His Time – Operation Barnabas, God’s Wrath against Sinful Humanity

Hosted by Andy Bates and Rev. Craig Donofrio.

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Operation Barnabas
http://archives.kfuo.org/mp3/HT/HT_Jan_08a_2014.mp3
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Chaplain Mike Moreno

Chaplain Mike Moreno, Director of Operation Barnabas at the LCMS International Mission, Operation Barnabas, especially in light of the newly formed Operation Barnabas Advisory Board.

Members of the Operation Barnabas (OB) Advisory Board visit with LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison in his office at the International Center. From left are Harrison, Ministry to the Armed Forces Director Rev. Mark Schreiber, OB Assistant Program Manager Rev. William Brunold, Rev. James Buckman of the LCMS New Jersey District, Rev. Michael Morehouse of the LCMS English District, OB Assistant Program Manager Rev. Dr. Gary Danielsen, and Revs. Bruce Rumsch and Dick Flath of the LCMS Northwest District. (LCMS Communications/Frank Kohn)

Operation Barnabas — the only denominational program that’s designed to create a “network of care” for the entire military community, according to its LCMS leaders — is now in its sixth year and considering how to adapt for ministry in the years ahead.

A lot has changed since the program started in 2007, but the need to reach out to those who are hurting remains strong, says Chaplain Mike Moreno, the program’s director. Originally Operation Barnabas focused on serving those in the reserves, particularly chaplains, but today it has expanded to include outreach to active-duty military men and women, especially those who are returning home.

“Our returning soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are now leaving the war, but the war never leaves them. The need for adjustment to a more normal pace of life in the military and our civilian communities will be a period of critical adjustment,” said Chaplain Mark Schreiber, director of the Synod’s Ministry to the Armed Forces. “Operation Barnabas is designed to walk with each serviceman and woman, listen to any conflict of the heart they may be experiencing, and offer the comfort and strength that only the Gospel of Christ Jesus can bring.”

Schreiber called Operation Barnabas “a lifelong commitment to our brave men and women in uniform. It is a labor of love begun and sustained in the cross of Jesus Christ.”

Moreno sees the new advisory board — which is composed of LCMS chaplains, pastors and laypeople who have been “heavily involved” with Operation Barnabas — as a direct line to those “front-line,” congregational ministries. They are, he says, board members who can share ideas and provide feedback that will strengthen and expand the program.

“We want to equip churches to reach out to veterans with the love of Christ,” he told Reporter. “Are the materials and support we provide sufficient? If so, how can we bolster those offerings? Is there a need that the congregations have that we are as of yet unaware? If so, what is the best means to discover those needs and provide a timely response?”

Moreno himself was mobilized from January to October to serve as chaplain for the Wounded Warrior Battalion West in Camp Pendleton, Calif. In his absence, the Rev. Dr. Gary L. Danielsen, a retired Army Reserve chaplain and former president and CEO of Lutheran Services of Georgia, served as interim director of Operation Barnabas. Assisting Danielson was the Rev. William Brunold, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Norwalk, Calif., and also a retired chaplain.

Operation Barnabas (OB) Director Rev. Mike Moreno discusses ministry opportunities with members of the OB Advisory Board during the board’s inaugural meeting Nov. 13-14 in St. Louis. At left is the Rev. Mark Schreiber, director of the Synod’s Ministry to the Armed Forces. (LCMS Communications/Frank Kohn)

Both Danielsen and Brunold will continue their involvement with Operation Barnabas as members of the new 14-member advisory board.

Danielsen said the program’s new advisory board was created “in view of the growing success of the ministry by LCMS congregations throughout the U.S.” Its purpose, he added, “is to strengthen and advance the program by addressing the challenges and opportunities of Operation Barnabas in the form of missional strategic direction and accountability.”

Said Moreno: “Barnabas has done wonderful work, but we are in a time of transition. The deployments are slowing, and many of our military members are returning to the civilian sector. How can churches facilitate their return to our local communities? How can we provide respite and care to families affected by 10 years of war, to include [help for] troubled marriages, post-traumatic stress disorder [and other hardships]?”

Moreno said Danielson’s experience as a CEO makes him “an excellent resource to help us grapple with that transition,” and his interim leadership of Barnabas along with Brunold “brought a fresh perspective” to the program.

Moreno encourages LCMS congregations to “reach out to us, talk to us, let us know what you need, or that you want to begin work in your local community. We will respond to support you to reach out to our military communities. The need is great, and our veterans and their families need our support!”

For more information about Operation Barnabas, visit operationbarnabas.org or contact Moreno at michael.moreno@lcms.org.

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Biblical Text Study
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With guest Rev. Michael Musegades of Trinity Lutheran Church in Grangeville, Idaho.

Romans 1:18-32

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

[tab title=”Matins Sermonette”]

Matins Sermonette
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Today’s sermonette is by Rev. Michael Musegades of Trinity Lutheran Church in Grangeville, Idaho.

Romans 1:18-32

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

