Strength for Service

11/30/2021

Don’t forget to donate to Strength for Service on our page this ! Thank you for your support!

11/29/2021

Greetings Friends,

Tuesday (November 30th) is Giving Tuesday-A global day of giving. All gifts received through our page will be matched by Facebook. The catch is that Facebook will only match 100% for the first 2 million and 10% on the remaining 6 million on a first come, first serve basis starting at 8 a.m. (ET) and continue until the 8 million has been met. If you are interested in making an end of the year donation, please consider making your donation on Giving Tuesday through our page as EARLY as you can.

Thank you!

Hazel Coleman, Executive Director

11/08/2021

“I like the idea of helping people in their time of need” (Al Trentalange). The three men within this video discuss their experiences with 9/11, 20 years later. Mike Drew, Chris Daniels, and Al Trentalange all exemplify what it means to put others before yourself and knowing that their job may cost them their life.

Click the link below to listen to their unique experiences and heartfelt stories:

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, as thousands lost their lives in an unprecedented attack on U.S. soil, countless first responders answered the call and did...

11/08/2021

Strength for Service would like to introduce some newly elected officers, who were nominated and voted to serve on the board of directors. This includes Bob Hurst, Richard Hartman, AJ Brian, and Ingram Howard. Each one of these individuals will bring a unique and one-of-a-kind perspective to the non-profit and enable Strength for Service to continue serving others, one relationship and devotional book at a time.
There are also some new board members, Judi North and Eddie Aguiar, that Strength for Service would like to introduce.
Judi North just moved from Charlotte, North Carolina to Nashville, TN. Her specialty is in resource development, fundraising, event planning, branding, marketing, and advertising. She is currently the Principal at JP North Consulting and has an extensive background in volunteer roles and professional development. Strength for Service is excited to welcome Judi and her skills with open arms to the Board of Directors.
Eddie Aguiar graduated from Triton College with a degree in Criminal Justice. Following college, he joined the Marine Corps. When hired by the Fort Worth Police Department, Eddie moved to Fort Worth, and worked within the gang unit, the youth division, as well as special operations. The emphasis on teaching the upcoming leaders within communities motivated him to become a trainer at the Police Academy. Another hobby of his includes coaching club baseball for thirty years and spending time with his two children. Welcome to the team, Eddie. Strength for Service is excited for what you will bring to the table.

11/03/2021

The United Methodist Men at St. Andrew UMC Supports Strength for Service

Strength for Service would like to recognize an organization that has contributed to our mission since 2016. In 2015, ,a member of the United Methodist Men at St. Andrew UMC, Plano, Texas, read the inspiring story of Eagle Scout Evan Hunsberger, who led the republication efforts of Strength for Service to God and Country. He decided to bring the article up at the next UMM meeting to see if there would be any interest to support the cause.
It was too late in 2015 for the UMM to attempt to raise money for SFS, however, that did not prevent them from beginning to support Strength for Service in 2016. The UMM at St. Andrew UMC raised funds to buy several cases of Strength for Service to God and Country devotional books. In the first year, several books were distributed to Ft. Hood in Killeen, TX. The UMM wanted to somehow make the devotionals personal, and therefore, decided to have church members write a note of appreciation on the fly sheets of each one. This enabled the church community to get involved and incorporate a personal touch to each devotional before being sent.
For 2017 and 2018, there was a matching fund program at St. Andrew UMC, which enabled them to purchase more devotionals than previously in 2016.
These books were sent to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX and Shepherd Air Force in Wichita Falls, TX. For 2019, Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX, was chosen to receive the devotionals. In 2020, the UMM raised $5500 to send devotional books to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL, after the base had suffered a terrorist attack.
Every year that the devotionals have been distributed; relationships have been exhibited in a magnitude of ways. In addition to the personal notes written in each book, each chaplain is called to explain how SFS came about, if they are unaware, and that the UMM of St. Andrew UMC has selected their base to receive the devotionals that year. Strength for Service encourages this relationship aspect from donors because relationships are the foundation of the life of Christ.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the lives of many, this year, the UMM at St. Andrew UMC decided to purchase devotionals for both the Marine Air Station in Miramar, California and a Methodist hospital in Richardson, Texas. Their goal this year is to hand deliver the Strength to Service to God and Community devotionals to the Methodist hospital in order to honor all the dedicated first responders there. The devotionals will be shipped to the Marine Air Station.
Strength for Service would like to thank the UMM and St. Andrew UMC for the contributions, time, effort and support it has put forth toward our mission and vision since beginning in 2016. It is because of connections and relationships with churches, people, and organizations that devotional books are able to reach the hands of first responders and people in the armed services, every single day.

