Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As hundreds of thousands of young men and women each year complete their basic military training, many are graduating with your gifts of Rapid Deployment Kits in their pockets. A recent report from one of our Gateway Ministry teams shares:

"On any given Sunday, about 260 Marine recruits at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), South Carolina, choose to march to Military Ministry's "Steps in Christ" Sunday morning classes where they learn Living In Faith Everyday from God's Word.

One of the most formidable challenges military men and women experience in the U.S. Marines is 13 weeks of boot camp. Those challenges test their will, their physical endurance, and just as importantly, their heart. Military Ministry offers this next generation of our fighting force the life-changing Word of God to hide in their heart, to be a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path (Psalm 119:11, 105).

"Last year alone, nearly 200,000 new recruits graduated basic training, transformed into U.S. service men and women who have their Rapid Deployment Kit Bible in their uniform cargo pocket, a new purpose, discipline for unique circumstances their military career will bring, and what the Heavenly Father provides everyone who seeks Him-hope, healing, forgiveness, and LIFE in Christ, even when death feels imminent."

Thank you for all that you have done to help reach so many! As more recruits start their military service, however, the need for RDKs remains great. Our Gateway Ministry teams at training centers throughout the country-including Parris Island, South Carolina; Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Illinois; and Ft. Jackson, South Carolina (Army Basic Training)-are right now working to share the Gospel with numerous men and women who are just beginning their training.

Would you be willing to help reach these young men and women with God's Word-that they may have a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path as they face the challenges of military life? Chaplains stationed around the country and throughout the world are urgently requesting RDKs. In addition to reaching new recruits, many chaplains who are reassigned to new areas are discovering that the troops now under their care have not had access to these Kits. And they are right away placing orders to meet the tremendous need!

Again, these requests can only be fulfilled through the generous support of people like you. It still takes just $3.25 to get an RDK-with a pocket-sized New Testament, daily devotional, and evangelistic booklet-into the hands of a service member.

So your gift of $52 will provide 16 RDKs; $130 will provide 40 RDKs. Or might you consider a larger gift of $650 (200 RDKs) or $1,300 (400 RDKs) to help service men and women know the hope, healing, and forgiveness that is offered to them through Jesus Christ. As hundreds of thousands of recruits face the challenges of military training, a gift of any amount would do so much to reach the next generation serving in our armed forces.

Thank you for your continued support and vigilant prayers for our troops. May God bless you.

Your partner in the Gospel,

Bob Dees
Major General, US Army, Retired
Executive Director, CCCI Military Ministry

P.S. As young men and women go through the rigors of military training, it is vital that they are prepared spiritually for the challenges ahead. Our Gateway Ministry teams are working in cooperation with chaplains at basic and advanced training centers across the nation to reach recruits with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Please prayerfully consider what you might do to provide these men and women with RDKs-that they might have God's Word not only during their training but also as they are deployed. Thank you again.