10/14/2026
WE HAVE BEEN INVITED BACK TO MCRD PARRIS ISLAND!!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY! GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!
In 2013, a young Navy chaplain stationed at MCRD Parris Island, Steve Benefield, called me with a question. Little did I know that my answer would change the trajectory of our ministry for the next seven years.
āWould you be interested in coming and speaking to the Marines and Marine Recruits at MCRD Parris Island?ā
Over the years, Iāve been privileged to speak at numerous military bases. Many of those invitations were what I call gratuitous. They wanted me to give a short talk and then present me with an award, a plaque, or something similar. I have a closet full of plaques and special awards!
Iām not against those things, but the older I get, the less appeal they have for me. I donāt want another plaque nearly as much as I want to see people come to Christ!
Chaplain Benefield assured me this was different. It was the Sunday morning Protestant chapel service, and we would have an hour and a half with no restrictions. I told him I didnāt get that kind of liberty in some Baptist churches I visit! š
I graduated from MCRD Parris Island in 1969. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to speak to the Marines and recruits!
We began in 2013. Marc Ivey would bring a worship team from Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, and they would lead worship for 45 minutes.
Let me tell you something: Hearing 2500 Marine recruits singing āGodās Not Deadā will put goosebumps on top of your goosebumps!
After the worship service, I would share my testimony, and I ALWAYS gave a public invitation.
Without fail, anywhere from 700 to 1,000 recruits would get out of their seats and come forward. Many came with tears, brokenness, and conviction, responding to the Gospel. Some came to receive Christ (John 1:12) as their Lord and Savior, while others who were already saved but away from the Lord came to get right with God.
We did this every 12ā13 weeks. Since recruits were there for 12 weeks, every recruit had the opportunity to attend one of our services.
Attendance was completely voluntary. No one was forced to attend. Their other option was to remain in the squad bay with a Drill Instructor, and most of them certainly didnāt want to do that! š
Then, in 2020, COVID brought everything to a screeching halt.
I believe COVID did more harm to churches and ministries than anything else in my lifetime. Since then, weāve tried numerous times to get this ministry started again, but we kept running into brick walls.
BUT GOD WASNāT FINISHED!
Last December, I had the privilege of speaking at an event for military chaplains at the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, North Carolina. I shared part of the Parris Island story, and afterward, two Marine Colonels introduced themselves and told me they wanted to help get the ministry back on the calendar.
I was encouraged! I asked our board members and several others to begin praying.
Then, two weeks ago, I received the news weād been praying for:
WE HAVE BEEN INVITED BACK!
Our first event will be November 1!
To me, this is just as much a miracle as the first time God opened this door back in 2013. A door that had remained closed for years is opening again, and we are humbled and grateful for the opportunity.
Godās timing is always right. Sometimes He asks us to wait longer than we want to, but waiting doesnāt mean He has forgotten us or that the work is finished.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY! GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!
Please pray for us as we make plans for our return to MCRD Parris Island. Iāll share more details later.
For now, rejoice with our team and me in what we believe is another wonderful answer to prayer!
The door is open again. The Gospel will be preached. And our prayer is that many more Marines will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!
All glory belongs to Him!
