Virtual Connections, Real Impact

Building Virtual Community: Connecting Military Members Online

The internet has revolutionized the way people connect, and when it comes to the military community, the need for a strong, connected network is even more crucial. Military members, veterans, and their families can benefit significantly from a well-built online community that offers support, information, and camaradeship around the clock, irrespective of where they are stationed. Here is a guide to effectively building and nurturing such virtual communities:

• Create an Inclusive Platform

  Developing an inclusive online community begins with the platform you choose. Ensure that the platform is accessible on various devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers, to accommodate the diverse tech accessibilities of military members around the world. The platform should also be easy to navigate and secure, with a focus on protecting the users' information, given the sensitive nature of military service.

• Establish Clear Guidelines

  Clear community guidelines help maintain decorum and ensure that all members feel safe and respected. These rules should promote constructiveness, respect, and a non-judgmental approach to sharing. It is also important to clearly communicate these guidelines to all members and enforce them consistently.

• Encourage Frequent Interaction

  For a virtual community to thrive, frequent interaction is key. Organize regular online events or discussions that cater to the interests of the community. These could include professional development workshops, mental health seminars, or casual meet-and-greets. Such activities not only keep the community active but also provide valuable resources to the members.

• Provide Diverse Communication Tools

  Different people prefer different means of communication. Some may prefer forums, whereas others might lean towards instant messaging or video calls. Providing a variety of communication tools ensures that all members of the community have the chance to engage in a manner that is most comfortable for them, thereby enhancing participation and connection.

• Appoint Community Managers or Moderators

  Having dedicated moderators or community managers who are consistently present helps in managing the platform effectively. They can mediate discussions, provide support, and ensure the community remains focused on its goals. Ideally, moderators should be empathetic and well-acquainted with military life to effectively address and understand the specific issues that can arise in such communities.

• Foster a Supportive Environment

  Building a supportive environment involves more than just moderating negative interactions. It includes fostering positivity and support through encouragement and recognition programs, motivational content, and opportunities for members to offer and receive help. Highlighting success stories or testimonials can also significantly boost morale and a sense of community.

• Focus on Privacy and Security

  Given the nature of military work, privacy and security are paramount. Ensure that the online platform adheres to the highest standards of security, including data encryption and secure user authentication. Regular audits and updates to the security infrastructure can also help protect the members' sensitive data.

• Encourage Real World Meetups

  While the community is virtual, real-world interactions can significantly strengthen bonds. Organizing meetups for local groups, when safe and feasible, can enhance the sense of community. Additionally, promoting family involvement can provide further support and community connection for military members.

• Leverage Technology for Accessibility

  Utilize technology not just for communication but also for making the platform more accessible. This includes features like text-to-speech for visually impaired users or language translation services to accommodate members from different linguistic backgrounds. Incorporating such technologies can make the community more inclusive and accessible to all members.

• Continuously Gather Feedback

  Lastly, an effective online community is not static. It evolves based on the needs and feedback of its members. Regularly gathering feedback through surveys, suggestion boxes, or open forums can help identify areas for improvement and new ideas for community engagement. Responding to feedback and making changes accordingly also shows the members that their opinions are valued, further strengthening the community bond.

In conclusion, building a virtual community for military members involves thoughtful planning and sustained effort. By focusing on inclusivity, engagement, and support, such a community can serve as a vital resource and a source of comfort for military personnel regardless of their location. As we continue to advance technologically, the potential to support and connect our military through online platforms grows, providing them with a stable network of peers and advisors who understand the unique challenges of military life.

Poet Walter B. Knight wrote:
God is Before me, He will be my guide;God is Behind me, no ill can betide;God is Beside me, to comfort and cheer;God is Around me, so why should I fear?
A poem is a piece of writing in which the words are chosen for their beauty, powerfully vivid ideas and sound and are carefully arranged, often in short lines that rhyme.
If you are a child of God, He has prepared you for what He desires for you to do. You are His workmanship. The greek word workmanship is the word poiema. Language scholars say that our English word poetry came from this word. To put it simply, you are God's poem! He has expressed Himself in a beautiful and powerful way through you.
You were individually crafted by Almighty God and you are valuable. Step into your day today with confidence not, in pride but in humble reverence knowing that God cares and is with you every step of the way. Nothing you do today is unimportant. God is keenly interested in the smallest detail. You don’t need a greater calling; you may just need more strength to comprehend the wonders of His amazing love for you.
Keep in mind today that you are His poem. You are the vivid expression of His image and you are the rhythm of His heart . God loves you. Smile. 🙏

