One of the most amazing local church evangelistic outreaches in America is the Free Day Away ministry to the soldiers of Fort Leonard Wood; conducted by the Tabernacle Baptist Church of Lebanon, Missouri. Since the program’s inception in March of 1971, more than 250,000 soldiers have attended the church and more than 100,000 men and women have walked the aisle to make a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was my privilege to pastor the church for fifteen years; during which time I preached the gospel to more than 130,000 soldiers and saw more than 55,000 of them trust Christ as Savior.
     The program began as a bus route, ministering to soldiers who had a pass for the day. The soldiers would attend services all day at the church and spend the afternoon with church families. Following the evening service, they would return by bus to the fort. Several years later, a chaplain responsible for soldiers in Basic Training asked if all of the soldiers in his company could attend. A company of soldiers has from 100 to 250 soldiers, so the number became too great for soldiers to eat in the home of the church members. We began feeding the soldiers at the church, having dinner on the grounds each week for the soldiers. Over the years there have been many changes and refinements made to the program. Concerns were expressed among the leadership at Fort Leonard Wood that the Free Day Away was in conflict with the chapel ministry on post, so we began picking up the soldiers after their morning chapel service. The ministry has grown to the place where every soldier taking his or her Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood is given the opportunity of attending the Free Day Away.
     Because of Army restrictions, a soldier may only attend the Free Day Away one time during Basic Training. The program operates on an average of 47 weeks each year and each week the soldiers are attending for their first and only time.
     Tabernacle Baptist Church has 26 buses that can be used for the Free Day Away. Each week an appropriate number of drivers are notified that they will be needed. The buses arrive on post at 12:45 where the soldiers are marched from their barracks and loaded on the buses. From 2:00 until 4:30 each Sunday afternoon the soldiers have supervised free time where they play basketball, bowl, watch sports and generally unwind. At 4:30 the soldiers are fed a delicious home cooked meal prepared by one of eight serving teams that take turns feeding the soldiers. Each team is comprised of seven or more couples responsible for the preparation and clean up for the meal on that week. Following the meal, the soldiers attend the evening service where many will hear the gospel for the very first time.
     The evening service is thoroughly evangelistic. Familiar songs such as Amazing Grace are sung and the soldiers are encouraged to participate. The sermon is always an evangelistic message followed by an invitation for salvation. More than 100 people have been trained as counselors to deal with the soldiers as they respond to the invitation. A decision card is completed by each soldier who has responded to the invitation. Because the church is not allowed to contact the soldiers at the fort, we do follow up in two ways. Each soldier is given the first lesson in a six lesson correspondence course that deals with elementary discipleship. Also each decision card requests the soldier’s home address. Tabernacle Baptist Church will then contact a church in the soldier’s hometown and request that the local church follow up on the soldier and his or her family. We have had numerous reports of family members being saved as a result.
     Over the years, the church has received hundreds of letters from soldiers and their families. Here are a few of the letters:
     “Thank you for this Day away program. It's helped me realize that even if you sin there's still a way to go to Heaven. This little work sheet has also helped me, so if you would, please send me more. And I'm proud to say that because of this Day Away Program, I got saved by the Lord Jesus Christ on Sun .the 28th. Thank you.”

     “I am grateful and thankful to your ministry for the Free Day Away program. I was borne and lived as a Muslim all my life until last Sunday night after I listened to your powerful sermon.  I was borne in the northern region of Nigeria (West Africa) which is mostly Muslim. All my life, I have been taught by my parents and community that Islam was the way to eternity and happiness. I haven't been to church before and I didn't know a lot about the Bible and its teaching, but your message was the most powerful message I have heard both in my religion and all other religions.I have realized that God brought me into the army away from the temptation in the sports in order for me to realize His power and listen to His message. I am grateful for the Bible, I read it every night and I am beginning to understand why Christians all over the world believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Thanks for saving my life and leading me to salvation. It's my prayer that the Free Day program continues in order to give soldiers the opportunity I had to meet Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for me in order for me to have strength to read my Bible everyday and night.Thanks again for saving my life through Jesus Christ. Now I am sure where I am going after this life. I hope you all keep in touch.”

     “I am very happy that I got a chance to meet a wonderful group of people as yourself. I came to day-away with Alpha 5-10 on Sunday August 23. I had a wonderful time and I enjoyed the fellowship. I was already saved and my spirit was strengthened by your message, Pastor Hightower. Many of my fellow soldiers were saved and I was happy because I had been witnessing to them. Once again thank-you for the day-away and for your prayers. May God continue to bless your church abundantly.”

     “I am writing this letter to say thank you. After attending Day Away on Sept. 6, my mind seems clearer and my life happier than it has been in a long time. I had given a lot of thought about being saved, but never seemed to have the strength to come forward. After hearing your service I knew in my heart it was time and I knew what I wanted to do.  I will be going home to Virginia soon where I will see my pastor and be baptized right away. I may not be able to attend your church again but I must say thank you for pointing my life in the right direction. I know now I'm on the right road.”

     “I am a soldier who recently came to your church on Day Away. I really enjoyed myself, and I'd like to especially thank the lady who helped me get saved. I can't recall her name, but she was very kind. All of you were very kind. Thanks to your kindness, I feel very much closer to God. Thank you very much.”

