An Open Letter to Pastors and Congregations
by Bishop Joseph F. James (on behalf of the BOB)

The Mission America Coalition and our denomination are partnering to urge every church in America to plan and conduct a meaningful Honor Our Heroes service during 2003. Suggested dates are Memorial Day Sunday (May 26), Fourth of July Sunday (June 29), September 7 (the Sunday prior to the second anniversary of the September 11 tragedy) or Thursday, September 11.

The purpose of the Honor Our Heroes service is to provide an opportunity for churches to give "honor to whom honor is due" (Romans 13:7) and to invite the whole community to this event. The honored heroes can include national, local, and personal heroes such as public servants, police officers, firefighters, educators, military and medical personnel. Most importantly, we want to honor the Lord Jesus Christ and lead people to faith in Him.

A vast array of support materials is available and may be ordered at a nominal cost or downloaded free at www.honorourheroes.com.

As best it can be determined, at least 50,000 churches conducted 9-11 Remembrance services last year, averaging eight professions of faith! Even though 3,000 died on September 11, tens of thousands found new life in Christ as a result of these services! A vast array of support materials is available and may be ordered at a nominal cost or downloaded free from www.honorourheroes.com.

Also, churches are urged to precede the Honor Our Heroes service with a mass distribution of the powerful witness booklet Courage - Finding Hope in the Face of Fear. Perhaps you will want to insert an invitation to the service and/or place your church's label on the Courage booklets. (Last year, more than 12 million similar booklets were distributed.) The booklets may be ordered either from www.honorourheroes.com or by calling (877) 648-4336.

There is a powerful witness in cooperative evangelism. When we work together to win our nation to Christ, God is pleased and wonderfully blesses our effort. "Five of you shall chase a hundred and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight" (Leviticus 26:8).

The Board of Bishops asks that you prayerfully consider the following:

1. Lead your church to plan an Honor Our Heroes service, either on one of the suggested dates or whatever date you think appropriate.
2. Consider a distribution of the Courage booklet with an invitation to the Honor Our Heroes service.
3. Visit www.honorourheroes to download a variety of free support materials. Also, a free Honor Our Heroes Introductory Kit can be ordered by visiting the website or by calling 800-991-6011.
4. Pray fervently for God to bless this effort to honor our heroes and lead people to Jesus.

Sincerely,
Joseph F. James
(For the Board of Bishops)