News Article

Sun Photo by Phil Gentry
The Rev. Larrie Pike, at the podium, president of the Greene County Ministerial Association and pastor of Campground Church of God, speaks to Troop G soldiers during a prayer meeting on Wednesday morning. Also standing at the front of the room is Capt. Wiley Hammer, Troop G's commanding officer.

By: By LISA WARREN/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
06-16-2004

One soldier solemnly raised his hand and requested prayer for the "safety and security" of the families who would be left behind.

Another expressed concern for several of the soldiers' wives who are pregnant. And, from the back of the room, another soldier expressed his hope that he and his fellow Army National Guard members would be able in Iraq to demonstrate through their actions the love of Christ to those who may not know Him.

These were a few of the requests given Wednesday morning during a brief, voluntary prayer meeting for members of Greeneville-based Troop G, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, of the Tennessee Army National Guard. The meeting was held at 7:30 a.m. at Troop G’s armory on Hal Henard Road.

About 43 of the 61 members of the unit who will be leaving Sunday for training and probably for eventual service in Iraq were on hand for the event. Troop G soldiers are leaving Sunday for active duty training at Camp Shelby, Miss., expected to be a first step toward service in Iraq.

The bus carrying the deployed members will be leaving the armory on Hal Henard Road at about 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Greene County Mayor Roger Jones and Greeneville Mayor Darrell Bryan have issued a public call for as many local citizens as possible to turn out along the sides of the West Andrew Johnson Highway between the Hal Henard Road intersection and Interstate 81's Exit 23 to express their support of the guard unit.

(Because of the construction currently under way on Hal Henard Road itself, no one should line Hal Henard Road, officials have said.)

Most of the soldiers in attendance Wednesday left the prayer meeting with a New Testament made available to those who wanted one by the Rev. Bob Ellis of Gideons International.

"We've had a tremendous outpouring in this community of people wanting to do things for us," said Capt. Wiley Hammer, commander of Troop G. "And that just shows the support that we're going to have."

"We're fortunate today to have people come here who want to say a blessing over us and our upcoming deployment," Hammer said.

"When it comes to religious things, we're really not supposed to push any of our religious views on each other," Hammer continued. "But I hope to think that each of us in our own way look to a higher power to get us through this individually and collectively."

The Rev. Larrie Pike, president of the Greene County Ministerial Association and pastor of Campground Church of God, was the guest speaker for the brief prayer gathering.

"We will be praying for you while you are deployed," Pike said.

"We appreciate our military. I believe we have the greatest military in the world — and that includes you," he said looking over the faces of the guard members present for the meeting.

Pike called it an honor for the troop to be called to action in Iraq.

He said that President George W. Bush was looking for "some honest, dependable men and women to help with the problems in Iraq, so he chose you men. He knew that East Tennessee people were honest, good, loyal people. Therefore he has chosen for you to serve."

Rev. Pike read two passages of Scripture.

The first, from Jeremiah 29:11, was: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." The second, from Psalms 23:5, was: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

"I want you to keep your hope," Pike told the soldiers. "Don't forget what you've left behind. Be encouraged. We'll be waiting for you when you come back. I know it's a sad time for some of you leaving your family, your friends. But in that, it's also an honor to serve your country in the capacity that you will be serving," he said.

The reason that countries go to war is not because of "flesh and blood," Pike said. "There is an evil spirit in high places, and that evil spirit is what drives men and women to do what they do. The evil spirit doesn't like freedom."

"So that's why we're in what we're in today. It's not because of the Iraqi people, but because of the spirit that dominates their country," he said.

"As you look to the Lord for wisdom and guidance, be of good courage and stay strong. Be an honorable soldier and God will bless you, prosper you, and He will surely bring you home."

Story Copyright to Greene County Online