The Church of God recognizes the persons involved with the armed forces as being worthy of the ministry of the church of Jesus Christ. These individuals are often taken out of reach of the traditional ministries of evangelism, discipleship and support provided by the Church of God in the U.S.A. The Ministry to the Military Department of the Church of God has been created to "take the church to those who have been taken from the church."

Without trying to oversimplify the theology of the church, Pentecostalism is a form of worship not normally addressed by the military chaplaincy and not usually available on the local economy in overseas areas. The form of worship is also one that is both quite conservative and very much a part of American culture. It is a religion of the people with ministers and laity sharing almost equally in the life and operation of the church. The church provides services on a continuing basis in Europe, Central America and in the Far East. Military members of all nationalities and religious affiliations are supported by the ministy and we are a very welcome member of the military support community.

The most evident and identifiable activities of the Ministry to the Military are the 35 Christian Servicemen's Centers. Wherever the military is located, one will also find either a Christian Servicemen's Center, a Pentecostal Fellowship, or a Military Contact Church. These ministries encompass all of the ethnic variations in the military with congregations of Black, Hispanic, Asian and Anglo groups.

A typical Christian Servicemen's Center is generally a converted warehouse or office building located near a military base. Often, the center director (a civilian pastor) and family live on the top floor or somewhere nearby. Elsewhere in the center building there may be a bunkroom, prayer room, chapel, recreation room or other areas where servicemen and women can come to spend a few days away from the barracks. Centers are also frequently places for dependent wives and children to come to while their husbands are deployed. The home atmosphere and the feeling of being among a large extended family help people to cope in stressful times.

The Centers provide a home away from home for several thousand active duty military personnel and their families. The centers are above all things a family support activity providing the elements of both an American church and a Christian support community. We are in the area to provide social and emotional support for the military as a whole as well as to provide ministry to their spiritual needs. Activities within the Christian Servicemen's Centers include all of the activities normally found in any well-established, well-run church. We have worship services, Bible studies, marriages, baptisms, a music program and pastoral visitation. However, since we deal with a very special group of people, our programs reflect the love and care required to support the military. We are aware that many of the people are away from home for the first time. Most of the young men and women do not speak the local language. All of them have times of homesickness and are often lonely for Christian love and support.