Spring 2021 Initiative

January 14, 2021 Dear friend of first responders, Thank you for your continued support of these community servants through the Strength for Service ministry. As a result of your generosity, we are able to rush free copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to firefighters and police officers [...]

Dale Montpelier

Strength for Service Inc. is pleased to announce Dale J. Montpelier as the newest addition to the Strength for Service Board of Directors. Mr. Montpelier currently resides in Knoxville, TN where he works as an attorney.  In addition to Tennessee, he is licensed to practice in California and New [...]

2020 First Responders Initiative

Dear friend of first responders, Thank you for your continued support of these community servants through the Strength for Service ministry. As a result of your generosity, we are able to rush free copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to fire fighters and police officers following distressing [...]

Rotary Club of Hardin County

  The Rotary Club of Hardin County, Texas held its annual banquet June 27, 2019. Copies of Strength for Service to God and Community were presented to representatives of the county's fire and police departments for subsequent distribution to each member of each member at a later time. Those departments [...]

Cy-Fair Fire Department

The Cypress-Fairbanks area of Houston is among the many growing communities of Houston. Nestled in the Northwest quadrant of Houston, the population has increased over 50% to nearly three-quarters of a million people since 2000. To put that in perspective, if the Cy-Fair area were a city, it would be [...]

Law Enforcement and Firefighters Prayer Breakfast

PHOENIX, Ariz. (05-29-2019)- After distibuting 5,000 books to military veterans and first responders in Dallas on Memorial Day, Larry Coppock, top staff executive of the Nashville-based Strength for Service organization, hopped over to Phoenix where he distributed 400 books to people attending the 5th annual prayer brekfast for fire fighters [...]

Carry the Load Relay Participants Will Receive Strength for Service Books

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Strength for Service announces a partnership with Carry the Load’s 2019 memorial May relay. The Nashville-based nonprofit ministry is providing 5,000 books to veterans and first responders who are participating in the event. Carry the Load’s annual event is a three-team 11,500-mile national relay handing off the American flag [...]

Spring 2019 Initiative

Dear friend of first responders, Thank you for your continued support of these community servants through the Strength for Service ministry. As a result of your generosity, we are able to rush free copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to fire fighters and police officers following distressing [...]

Devotional books sent following death of three Boy Scouts

The Strength for Service organization rushed 52 copies of the Boy Scout edition of Strength for Service to God and Community to the troop that lost three Boy Scouts when their sail boat hit a power line at Lake O' the Pines on Saturday, August 5.

Organizer of city-wide celebration named to SFS Board

BEAUMONT, Texas––The principal architect a city-wide event to honor first responders has been elected a member of the Strength for Service Board of Directors. Anna Jane Brian (known to her friends as AJ) was elected as the 12th member of the board during a June 28. She will join the [...]

Fire fighters receive devotional books

GULF SHORES, Ala.--Members of Gulf Shores UMC presented copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to local fire fighters on May 4, National Firefighters Day. "The fire fighters received us graciously and we were thankful for the opportunity to thank them for their dedicated service," said Steve Means, [...]

Devotional books given to victims of PTSD

HOUSTON, TEXAS -- Dan Ramsey presented 90 Strength for Service books to James Mehrmann, a counselor of Camp Hope, a facility that cares for military personnel who are coping with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Caption: James Mehrmann reviews a copy of Strength for Service to God and Country, which he [...]

Chaplain Distributes Books to National Guard

BALTIMORE, Md. - First Lieutenant Amor Woolsey, chaplain of the 5thRegiment Armory, distributed copies of Strength for Service to God and Country to members of the Maryland National Guard. Amor also serves as pastor of caring ministries for Kent Island UMC in Chester, Md. Caption: Members of the Maryland National Guard receive [...]

God and Community Presented to Waverly First Responders

WAVERLY, TN – The Waverly First United Methodist Church Men were honored September 26, 2016 to host a picnic for the first responders of Humphreys County, Tennessee.  Mr. Richard Horner, president of the Waverly First United Methodist Men, welcomed the community servants.  A local Boy Scout Troop, sponsored by the Methodist [...]

