REASONS WE EXIST...
Imagine being told to build relationships with and help hundreds of people. All you're given? Office supplies. And you're under fire in a war zone.
Chaplains have a nearly impossible task. They are given the responsibility to provide a voice of calm, comfort, confidential counsel, and clarity to thousands of people. The gamut of their influence ranges from Enlisted service members to four-star Generals. The Department of Defense provides them with office supplies. OP-CON (Operation Constellation) began with a simple question: What would happen if many people come together in support of our military chaplains?
By entrusting resources to our chaplains, we know the supplies will be used with integrity to provide relief, support, and inspiration. When soldiers begin processing their experiences while downrange, the likelihood of advanced PTSD, suicide rates, and financial/family issues significantly decrease.
Chaplains have a nearly impossible task. They are given the responsibility to provide a voice of calm, comfort, confidential counsel, and clarity to thousands of people. The gamut of their influence ranges from Enlisted service members to four-star Generals. The Department of Defense provides them with office supplies. OP-CON (Operation Constellation) began with a simple question: What would happen if many people come together in support of our military chaplains?
By entrusting resources to our chaplains, we know the supplies will be used with integrity to provide relief, support, and inspiration. When soldiers begin processing their experiences while downrange, the likelihood of advanced PTSD, suicide rates, and financial/family issues significantly decrease.
A Few Stories:
The OP-CON team believes it is important for you to hear from recipients of donations. We aren't always at liberty to share some stories; but you'll find below a few stories and examples that we can gratefully pass along.
FROM A TEACHER: “For our art class we wrote notes and decorated ‘shower shoes’ to send to military chaplains through the organization Operation Constellation [OP-CON]. The chaplains can use these small gifts to give to soldiers as a way of building relationships with those to whom they minister. I'm excited about us being on mission with those serving our country.”
- Eunice Blaha, Second Grade Teacher (Donna, TX)
FROM CHAPLAINS:
“Ministry in an expeditionary setting is exciting and rewarding, but it is also challenging. The environment is austere and resources are often scarce. During my recent deployment in the Middle East, Operation Constellation was a real-life force multiplier, providing some critical resources to enhance my ministry. OP-CON provided the means for me to care for our nation’s warriors in body, mind, and spirit. Their support was essential to accomplishing my mission.”
- Chaplain, USAF
"Thanks so much for your support of the ministry to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and DoD Civilians. ... My team and I spend countless hours with them counseling, leading Bible Studies, providing worship opportunities, and communicating the grace of God to them. Every day, our goal is to creatively reach each of them (believers and others) with the truths of the Gospel, both in word and action. As religious ministry professional, we are also tasked with ensuring the free exercise of religion - something that gives us many openings to all sorts of people.
Your [OP-CON's] support has been phenomenal to us in creatively reaching those serving our Country. From Bibles and books to K-cups for our coffee makers … and on to magnets to encourage those walking through the cubicle farms to gifts of encouragement for single parents, OP-CON has given us the ability to show Christ’s love in action! Every time we mention to these military members that there is a group of people who sent these items because of their love for Christ and their care for each of them, they are truly humbled that someone would think of them so much!
Peace,
[Installation Chaplain]
FROM SERVICE MEMBERS:
(1) "How do they know about us? Wait, that doesn’t matter .. I’m just glad that they care!"
A married couple passed along that one of the books an OP-CON team sent "was instrumental in saving our relationship, and getting us back in to God’s Word."
(2) The following is a letter of thanks from a Marine Battalion Chaplain at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina:
- Eunice Blaha, Second Grade Teacher (Donna, TX)
FROM CHAPLAINS:
“Ministry in an expeditionary setting is exciting and rewarding, but it is also challenging. The environment is austere and resources are often scarce. During my recent deployment in the Middle East, Operation Constellation was a real-life force multiplier, providing some critical resources to enhance my ministry. OP-CON provided the means for me to care for our nation’s warriors in body, mind, and spirit. Their support was essential to accomplishing my mission.”
- Chaplain, USAF
"Thanks so much for your support of the ministry to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and DoD Civilians. ... My team and I spend countless hours with them counseling, leading Bible Studies, providing worship opportunities, and communicating the grace of God to them. Every day, our goal is to creatively reach each of them (believers and others) with the truths of the Gospel, both in word and action. As religious ministry professional, we are also tasked with ensuring the free exercise of religion - something that gives us many openings to all sorts of people.
Your [OP-CON's] support has been phenomenal to us in creatively reaching those serving our Country. From Bibles and books to K-cups for our coffee makers … and on to magnets to encourage those walking through the cubicle farms to gifts of encouragement for single parents, OP-CON has given us the ability to show Christ’s love in action! Every time we mention to these military members that there is a group of people who sent these items because of their love for Christ and their care for each of them, they are truly humbled that someone would think of them so much!
Peace,
[Installation Chaplain]
FROM SERVICE MEMBERS:
(1) "How do they know about us? Wait, that doesn’t matter .. I’m just glad that they care!"
A married couple passed along that one of the books an OP-CON team sent "was instrumental in saving our relationship, and getting us back in to God’s Word."
(2) The following is a letter of thanks from a Marine Battalion Chaplain at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina:
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What resources are sent?
(We are always collecting resources.)
Items Encouraged for Donation: - Marriage and Family / Financial pamphlets, information, booklets - Hot Sauces (i.e. Chalula, Tabasco, etc; any condiments to provide flavor to food) - Fruit / Nut Mixes - Basic Toiletry items ("off-brands" are available for purchase on bases but are often poor quality) - Bibles & Bible-on-a-Stick - Premium Coffee, Tea, and Protein Powder - Hand / Body Warmers - Flip flops (for showers) and Foot Powder - Advent and Lenten Readings - Moist Wipes / Baby Wipes - Earbuds for MP3 players What are other items op-con has sent?
Examples of Shipped Items:
- Numerous pounds of premium Well-Bean Coffee and Bella Latte Coffee - The Trinity Forum's Great Courage reading collection along with 1100 books (including The Pilgrim's Progress, A Tale of Two Cities, and Lessons From History) - Toiletry Items, hand-warmers, Gold Bond, wipes - Hot sauces, snacks - Notes / Letters from children, businesses, and churches - Prayer Books, NLT / NIV Study Bibles, apologetic materials, and worship guides - Shower / hygiene items How Does OP-CON Work?
We are connected to deployed military chaplains and chaplains within the United States.
1. Chaplains tell us what they need most to enhance their ministry. 2. You and OP-CON teams collect resources. 3. We secure them, pack them, and send them to the chaplains. 4. Often, a chaplain will request to connect with you, to provide a note of thanks. We have also had chaplains willing to Skype with churches and students as possible. (Learn more by clicking the Our Story and Connect tabs or filling out the "Join Us" section below.) Is there a video?
A talented friend of OP-CON was inspired to make a brief video for us when we first began. We do not own the license, so we cannot post it here. See his brief video on Vimeo here.
OP-CON is currently producing a video to be shared by you and those who are interested in "joining the constellation" of supporting our military chaplains. Who Can Serve with OP-CON?
You.
Friends at work. Your church. Neighbors. Anyone is welcome to help collect resources for us to send to U.S. military chaplains. Now is the time. Will you join us?
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