In July 2023, Trinity Church of Bedford, Massachusetts, voted me into membership, even though everyone knew I’d leave in less than a year.
Given the often transient nature of military life, joining a local church might seem counterintuitive. Why commit to a community of people you’ll only know and be known by for a short season?
But in my Christian life, I’ve learned believers always need a local church to continue growing in their faith—no matter how short the stay. That’s why I joined Trinity Church.
Church on Base vs. Church in Community
After three moves in the U.S. Army National Guard, I grew accustomed to not putting down deep roots where I lived. For military families moving frequently, everyday life can become isolated from civilians. Living on base brings, in a good way, a natural community of like-minded people who can easily relate to your life struggles.
This can lead military Christians to ask, Should I even join a local church? Or should I attend the church on base where everyone will understand me? These questions frequently lead military Christians to attend the base’s church or bypass church altogether. Throughout all my geographic moves, however, I’ve chosen to place deep roots as a member in an off-base church. On-base churches are valuable, especially in parts of the world where off-base evangelical churches are scarce. But in general, I believe it best serves the military member’s soul to join a local evangelical church in the community, if one exists.
While on-base churches are valuable, I believe it best serves the military member’s soul to join a local church in the community.
A church should be a symbol or appetizer for heaven, the eternal place to joyfully experience life with God. Heaven will be the most diverse place ever, with innumerable people from every tribe, language, and nation (Rev. 7:9). Additionally, the Bible depicts a diverse church with equality among men and women, all ethnicities and races, and all socioeconomic statuses (Gal. 3:25–29; James 2:1–5).
There’s nothing inherently wrong with a church on base. But these congregations tend to contain only military members and families, because base access is a prerequisite for attendance. A base church may contain racial diversity, but it lacks a deeper diversity of life experience as all attendees have the military in common.
Underestimating the Local Church
As an infantry soldier whose job description bluntly boils down to efficiently killing people and breaking things in war, it took me a long time to trust the local church and become emotionally vulnerable with the people there. Military Christians can fear vulnerability as civilian church members seem so joyful and happy all the time. Yes, civilians have real problems, but these don’t usually concern life-or-death, high-stress situations or the struggles of leaving your spouse and children for months at a time. Will we be able to relate to one another?
My experience at Trinity Church showed me I underestimated the local church. Yes, it’s daunting to lean into life with a diverse group of people who seem like they wouldn’t get along. But God always has, and always will, use the diversity of his body to empower and encourage its growth.
Trinity Church celebrated with me as I progressed through a school program and celebrated my children’s birthdays with our family. And I was able to serve other members in return—for example, by lamenting with a couple during a difficult life season. Alongside others in the church, I saw God encourage the family even while their difficult circumstances remained.
I’ve celebrated with two men as they publicly declared their allegiance to Jesus through the Christian act of baptism. Their lives are vastly different from mine on paper—they come from different backgrounds, education paths, and careers. But we have a mutual love for Jesus and share “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5). They’re my brothers in a different, more eternal sense than the brothers I have in the military.
Sharing Burdens, Growing Together
It’s easy to forget that, despite dramatic differences in backgrounds and circumstances, all Christians have the same God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and are filled with the same Spirit. Through this profound commonality, yet variety of gifting, we can share one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2) and be built up in unity and maturity (Eph. 4:11–12).
It is easy to forget that, despite dramatic differences in life backgrounds and circumstances, all Christians have the same God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and are filled with the same Spirit.
Hebrews 10:24–25 says, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
My time at Trinity emphasized the necessity of regularly meeting with diverse Christians who “stir up one another to love and good works.” Even though I’ve been a member for less than a year, the Lord has used this congregation to grow my love for other people, encourage me to do good, and help me hope for heaven. These brothers and sisters in Christ have shared my burdens and joys and invited me into theirs. And it’s only been a year.
If you’re a military Christian, become a member of a local church family, no matter how long you live in a certain area. Your presence can be a profound blessing—both to you and to others in the congregation. It’s worth the energy it takes to build those relationships, and it’s worth the sadness you’ll feel when you leave. Take the risk and count the cost, trusting that God can use even short stints in a church to bear lasting fruit.
The Gospel Coalition