LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces – First Quarter 2026 newsletter

We often hear about the armor of God (as written by Paul in the book of Ephesians) from the pulpit on Sunday, devotionals or our own personal reading of Scripture.

This quarter’s issue of So Help Me God, the newsletter of LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, brings both a historical and relatable take on the passage. Chaplain Steven Hokana focuses on two of the components of the whole armor of God — the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness — for us to consider in study.

Ever drawing the reader to the reality of our salvation in Christ and pulling from the Old Testament for support, the articles in this issue draw parallels between ancient and modern military contexts to help us better understand the parts of the spiritual armor we have through Christ.

But unlike actual warfare, not only does our supreme Commander — our loving, heavenly Father — have our backs in the chaos of the battleground, but He is also the one who personally outfits us, leaving no part of His children in vulnerability nor demanding that we fend for ourselves.

Praise be to God for His steadfast love and ultimate sacrifice through His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who is given to us in Baptism.

Webpages and resources that can help individuals grow in Christ can also be found in this newsletter.

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LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces

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