It started with Blockbuster Entertainment in late 1994. Later in 1995, the test marketing for the first gift cards started. Blockbuster gift cards replaced gift certificates that were around since the 1930s, but they were being counterfeited with recently introduced color copiers and color printers. The U.S. gift card market will generate $324.5 billion in revenue in 2024. 47% of American adults have unused gift cards and the total value of these unspent funds in the U.S. is around $23 billion.
All Bible believing Christians have the beautiful gift of prayer. You can talk to God as His child. Prayer helps you gain an understanding of God's loving nature and its God's way for you to receive what you need from Him. What an honor to be able to approach God and talk to Him.
God wants to hear from you often. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, God commands us to pray continually. He wants you to bring your requests to Him with a spirit of humility and trust. He wants you to trust Him, allowing Him to give you the good He has for you as a gift in His perfect time.
Please know that God truly loves you, but He won't allow himself to be used to serve envy and ambition. When you don't ask God or when you ask Him with the wrong motive, it's much like an unredeemed gift card. There are heavenly blessings that you have access to, but you aren't claiming. Pray faithfully with a clean heart and redeem God's blessings and direction in your life. 🙏🏾

The ancient world could have been a terrifying place to live. The cities of refuge gave people feeling condemned the hope they wouldn’t otherwise have. In Hebrews 6:18, the word for “fled for refuge” is the same word used in the cities of refuge. The typology with Christ is established here. I will say it like this Just as the city of refuge delivered the inhabitants from the wrath of the avenger, so too will Jesus deliver you from the wrath to come!
The six cities of refuge were close by and easily accessible. Each city of refuge served as a beautiful type and shadow of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Kedesh means “holiness.” You will not be saved apart from a holy Savior. Jesus is the only way to be saved. John 14:6. Shechem means “shoulder,” or “support.” The Lord Jesus is your strength. You can depend on Him. He will carry you. Luke 15:5. Hebron means “fellowship.” There is a need in your heart for fellowship with God. Nothing else will satisfy you. 1 John 1:3. Bezer means “stronghold.” You can find security in the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 46:1. Ramoth means “exalted.” Christ Jesus is sovereign, as the exalted Son of God. Put Him first in your life. Philippians 2:9. Golan means “separated.” Not only did Jesus save you from something; He saved you to something. 2 Cor 6 :17.
Jesus is very near today, and you can run to Him. He wants you! Anyone who sincerely calls upon the name of Jesus as their Savior is qualified to run to Him and take Him as your city of refuge.
What an amazing God! He is your safe place. Praise Him, He is worthy. 🙏🏾

When you anticipate fear over your shoulder, it can cause stress and anxiety.  This looming giant in a deep valley threatens, taunts, intimidates, incapacitates, and paralyzes. It can cause you to fall into the grip of depression, pulling you away from those you love and shuttering your ability to deal with everyday life.
You can live free from the demoralizing grip of anxiety. It’s imperative for you to know that you are not standing helplessly alone in your valley. God Almighty is with you, and He is fighting for you.
There was a city of refuge called Shechem. Shechem was important in ancient Palestine because of its position in an east-west pass between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. It's one of the few such routes in Palestine's hill country.
The name Shechem means “shoulder” in Hebrew, which is appropriate considering its location as a pass between two mountains.
Be encouraged today, child of God! When fear, anxiety, stress, discouragement, or depression creep into your life, please know that there is a shoulder that you can lean on. Jesus is there for you! He cares, and He can lead you through any storm of life. He has already defeated all of the enemies of this world.
Jesus is willing to bear your burdens upon His shoulder. Establish a personal relationship with Him, grow that relationship, and watch Jesus slay some giants in your life as He safety carries you upon His mighty Shechem "shoulder." 🙏🏾

In the Bible, an avenger of blood is a person legally responsible for carrying out vengeance when a family member has been unlawfully killed or murdered. The avenger of blood is usually the nearest male relative of the murdered person.
The cities of refuge were six Levitical towns in the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah, in which the perpetrators of accidental manslaughter could claim the right of asylum.
Over the next few days, we will take a peek at each of these six cities. The first one, Golan, was located east of the Jordan River. It was designated both a Levitical city and a place of refuge, according to Joshua 21:27.
Mankind is naturally guilty before God because of sin. The good news is that you can have refuge! When you accept Jesus as your Savior and rescuer, He is your protector throughout eternity. He is your refuge from the ferocious storms of life. While all around you is chaos, your God is unchanging and constant. Steadfast. Strong. Sure. Faithful. Everlasting.
Think with me about the name of the first refuge city. The word Golan means "something surrounded or captive." Be encouraged to know that when you take refuge in Jesus, then you are separated and sanctified into something glorious. You are surrounded by Him and captive to His goodness. 🙏🏾

