Testimonies from Chaplains about United Methodist Phone Cards

Some past thoughts from Chaplains about the UMC Phone Card program:

Chaplain Sherrol James: Greetings from Iraq, I want to extend my thanks to the board and the members of The United Methodist Church who gave generously to allow some of the men and women of the armed forces an opportunity to stay connected to their families. I had no idea of the impact phone cards. They are a ministry. There are so many young soldiers who cannot afford to stay connected to family like they should because of the cost, but thanks to your generosity they are able to do so for at least a little while.

The holidays are just around the corner and I would like to help the church provide more cards for our armed forces members to keep in touch with their families. A recent report states Army suicide for 2008 will exceed that of 2007. That is tragic. I will be sending you $500 to help with the next phone card campaign; to me it is not such a big cost to save a life.

We just had seven soldiers die in a helicopter crash and that is devastating when you are at war, but it even more devastating when you have been away from your family for just a short period of time. Just thinking of the anguish of the members of that battalion and their families and wanting to provide a way for them to connect with family to reassure them of their safety pulls at my heart strings, but I have no more cards to give.

When a soldier or airman asks for a card it is difficult for me to say I have no more because I know they ask only because they want to stay connected with family and cannot afford to.

Your prayers and generosity are greatly appreciated; I continue to represent Christ and The United Methodist Church here in this corner of the world. Grace and Peace.

Chaplain Edward Barnett is now serving a second tour in Iraq, this time as Joint Area Support Group chaplain in Baghdad’s International Zone. Besides his role as State Department chaplain, he also works with Air Force, Navy and Marine military units that do not have chaplains of their own stationed at the Embassy Annex.

During his last deployment, he saw combat action twice: A Humvee he was riding in took a hit from a roadside bomb, and he was on site when a suicide bomber attacked the dining facility at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul on Dec. 21, 2004, leaving casualties.

“I cared for the wounded, led prayers over the deceased at the bomb site and was the Protestant chaplain during a ceremony as the deceased were loaded on the plane for transport back to the U.S.,” said Maj. Barnett. “But yet, through the pain and suffering, there was the good of humanity. Pettiness was thrown out. People were giving their all to save and encourage life.”

Chaplains in Iraq minister to the community as well as soldiers. They have helped Iraqis by taking humanitarian supplies such as clothing, water, school supplies, soccer balls, and even a refrigerator to families inside the International Zone, Maj. Barnett said. Chaplains in Iraq work with both Christian churches and with Muslim organizations that are cleared to work with the military.

Chaplain Clark Carr: The generosity of the faithful indicates how people want to offer support in tangible ways. ...soldiers comment on what a special gift it is when I give phone cards out.

Chaplain Dave McLean: Attached is the list of chaplains I visited. The number one comment is about the phone cards. Phone Cards are ministry multipliers! They have a tremendous impact on morale, opened doors for pastoral care, conversation, spiritual support, and witness of The United Methodist Church's care. "Keep it up!" "Thanks a million!" Let Judy Carter know!

Many Americans have "Support Our Troops" bumper stickers, but war-zone leaders say the troops' real need is for free cards to help them keep in contact with their families. Please make a concrete difference for those on the front lines .... and donate one or more cards. Great testimony for the United Methodist phone cards!

Chaplain David Knight: The phone cards sent to me during my deployment, which I have distributed to my troops, have made a lasting impact on airmen/soldiers under my pastoral care. Words cannot begin to express my thanks for all the support that I receive for the connection that have from the agency.

It has been seven years since I first began this journey into the Air Force. I am sitting in Baghdad itself, experiencing the continuing effects of those initial acts of terror. "We are not alone, in life, in death, in life beyond death, GOD IS WITH US." I have sought to offer what I could in my role as chaplain to the people here in my care.

One particular experience: “Thank you so much for the extra phone cards that I just received. I have been passing them out to my troops here at my deployed location here in Baghdad. This is one of the most practical means of deployed troop support that I have seen. Several of my troops were astounded when they saw the cross and flame UM logo and remarked that they may check out their local UM church when they return to the states. Others have shown up at our base chapel services after I visited their unit and distributed some phone cards. One airman, who has been under fire several times and had a friend killed in combat in the last couple of weeks, said ‘Thanks Chaplain, I needed this, thank your church for helping us out over here. God knows we need all the help we can get.’"  God bless you all for your ministry of support!

Chaplain Mike Charles: Bless you from 10,000 miles away. Under my "umbrella" of supervision I have about 20,000 soldiers, contractors on the battlefield, other Department of Defense personnel and coalition civilians. Assuming half are married with at least one child and that "sphere of influence" expands to 40,000 easily.

I have an immediate staff of four including me, eight extended staff (family life unit ministry team, Chaplain Detachment Unit Ministry Team) and eight subordinate Unit Ministry Teams of 14 each. That number ministers to 20,000 to 40,000.

So, all that you send me gets distributed into desert locations, like loaves and fishes—Weavings, Upper Room, or the very popular phone card. Each can be a spiritual link worth every cent of production.

On behalf of the United Methodists here in Iraq, please hear greetings from us as we collectively provide ministry from the "strangely warmed" connection! I wanted to write you and let you know of the solid UM footprint being made in the Wesley tradition here currently. I have been passing out the UM calling cards —— still a huge hit here!

Chaplain William Killough: Judy, thanks again for the phone cards you sent for our soldiers here in the 54th Signal Battalion (Camp Arifjan, Kuwait).

After our unit celebrated communion on Thanksgiving, I passed out all the phone cards you sent. The soldiers were very appreciative, especially during this special time of the year while away from their loved ones. Thanks again for your service and gifts.

Merry Christmas!

We just had a soldier who needed to call home because of a family emergency and he used one of the UMC cards! Thank you!

Chaplain Kristi Pappas:  Judy, where ever you get your logo cards, they are the best. AT&T cards have all kinds of hidden fees so the soldiers don't get the best deal. I've used several different kinds, and the ones y'all send are the best. Thank you for all the support.

Chaplain Curtis Wells: Here in Southwest Asia at the chapel we often see troops who really need to call home because there are urgent family needs back in the US. Sadly, many times the troops panic because they cannot afford the call. Because of you, they can now talk with their loved ones.

What a hit they are here in Kuwait and what a ministry multiplier they are, especially for our new soldiers who arrive in Kuwait. This ministry gives these newly assigned and transitioning soldiers the opportunity to call loved ones back home immediately!  What a morale boost.