"I just needed peace of heart."

The following is the story of how the Lord inspired a military mom to launch a movement.  Come back tomorrow for "the rest of the story."

Two mothers, two cups of coffee and one heart cry: “Is this as hard for you as it is for me?”  Both have sons in the military, and face separation and deployments.  Both wonder how other parents cope.   Who will care for these hometown heroes and how will their families survive?  Colleen says, “I just needed peace of heart.” 

Following a series of God-incidents, and conversations with her pastor, Colleen Voigt sensed the Lord’s leading to launch a prayer/support movement of some kind.  Then her son returned from training with the book, Psalm 91: God’s Shield of Protection (Military Edition) by Peggy Joyce Ruth.  She couldn’t wait to read the stories of God’s protection of our troops from the Civil War to the current conflict.  

Ever since their four sons were little Colleen and her husband had been praying Psalm 91:11 over them – “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”  Now she read how to use Psalm 91 to pray for those hometown sons and daughters, and the idea for Angels All Around You Military Ministry was born. 

"Angels All Around You" Military Ministry salutes their hometown heroes
at the annual Berges Fest Parade in Boerne, TX

Shortly Colleen would attend Military Ministry’s Bridges to Healing Seminar in nearby San Antonio, Texas.  There she learned not only the importance of praying for our troops, but that ministry itself must be rooted in prayer.  She also began to see how her church could reach out to their hometown heroes when they return.

“God really turned up the heat” at the seminar, she says.    She began to see how to be a bridge to Jesus, for He’s the only one who can really heal a wounded warrior.  Four days after the seminar Colleen led the kick-off of Angels All Around You Military Ministry of First Baptist Church in Boerne, Texas. 

The Lord used Colleen’s love for her sons to give her a passion for serving the troops and families of an entire community.  And through loving, serving and praying for others, God has given her “peace of heart!”