In the Bible, an avenger of blood is a person legally responsible for carrying out vengeance when a family member has been unlawfully killed or murdered. The avenger of blood is usually the nearest male relative of the murdered person.
The cities of refuge were six Levitical towns in the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah, in which the perpetrators of accidental manslaughter could claim the right of asylum.
Over the next few days, we will take a peek at each of these six cities. The first one, Golan, was located east of the Jordan River. It was designated both a Levitical city and a place of refuge, according to Joshua 21:27.
Mankind is naturally guilty before God because of sin. The good news is that you can have refuge! When you accept Jesus as your Savior and rescuer, He is your protector throughout eternity. He is your refuge from the ferocious storms of life. While all around you is chaos, your God is unchanging and constant. Steadfast. Strong. Sure. Faithful. Everlasting.
Think with me about the name of the first refuge city. The word Golan means "something surrounded or captive." Be encouraged to know that when you take refuge in Jesus, then you are separated and sanctified into something glorious. You are surrounded by Him and captive to His goodness. 🙏🏾

In the 1940s and 1950s, New Orleans experienced growth. Unfortunately, access from the north to the city continued to be limited by Lake Pontchartrain. Driving around the lake was a time-consuming effort.
A very specific focus was developed to provide a direct connection across the center of the Lake to the north shore. The Lake Pontchartrain Bridge was built. It is composed of two causeways. The first, opened in 1956, is 23.86 miles long. The second, opened in 1969, runs parallel to the first but is 50 feet longer.
Bridges can have a very specific and meaningful purpose. The same is true spiritually. There is a separation between God and man because of our sin. God's desire is to span that gap. Love is the thing that builds the bridge between the gap that exists in our relationship with God.
God took the time to demonstrate to you His love for you. He did this by allowing Jesus to die for you. The sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross became the bridge that could connect you and God.
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana runs 23.79 miles over open water and is the longest bridge of its kind in the world. The bridge of love that God has made spans across the entire world. God’s amazing love stretches from heaven to you. 🙏🏾

So, what is grace exactly? The Greek word for grace is charis, and it means good will, loving-kindness, and favor. Grace is completely free for you, but it costs God everything. God patiently waits for you to embrace His grace.Let's take a minute and consider God's amazing grace from the days of Noah. Methuselah is the oldest man in the Bible. Methuselah was the grandfather of Noah. In Hebrew, the name Methuselah carries the thought of a dart and death. It means "his death sends."Methuselah was 187-years-old when he had his son Lamech (Genesis 5:25) When Lamech was 182-years-old he had his son Noah (Genesis 5:28) The flood happened in the 600th year of Noah’s life (Genesis 7:11) The math teaches us 187+182+600 = 969. Methuselah died at 969 years old in the year of the flood.Noah preached. He talked about God as he built the ark. God's grace was available to those who heard Noah preach. They had an opportunity to learn about God's grace for many years, but they never earned God's grace.The extended life of Methuselah is a beaming example of God’s patience to extend His grace to you.Please remember that as a child of God, His grace continually renews itself. With each failure, you get to begin again as if you never messed up. Thank Him for His amazing grace.

Yesterday at work, I was talking to a deputy that I know. We talked for a few minutes, and I noticed that his voice was very hoarse and weak. He said, "Anthony, keep me in your prayers; I'm almost fully recovered." I asked him what had happened? "He went on to tell me that he had been pretty sick overnight because he got totally saturated in the rain the previous day, helping a family that was in a bad wreck. Even though he wasn't feeling 100% perfect, he was back in uniform and on duty to serve in his community. Let's take a couple of minutes and consider the thought of being spiritually saturated. When you are a redeemed child of God, you have been saturated with God’s compassion and mercy. The definition of Mercy is, “Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.” God loves you, and He chose to saturate you with His forgiveness and mercy when He became your Savior.I encourage you to sow mercy in every area of your life. Choose to saturate your words with mercy. Let mercy saturate your heart. Let mercy saturate your language. Let mercy saturate your conduct. Let your heart reflect the Mercy of God in all that you do or say. The uncreated God of the Universe has saturated you with His mercy. No matter how you may physically feel today, be on duty for Almighty God by saturating those around you the love and mercy of God. Truthfully, mercy is compassion in action.