11/02/2021

Our participation in the Unites States Vets Hall of Fame in Concord, NC Saturday evening was very well received.

We were 1 of 5 sponsor/ministries allowed to share our mission during the program. They had about 250-300 folks in attendance. We also distributed the God and Country devotional book.

LW had the opportunity to talk and present a devotional to Mayor William Dusch of Concord, NC and Alex Giles -WBTV 3 News Anchor and numerous inductees or ministry leaders.

These are photos at the Veterans Hall of Fame display and a snapshot of LW presenting a SFS devotional to Rocky Bleier, a Vietnam veteran and retired 4-time Super Bowl champion from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

10/21/2021

Robert Hurst has served within law enforcement for 44 years and specifically with the Nacogdoches Sheriff Department for 40 years as Deputy Sheriff with reserve status. Within the first year and a half of his career, he hit a wall of cynicism and realized a step back and move to East Texas would be beneficial to his career. This is when he realized that each person that law enforcement interacts with is a human being and everyone deserves love and respect. Robert genuinely cares about serving God and the community around him and wants to constantly pursue giving back to the public around him.

Click the link below for Robert’s Story:

The mission of Strength for Service, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, is to provide comfort and assurance to our nation’s front line and first responders t...

10/13/2021

Strength for Service: God and Community Devotionals were distributed following the shooting a few weeks ago at Kroger in Collierville, Tennessee. These devotional books are not only impacting service members overseas, but also first responders serving locally. The recipients in this distribution were Billy Graham employees and volunteers who were present to serve, following the shooting.

10/13/2021

“Service is selflessness, putting others first and yourself second.” This is Tommie Johnson III message towards his job as Sheriff in Oklahoma County. Although there is a significant amount of weight, responsibility, and honor that goes along with his job, he finds great joy and pleasure in this manifestation of service in his community.

Relationships matter and Tommie believes investing time and conversation within the community will enable effective action plans to be created. Strength for Service emphasizes relationships and building community in the action of distributing devotional books nationwide to first responders and people in the armed services.

Tommie acknowledges that serving is not about himself, but it is about protecting the community. In this way, his service becomes parallel to that of Christ, loving others as Christ first loved us. God equipped him with what he needed to be sheriff and Tommie will continue to give glory to God. People like Tommie, who are serving our community, are receiving devotional books due to your contribution and support to Strength for Service.

Click the link below for Tommie’s story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRZHStEpTrQ

10/08/2021

Strength for Service taps new executive
NASHVILLE––Strength for Service Inc., a ministry to military personnel and first responders, selected Hazel Coleman, a mission-minded person with 15-years of fund-raising experience, as its executive director.
Meeting October 1, the 13-member Board of Directors selected Coleman as the successor to Larry Coppock, acting executive director from 2014 to 2018 and executive director from 2018 to 2021.
In 1999, while a staff member of General Commission on UM Men, Coppock helped Evan Hunsberger, a California Boy Scout, republish Strength for Service to God and Country, a 1942 book of daily devotions for World War II troops. Coppock also was instrumental in publishing Strength for Service to God and Community, a similar book of daily devotions for fire fighters, police officers and other first responders.
“Hazel Coleman's experience makes her a perfect fit as the new executive director of Strength for Service.,” said Coppock. “She has more than 15 years of successful fundraising. Her education is extensive as well. Most of all our search committee recognized her passion for mission and ministry. She exudes servant leadership. Our board of directors and advisory committee look forward to an exciting journey with Hazel at the helm for many years to come.”
Coleman served as regional director of development for St. Louis-based Washington University from 2016-2018 where she was part of a $3.5 -billion university campaign.
She served as development officer for Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock from 2010 to 2012 and director of development for University of Louisville from 2006 to 2010.
She also has experience in writing grant proposals.
Interviewed on October 5, her first day in the new position, Coleman says she hopes to enlarge the circle of first responders who receive the books. She also plans to launch additional fund-raising efforts and to seek foundation funding.
Coleman is completing a master of theological studies degree from Duke Divinity School while serving as spiritual-life intern for Habitat for Humanity International. She also served as student pastor at Massey UMC in Durham, N.C., while attending classes at Duke.
She holds a B.S. degree in communications from Arkansas State University and a graduate degree in public administration from the same Jonesboro school.
“The Nominating Committee felt like Hazel is a God-send,” said L.W. Smith, president of the Strength for Service Board of Directors. “She comes to us during a time of transition, and we know she will hit the ground running. She is a creative and forward-thinking leader––the ideal executive for this life-changing ministry.”