By Juliette Stokes, AFCU Prayer Coordinator.
In the AFCU, we often highlight the need to pray for and support Military Chaplains as they serve and witness to the love that God has for military personnel. This is vital, and we ask that you continue to do so as regularly as possible.
But could I ask you to take a moment to think about and pray for their spouses? As a Chaplain’s spouse myself, I can testify to both the blessings and the challenges of this role. In each posting, you can often feel a little on the periphery of military community life, and your life can sometimes feel lonely, as you are part of it, yet also a bit separate from the unit your spouse is serving with; you are often the only Chaplain’s spouse in the local area.
We have recognised this unique situation, and we have sought to provide space and opportunity for fellowship and prayer support for our Tri-Service Chaplain spouses, creating a trusted group where they feel they belong, are understood, accepted and valued. We have both a WhatsApp group and a monthly Zoom prayer meeting, providing a safe space where they can give and receive love, prayer and support, with those who understand and walk a similar path.
Last year we also ran our first Chaplain Spouses Retreat Day, where the joy and blessing of each person attending was palpable, and the Lord richly blessed the whole day from beginning to end, as you will see from these comments:
“What a truly wonderful day it has been. Feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, recharged, and incredibly blessed. Thank you for a lovely day.”
“Feeling spiritually and physically refreshed after such a lovely, lovely day – huge thanks, Juliette, for organising it, and so wonderful to see many of you lovely ladies in person.”
As it was so appreciated and valued by those who attended, we have decided to run it again this year. It will take place on 21st November at 10am in Liesel’s home near the Defence Academy, Shrivenham.
The day aims to give our wonderful Chaplain spouse members a chance to enjoy fellowship together, be pampered, enjoy periods of spiritual reflection, and spend time together to develop precious bonds of friendship (many only meet at our monthly Zoom meetings).
We are delighted to welcome back Claire Funnell from Temple Spa, who will be doing two wellbeing and pamper sessions, including a lovely facial.
Pausing for two spiritual reflection sessions during the day, focusing on the theme ‘I am fearfully and wonderfully made,’ we will look at God as the Potter, shaping and moulding us through the ups and downs of life, and at how God uniquely makes each of us the Fragrance of Christ. We will also enjoy one of Liesel’s wonderful lunches!
The whole day will be interspersed with times of fellowship and sharing from a place of understanding, empathy and friendship.
If you are a Military Chaplain’s spouse reading this and you would like to join the group or attend the event, or if you have a local Military Chaplain’s spouse that you know and think would benefit from being part of this supportive group, please do pass this article on to them and ask them to contact me at juliettestokes@afcu.org.uk for further information.
As you read this article today, we would also love you to pray for our Chaplain spouses:
- Please pray for our Chaplain spouses as they navigate the continual instability and upheaval of being married to a Military Chaplain, who often seem to get moved more than most and whose postings are often shortened to fill a need elsewhere.
- Please pray for our Chaplain spouses as they seek the Lord over their sphere of ministry in their current location, and for the Lord to enable them to flourish through each posting change.
- Please pray for the impact of military ministry on their children. The psychological and social cost for their children can be great. Please pray for the spouses who are managing and supporting their children through these challenges.
- Please pray for each Chaplain and their spouses to find sources of precious fellowship and encouragement as they offer care and support daily to those they serve alongside.
- Please put the Chaplain Spouses Retreat on 21st November in your diaries, and join us in praying that the Lord ministers and blesses each spouse who attends in tangible ways.
The Chaplain Spouses’ Retreat Day costs £30, and it will run from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 21st November at 4 Eagle Lane, Watchfield, Oxfordshire, SN6 8TF. To sign up, click the link below.