ABOUT US
FSM/WMAF Military Ministry since 1942
Terry Wilson, Director of FSM, retired in 2005 from his position as a "Planner" for the Weapons Repair Department, Trident Refit Facility, Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Georgia after completing 34+ years service with the United States Government. He was employed by the Department of the Army and the Department of the Navy during the course of his DOD civilian career. A former enlisted man, He is also a 14 year veteran of active duty Army and Naval service, to include a tour in Vietnam with the Army in 1968. He is a standing board member of World Ministries to the Armed Forces, a former member of the Federal Managers Association (retired), a life member of Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and a Life member of the Army's First Cavalry Division Association. He and his wife of 35 years, Mary, have four children and three grandchildren. All reside in Georgia.
First Strike Ministries, established and licenced in Janaury 2007, is a Division of World Ministries to the Armed Forces. Although relatively new on the ministry scene, our roots and history run deep and extend as far back as World War II. GI’s for Christ was established by Rev Gilbert Howe in 1942 at Indian town Gap, PA, a military processing station for overseas deployment. It all started with Gilbert’s undying burden for the salvation of America’s military service men on their way to war. After the war, Gilbert felt the call to relocate the ministry to North Chicago IL just outside of Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Gilbert passed away in 1969.
In 1969, Dr. Joseph Howe left his pastorate in New York and came back to North Chicago after the death of his father to serve twenty-six years as Director of Ministries for GIs for Christ, later International Military Ministries. Today, he is the Executive Director of World Ministries to the Armed Forces, co-located and partnered with Quentin Road Bible Baptist Church, Lake Zurich, IL. He has worked with base ministries at Great Lakes Naval Training Center since 1969. During the Vietnam war, he had a daily hospital ministry at the Naval Regional Medical Center (NRMC). He coordinated many civilian ministries with the Chaplain Department at the Naval Regional Medical Center.
He has been a chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel, in the United States Air Force Auxiliary. While serving with the United States Air Force Auxiliary he was assigned additional duties. He has served in very unique capacities for the active military as the Air Force Liaison Chaplain, Great Lakes Naval Training Center; Detachment Chaplain for the 3351 TTN-DET I, Chanute and Kessler Air Force Bases at Great Lakes; and Chaplain, Headquarters, United States Military Entrance Processing Command, a joint service command at Great Lakes NTC, North Chicago, Illinois.
Through the years, Dr. Howe has been developing ministry and materials for service people. He has authored the “Christian Life Handbook” and conducts Christian Leadership Training Classes based on his book. In addition to the daily ministry at Great Lakes Naval Training Center (counseling military people, teaching weekly classes, and conducting services), he conducted the Christian Leadership Class at Base Chapels, churches, and foreign military commands.
He recently participated in the graduation ceremony at Great Plains Baptist Divinity School, Sioux Falls, SD, as they confered an Doctor of Divinity Degree. In addition, Dr. Howe ( The Doc) recently completed cerification as a Clinical Counselor for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He asks for our prayers as he explores opportunities to use his training to help those returning men and women who suffer from PTSD. He continues to work with the Chaplain's Office, Great lakes Naval Training Center and will soon begin work at Downy VA Hosptial. Congratulations Doctor Howe. Well Done!
Dr. Howe also serves on the Board of Directors for First Strike Ministries. First Strike is the Combat Life Materials Division of WMAF.
Terry became acquainted with Dr. Howe and his ministry in 1982 while attending one of his Christian Leadership Training Classes at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Terry, a Naval Instructor on the base, began working with Chaplain Howe and regularly stood in as a class facilitator in his absence. Chaplain Howe became a close friend and mentor teaching Terry the fundamentals of military ministry.
Years later, stunned by the tragedy of September 11th and moved by the following events that led to war, Terry felt a deep burden for souls of our men and women in military service. Those events inspired him to apply his previous training and military experience to designing the First Strike Deployment Kit and establishing First Strike Ministries (FSM) as the Combat Life Materials Division of WMAF. FSM is literally an outgrowth of WMAF’s early ministry with the Christian Life Handbook.
From Rev Gilbert Howe’s step of faith in 1942 to our work today, we at WMAF/FSM are grateful for the opportunities God has laid before us to minister to our brave men and women who have served or are serving with our Armed Forces.
NEWS UPDATE! WMAF's Christian Life Handbook (CLH) coming is back!
Used very effectively as a tool for discipleship throughout WMAF's military ministry in the early 1980's, the CLH has gained renewed interest in the ranks of the military. The CLH is currently being revised and re-edited. It will be back in print very soon. It is the perfect followup tool to FSM's First Strike Deployment Kit.
Used very effectively as a tool for discipleship throughout WMAF's military ministry in the early 1980's, the CLH has gained renewed interest in the ranks of the military. The CLH is currently being revised and re-edited. It will be back in print very soon. It is the perfect followup tool to FSM's First Strike Deployment Kit.
For more information contact Dr. Joe Howe: PH: 847-307-0094 or e-mail him at wmaf95@aol.com
The FSM CREST
The Crest design is
taken in part from the Distinctive Unit Insignia. The three symbols; Dagger, Lightning Bolt, and Trident are adapted from Special Operations Command and represent combined land, air , and sea ministry to all U.S. Armed Forces personnel.