Beaumont residents honor first responders

BEAUMONT, Texas––City residents may have wondered what sort of emergency situation caused police cars, ambulances, EMS vehicles, and fire trucks to be jammed together near the entrance of the 1,800-seat Julie Rogers Auditorium. In fact, they huddled to mark “Duty Calls: Honoring Our First Responders,” an event held on March [...]

Marine Corp chaplain distributes books

Tenecula, Calif.––U.S. Marine Corp Chaplain Mark Beaudet received and distributed 25 copies of Strength for Service to God and Country to members of the First Battalion 11th Marines. The books were provide by St Louis-based World Wide Technology with shipment paid by donations to the Nashville-based Strength for Service Corporation. [...]

To God and Country Books Invaluable to Air Force Cadets

Tampa, Fla -- Strength for Service recently distributed To God and Country books to cadets in the Air Force. At the end of February, Lt Col Linda J. Pugsley, CAP, with the Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, received 25 of the devotional books. A Chaplain for the Southeast Region [...]

Nashville police officers thank SFS for devotional books

Two years ago the Strength for Service team distributed copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to the 1,434 officers in the Metro Nashville Police Department. On Friday, March 3, Police Chaplain James Duke and Deputy Chief Todd Henry visited the NACP meeting to thank the conference presidents [...]

First Responders 10th Annual Appreciation Thanksgiving Luncheon

Greenville, NC - Sponsorship by UMM with our JSM Youth and Evangelism task force are able to provide the annual Thanksgiving luncheon to honor our First Responders local Fire Fighters, Rescue and Police personnel, Sherriff Deputies, Greenville Utilities, the Emergency Ward of Vidant and all their supporting staff as a [...]

Spring Initiative – Honor First Responders

Dear Friend of Strength for Service, “Firefighters aren’t necessarily comfortable being called a hero – but just the same, that word describes them very well,” said Arizona Fire Chief Dennis Compton. Now serving as chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Compton told a group honoring 112 firefighters, “They aren’t [...]

Church provides 190 SFS books to veterans

LONG BEACH, Calif.-- ­­California Heights UMC provided 190 copies of Strength for Service to God and Country to patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Long Beach. The Rev. Douglas Dickson, pastor, presented the books to the Rev. George Vogel, chief of chaplain services at the VA center. From [...]

Support Strength for Service on Giving Tuesday

As a passionate disciple of Jesus Christ, your participation is vital to living out God’s mission through The United Methodist Church. Every day you are giving light, giving love, and giving to a world in need through your prayers, presence, gifts, and service. November 29, you are invited to come together [...]

Highlights from 135 churches participating in 9-11 book presentations

NASHVILLE, Tenn.––One hundred and thirty-five churches responded to an offer to purchase cases of Strength for Service books for presentations on the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attack on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. Cases included 52 copies of Strength for Service to God and Community, a [...]

Ministry sends 1,000 devotional books to deploying troops

A non-denominational ministry formed by the General Commission on UM Men is sending 1,000 copies of Strength for Service to God and Country to Sailors and Marines deploying from San Diego in October. The historic books, provided by St. Louis-based World Wide Technology, were first published in 1942 for World War [...]

Church Changes Supplier to Support Ministry

SUPERIOR, Wisc.––Each July, Faith UMC and Harbor House Crisis Shelters host a “Wildfire! Youth Mission Event” to welcome youth from around the region who will be engaged in mission work in the area. The goal is for Christian holiness to spread like wildfire throughout the region. The Revs. Joel [...]

SFS Responds to Orlando Tragedy

Police Chaplain Edwin Quintana, Ocala, Fl. on Friday, distributed some of the 780 SFS God and Community books to sheriff's officers, police and other first responders as as result of the Orlando tragedy a few weeks ago.

Navy base receives 3,300 SFS books

The Strength for Service team sent 3,300 copies of Strength for Service to God and Country to U.S. Navy Captain Fauntleroy, chaplain of the Pacific Fleet.

More than 350 books given to firefighters

Following a massive fire and the hospitalization of several firefighters, the Strength for Service Corporation sent 360 copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to all the firefighters in the capitol city.

