depressed. I'm sure that you pray for us, and I'm sure that
you ask God to keep his hand over us and give us a safe return home. But
will you also pray that God gives us peace of mind and the strength to
deal with all the other situations we face every day?" The
phone card campaign is ongoing. Because of limited personnel, the
agency does not have the ability to sell phone cards to congregations or
individuals. For more information on how to participate, contact the
United Methodist Endorsing Agency, Board of Higher Education and
Ministry, P.O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007. The agency also can
be reached at umea@gbhem.orgor (615) 340-7411. The Web site for the agency is www.gbhem.org/chaplains. *Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn. News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
|