     “I want to thank you so much for leading my son to the Lord. That is every Christian mother's answer to prayer.
My son's name is Tracy. He has two brothers who need to be saved. I have been praying for their salvation since they were babies. You can't imagine the feeling I had when I found out. I cried all night and really thanked the Lord.”
“Hello friends. I'm writing to thank all of the wonderful people that made "Free Day Away" so enjoyable. I live in Illinois and was and am still very homesick. Coming to "Free Day Away" helped me very much. You are all very sincere and caring Christians and it make me feel good to get treated sincerely. I'm a Baptist and try to go to church on Sundays, but I at least try to read the Bible. It's hard to find the time. I'm in Charlie 31st and a lot of my buddies expressed to me their feelings about the people they met. They said they felt very at home with you. What you do for soldiers is indescribable. It helps with morale, self esteem, and obviously helps a lot of kids to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. I cried when I saw all those people give their hearts to the Lord. I just wanted to write and say thank you and God bless each and every one of you for all you've done.”

     “I want to thank you for your ministry. I got the long awaited phone call I have been praying for. I have been standing in faith and believing that my son would come back to the Lord for so long. And he called me just a few minutes ago and told me he gave his heart to the Lord yesterday at your service. His voice was filled with excitement and happiness that I've not heard in some time. I felt my heart swell and I cried for joy, all the while saying, "Thank you Lord for people like the ones who led my son back to You." I will pray for your ministry and if I can help in any way, please write to me.”

     A ministry such as the Free Day Away would be impossible apart from the sacrifice of some of the most wonderful Christians in the world. Below are a few testimonies from those who serve in the Free Day Away.

     “I remember just like it was yesterday the first tie I witnessed the Free Day Away ministry. I was sitting on the back row of the auditorium with tears streaming down my cheeks and I saw over 60 soldiers walk the aisle to get saved. Never in my life had I seen so many saved at one time. Little did I know that the Lord would allow me to be a part of that ministry every week. Since that time, I've seen thousands of soldiers walk the aisle to get saved and the tears are still coming.  Quite often as I talk with the soldier girls I've led to the Lord, they tell me about their backgrounds, and I realize that had it not been for Tabernacle Baptist Church and the Free Day Away Ministry, thousands of soldiers who have been saved would never have had a chance to hear the gospel without the faithfulness of this church. I praise the Lord that He has allowed me to be a part of this great ministry and for the faithfulness of Tabernacle Baptist Church over the past 25 years.”

     “I receive such joy being able to work the altar on Sunday nights. I realize that the pastor does the preaching and the Lord prepares the soldiers' hearts; but just having a part of leading them through the sinner's prayer, praying with them, and being able to encourage them is such a blessing to me. I am so thankful that the Lord can use me in the Free Day Away ministry.”

    “Before I came to Tabernacle Baptist Church and witnessed and became a part of the Fort Leonard Wood ministry, I didn't have a burden for souls. Seeing so many unsaved people came and make a decision for Christ just broke my heart that I didn't care enough for souls to witness. The Free Day Away program not only helped me become involved in a soulwinning ministry, but also made me aware of my responsibility to witness daily.”
“My wife and I have been in the Free Day Away program for 10 years. We are on a serving team and I have been driving a bus for all 10 years. We would like to thank Tabernacle Baptist Church and the Lord for the privilege to serve.”

     “The first night we saw the Free Day Away Program, we knew that this was the church for us. We have never lost the thrill of seeing the soldiers come under conviction as Pastor preaches the Word. If we could only attend church once a week, it would have to be on Sunday nights.”

     “After having served on the team and having driven a bus nearly every Sunday for the past 18 years, I cannot begin to express my love for being a part of this program. I have seen soldiers come forward to be saved, who could barely even speak English.  The joy of seeing men come to Christ to be saved simply cannot be put into words. From the bottom of my heart, I am thankful for having a part in the Free Day Away.”

     “When we first started attending church here our son was 16 and at a crossroads in his life. We were asked to serve on a team and he became involved in the altar work. What a joy to be a small part of such a ministry, where souls are saved and take the Word and love of God to all parts of the world. Then there are the letters we would get back from soldiers and from their moms that had been praying for them.  We have enjoyed all the years of working and praying with the soldiers. Anyone should be blessed just by watching souls being saved. We've been blessed many times over by being involved in this ministry. It is still as much a blessing today as it was then.”

    “I'm thankful to have been a part of the Free Day Away from the beginning. I was here to help the first Sunday we brought a small group of soldiers to Lebanon and gave them a home-cooked meal and had them in our service. Over the years the program has been restructured a few times to accommodate the large numbers of soldiers, but the program itself has never changed. Our purpose has always been to present the gospel and witness God working and seeing souls saved. I look forward to getting to Heaven and seeing the fruits of our labors these many years.”

    “Week after week the Free Day Away Ministry is a reminder of the provision and power of God. What a privilege it is to have a small part in such a great work.  The Lord used the Free Day Away ministry to help me know that He was willing to use me if I was willing to be used. Through the preaching services and by working the altar during invitation time, I learned to lead people to Christ.  Viewing a large group of soldiers impresses upon me that God is no respecter of persons. They all look the same dressed in their camouflage and with their shaved heads. We are all the same as sinners. We all have the same problem and we all require the same cure. Oh the blessedness of seeing the faces as hearts are convicted, and then meeting them as they walk the aisle in tears to trust Christ. The Free Day Away Ministry causes me to remember that many people have never heard the gospel and how important it is that we keep on serving the Lord and sacrificing for this ministry.”

     In 2003, God redirected my ministry as I resigned the pastorate to enter into evangelism. It is a great joy to know that the Free Day Away ministry to the soldiers continues to this very day. I look forward to a glorious reunion in Heaven one day, recounting with thousands upon thousands the fruits of the Free Day Away.

By Hal Hightower