Police chaplain distributes 260 devotional books to officers

Jo Ann Keith, ICPC Law Enforcement Chaplain for the Little Rock Police Department and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, is in the process of distributing 260 copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to members of both groups.

Fire chiefs receive devotional books

Bobby Wharton, a member of the Strength for Service Board of Directors, presented 200 copies of Strength for Service to God and Community during the March 14-17 annual meeting of the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters.

Army Guard veteran serves as SFS adviser

David Poston, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Louisiana Army National Guard and commander of transportation units deployed during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, has agreed to serve on the Strength for Service advisory team.

World Wide Technology Provides 30,000 SFS Books

World Wide Technology, Inc. (WWT), a global systems integrator servicing the technology needs of large public and private organizations, including many of the world’s best-known brands, is providing 30,000 copies of Strength for Service books.

Provide care for veterans on Veterans Day

Congregations that want to do more than pray for veterans on Veterans Day might consider providing copies of a historic book of devotions to military troops and veterans in Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Mail Call

“No one knows better than the soldier away from home how important mail call is,” said Covington.” He noted that occasionally mail brings bad news, but most of the time “it relieves our fear, strengthen our hope, and gives us comfort in love.”

Providing Strength for Service in combat zones

As chaplain of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command, I served as a member of the Commanding General’s executive staff for the religious support of the 35,000-40,000 Marines and attached Sailors, soldiers and airmen deployed in the combat zone.

Police Chaplains Receive Devotional Books

Thirty police chaplains received copies of Strength for Service to God and Community during a late October meeting from Larry Coppock, Jim Jeffery, a member of the Strength for Service Advisory Board, and Larry Dozier, president of the Western Jurisdiction United Methodist Men.

Men and Children Visit Fire Station

The theme for the Vacation Bible School at New Covenant UMC was “Do Something.” Instead of staying at the church to play games and assemble crafts, the kids provided acts of service in the community.

Church Recognizes First Responders

In 2013 and 2014, UM Men of Core Creek United Methodist Church presented 100 copies of the Strength for Service to God and Community devotionals to four first-responder sites in Harlowe, Mill Creek and Beaufort on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Eastern North Carolina.

Giving Tuesday

As you may know, we have started a new chapter with the formation of a non-denominational Strength for Service governing board, and we are looking forward to increased opportunities to minister to first responders along with members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Ingram Howard elected treasurer

Howard is a 1971 graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and is an alumni member of the Alpha Gamma Rho National Fraternity. He retired from banking in 2012 after a 42 year career, mostly as a credit review officer and financial analyst.

LW Smith named chair of Strength for Service Board

L.W. Smith, a Vietnam veteran and the leading supporter of a historic book of daily devotions for the U.S. military, was elected chairman of the newly organized non-denominational Strength for Service Board of Directors, meeting Sept. 26-27 in Nashville.

Non-denominational Strength for Service Board organized

A non-denominational Strength for Service board of directors held an organizational meeting Sept. 26-27 in Music City. The nine-member board reviewed the 72-year history of the ministry, adopted mission and vision statements, adopted bylaws, elected officers, approved fulfillment contracts, adopted a price structure for both books, and established a $250,000 budget for 2015.

Men give 150 devotional books to first responders

South Carolina men gave 150 copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to Billy Robinson, a volunteer firefighter who serves as conference disaster coordinator. “Thank you so very much for this and for all you do through your wonderful ministry of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Robinson.

Russian pastor named to Strength for Service Board

Lydia Istomina, a United Methodist pastor from Russia and a former candidate for the episcopacy in Eurasia, will serve on the 12-member Strength for Service Board of Directors. Now on sabbatical from the church, Istomina had been serving as executive assistant at the Red Mountain Energy Corporation in Kansas City while completing her doctoral degree at St. Paul School of Theology.

Richland Hills, TXPolice

The Fellas of Richland Hills UMC, our United Methodist Men’s unit, made a two-day presentation of 27 Strength for Service Devotionals to the entire staff of the Richland Hills, Texas Police Department. The presentation took two days in order to personally meet and make the presentation to as many of the sworn officers and civilian support employees of the department as was possible over shift changes.

