Pastor Appreciation Day invites Pastors, Clergy and Faith Leaders to experience a real-life combat simulator and free lunch

BOISE, Idaho, July 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Marking its third year, the Idaho National Guard's Pastor Appreciation Day will help Idaho Chaplains thank local faith leaders for their support of military families.  On August 10, 2013, Boise area Pastors, Clergy and Lay Leaders in the faith community are invited to experience a real-life combat simulator, tour the Idaho Military Museum and find out how to better engage the military members of their own congregations.  These events will be followed by a free appreciation luncheon.  All of this is made possible by the Idaho Military Faith Alliance (IMFA), in association with Army OneSource, and the Idaho National Guard Chaplain Corps.

Many of our brave service men and women are reintegrating into our communities with scars that are not just physical, but behavioral, emotional and spiritual.  As they seek to heal these invisible wounds of war, veterans will more readily approach their pastor than they will a mental health professional.  Indeed, seeing a member of the clergy is seen as less threatening and has fewer stigmas attached.  With more than 11,000 service members reintegrating into Idaho communities, the responsibility on the faith community is great. 

Chaplains at Idaho's one active duty Air Force Base and the Joint Air/Army National Guard base rely heavily on area churches to help them provide a continuum of support to service members and their families around the state.  Without their church partners, of which many more are needed, the Chaplain Corps would be not be able to adequately serve those in need.

The third annual Clergy Appreciation Day is designed to thank those members of the faith community who tirelessly support our men and women in uniform.  The event will also help those who are interested in getting more involved learn how to provide greater pastoral care for veterans and families in their congregations.  Chaplain (CPT) John Martinez, one of the event's organizers noted, "I love seeing how animated our pastors get about military families in their Churches; when we bring them out to Gowen Field and give them a chance to see and experience some of the training their own Service Members go through it just solidifies their desire to minister to these families."

The event will take place on Saturday, August 10^th from 7:30am – 12:00pm at Gowen Field Air Force Base, Art Moore Chapel.  Individuals interested in attending should RSVP to the Chapel at (208) 272-4311 or Sheila Warner, Community Support Coordinator for Army OneSource at (208) 660-5607.  For more information, questions, or to get involved call Sheila.

SOURCE Army OneSource