HISTORY OF
WORLDWIDE MILITARY BAPTIST MISSIONS
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Worldwide Military Baptist Missions began in the hearts of
a wonderful couple who are affectionately known as "Pop and Mom" Woolston by service members who were saved and discipled under their ministry. Their love for those in uniform inspired the Woolston's
to establish Military Servicemen Centers for Christ near military
bases along the eastern coastline of the United States. Their vision
was for military men and women stationed at these bases to be saved,
baptized, discipled and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Their first ministry to the military began in 1965 in Newport
News, Virginia, two blocks away from the Newport News Naval Shipyard
and in close proximity to the Norfolk Naval Base. This location,
near one of the largest ports in the world, gave the new “missionaries
to the military” access to tens of thousands of military
personnel from around the world. Their first convert was a young
sailor named Allen. Each of the service members reached by the
Woolstons was taken to Clearview Baptist Church where they were
baptized, discipled and mentored.
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Their vision expanded as more Military Servicemen Centers were
opened at military installations under the auspices of their local
fundamental, independent Baptist church. They worked in centers
at Mayport Naval Base in Florida, Fort Lee in Virginia and Camp
Lejuene in North Carolina. Over the years, the Woolstons won hundreds
of soldiers, sailors and Marines stationed on these bases to Christ. “Mom & Pop” are
still household names known and loved by thousands of service members
whose lives were forever changed by their ministry.
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It was at Grace Baptist Church and the Military Service Center
for Christ near Camp Lejuene in Jacksonville, NC, where young Lieutenant
J. Tyler Ryberg, USMC, was mentored and trained by Pop and Mom
Woolston. They had an everlasting impression on him to be a “missionary
to the Marine Corps.” Finally, 25 years after he worked with
the Woolstons at Camp Lejuene, God called Colonel Ryberg out of the
Marine Corps and into fulltime missionary work. His goal is to revitalize
the Woolstons’ vision and mission to evangelize and disciple
military men and women around the world through Worldwide Military
Baptist Missions, a local church ministry of Faith Baptist Church
in Belleville, IL.
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In September of 2005, Pastor R. Scott Baker, pastor of Faith
Baptist Church, and Colonel J. Tyler Ryberg, USMC (Ret.) founded
Worldwide Military Baptist Missions (WMBM) to carry out the Great
Commission to the uniformed military forces of the world. Our vision
and goal remains the same as Pop and Mom Woolston’s…for
military men and women around the world to be saved, baptized,
discipled and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
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God's grace continues to sustain us as we seek to accomplish our mission of worldwide military evangelism. Please pray that the Lord of the Harvest will continue to raise up laborers and provide the resources to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the military men, women and families in our Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world.
Maybe the Lord is calling you to the military fields that are ripe unto harvest. It would be a privilege to assist you in whatever realm of military missions or military evangelism ministry to which God has called you.