Kentucky church presents 250 books to first responders

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky.––Hopkinsville UMC gave copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to 250 first responders in their community. The church placed American flag envelopes in every bulletin. The congregation was invited to contribute to the book distribution effort. “What a great day we had delivering the books,” said [...]

Men give devotional books for first responders following mudslide

ARLINGTON, Wash.––Arlington United Church’s Men’s group distributed Strength for Service to God and Community daily devotional books to 200 first responders involved with the Oso, Wash., mudslide. The men were involved in the tedious process of identifying remains more than a week after a March 22 landslide roared across the [...]

Men give books to first responders

NATCHITOCHES, La.––After sending many copies of the Strength for Service book to the military, men of First UMC presented Strength for Service to God and Community books to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, the City of Natchitoches Fire Department and the City of Natchitoches Police Department. Each department received 50 [...]

Church honors fire fighters and police officers

HINSDALE, Ill.––In May, Hinsdale UMC welcomed 25 firefighters, police officials, and paramedics to a Sunday service. Members recited a first-responders’ prayer, followed by a photo tribute on sanctuary screens to seven firefighters who died in the line of duty. Michael Halligan, son of deceased Deputy Sheriff Carroll Edward Halligan, lit [...]

The ice storm cometh, the ERTs respondeth

On Feb. 12-13, South Carolina was hit with a severe winter ice storm that crippled many areas of our state with downed trees, widespread power loss and hazardous conditions that had not been seen for 10 years. Some have labeled it “the ice storm of the century for South Carolina.” [...]

Men give devotional books to first responders following mudslide

ARLINGTON, Wash.--Arlington United Church’s Men’s group distributed 200 Strength for Service to God and Community daily devotional books to first responders involved with the Oso, Wash., mudslide. The men were involved in recovering victims of a March 22 landslide that broke off a steep hill, roared across the North Fork of the [...]

Remembering Gene Hunsberger (1925-1999)

If it had not been for Gene Hunsberger, no service men or women would have received copies of Strength for Service to God and Country after 1953. Hunsberger, a corpsman in the U.S. Navy, received a copy of Strength for Service to God and Country while serving in World War [...]

Strength for Service Becomes a Non-Denominational Ministry

A six-chapter story NASHVILLE, Tenn.––A Catholic Boy Scout’s effort to republish a World War II book of daily devotions and expanded by a United Methodist group, has become a non-denominational ministry to all who give their lives in service to others. On February 6, Internal Revenue Service officially granted Strength [...]

Kentucky church presents 250 books to first responders

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky.––Hopkinsville UMC gave copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to 250 first responder in their community. The church placed American flag envelopes in every bulletin. The congregation was invited to contribute to a fund to purchase 250 books for first responders. “Our church responded!” said the [...]

Area United Methodist Churches Respond

Four United Methodist Churches in area presented over 137 “Strength for Service to God and Community” devotional books to first Responders in the City of North Canton Police Officers and Fire Department personnel. Books were also given to Plain Township First Responders. United Methodists Churches contributing to the devotionals were [...]

Men recognize and support local First Responders

UMM of First United Methodist Church Pineville LA recognized and showed support to the first responders of the community, by presenting 75 Strength for Service to God and Country Devotionals to the Pineville Police department officers and the Officers of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Department Pineville substation. Members raised $1100.00 [...]

Local church honors first responders

BRIDGEWATER, Va.––Members of Bridgewater UMC expressed appreciation to police officers, fire fighters and the town’s rescue squad on the last Sunday before September 11. “We honored our town’s first responders with ‘Proclamations of Gratitude’ from our congregation, and during our worship services we thanked God for their service,” said the [...]

Tennessee Church Honors First Responders

SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. Church celebrates Christmas in July Members of Palestine UMC celebrated Christmas in July as they gave75 copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to first responders in Nashville.  The 70-member congregation collected $500 over two Sundays to purchase the books.

Person to Person: Teenagers Have Power To Make A Huge Difference

Coutesy of Judi Light Hopson, Emma H. Hopson and Ted Hagen McClatchy-Tribune News Service - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX Aug 05, 2013 Do you sometimes worry that adults are leaving a challenging world to the next generation? If so, encourage a teenager in your life to do something positive. In [...]

An Interview With Ken Carlson

Ken Carlson is one of Newtown, Connecticut's first responders. He received one of the new-ly published Strength for Servide to God and Community devotional books during the April 28, 2013 service at the Newtown United Methodist Church. He speaks about receiving the book, some of the events of the tragedy [...]

Royston Bailey presents Strength for Service

Royston Bailey, United Methodist Men's president for the New York Annual Conference, presented the first copies of the new Strength for Service to God and Community to three first responders during the April 28, 2013 morning worship service at the Newtown United Methodist Church. Loading the player ...

A celebration of first responders

A service where copies of Strength for Service to God and Community may be presented to first responders     Pastor: Members of the household of God, we gather today to give thanks for those who run toward danger when others run away. The author of the Epistle of Peter [...]

MS Disaster Coordinator Seeks Strength for Service

5/1/2013 By Jasmine Haynes, Web and Social Media Specialist First responders often rush into dangerous situations to help those in need, but it is rare that anyone considers the needs of a first responder.  Recently hundreds of copies of Strength for Service to God and Community--a pocket-sized book of daily devotions--were [...]

Strength for Service will help first responders to continue to heal

Rob Sibley is one of Newtown, Connecticut’s first responders. He was one of the first group to receive Strength for Service to God and Community, a devotional book created by the General Commission on United Methodist Men for firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel. Loading the player ... [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Devotional Books Prepared For First Responders

NEWTOWN, Conn.––A book of daily devotions for first responders of all denominations has been distributed to fire fighters, police officers, EMT personnel and other community servants in Boston, West, Texas, and Newtown, Conn. Strength for Service for God and Community, a pocket-sized book of 365 devotions, is patterned after a [...]

UM Men send devotional books to Texas, Boston, Newtown and Nashville

WEST, Texas–– Dennis Rejcek, a district president of UM Men in the Central Texas Conference, delivered 200 copies of Strength for Service to God and Community to first responders in West, Texas, site of an explosion in a fertilizer plant that killed 14 first responders. Rejcek, who has relatives in the area, [...]

Devotionals for Newtown First Responders

L.W. Smith (right) presents a copy the of the “Strength for Service to God and Community” devotional guide to Daniel B. Ramsey during a meeting of United Methodist Men in Nashville, Tenn. A UMNS photo by Tom Gillem. Responders who rushed to the mass shootings in Newtown, Conn., [...]

New Strength For Service Now Available!

Books for first responders are now available! Individual copies of Strength for Service to God and Community are now available from Amazon at a cost of $11.95 each. Books in quantities of 25 or more copies are available from Eight-Eleven Press at a cost of $7 each (Groups that want [...]

Ohana Festival

STRENGTH FOR SERVICE – OHANA FESTIVAL SEPT. 27, 2012 BARSTOW, CA Approximately 800 guests attended the CFC kick off at the Marine Core Logistics base in Barstow, California on Sept. 27, during the Ohana Festival. Larry Dozier, president of the Western Jurisdiction for the United Methodist Men, attended the event [...]

For God & Country

Thanks to the American Legion for a great story on Strength for Service.  Click here to read the full story.

Marine supported by Boy Scouts wounded by IED in Afghanistan

ARLINGTON, Tenn. - Boy Scout Troop 452 of Arlington UMC has been writing and sending personal notes, calling cards, and care packages to Marine units in Afghanistan. Jake Romo, 22, one of the Marines receiving care packages, was on a Feb. 11 patrol when he stepped on a pressure-triggered IED. [...]

The Joy of Giving

A congregation raises funds for a historic book of devotions by Lynda Byrd SAN ANTONIO, Texas - San Antonio is a military town. It's the home of four military installations: Fort Sam Houston, Randolph and Lackland Air Force bases, and Brooks Army Medical Center. Thousands of deployed military spend time [...]