Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 115, No. 5	January 30, 2008

“Tonight, I’ll be their Mom.” – Connie Fackler, co-organizer
Fellowship, food and faith welcome Fort Knox soldiers

By SANDRA STONE
Messenger Staff

“They blame me for this,” said Connie Fackler with a laugh as she gazed around the family life center at First Baptist Church, Brandenburg.

“This” is the third Bold Knight celebration hosted by First Baptist Church over the last several months. The idea grew from a conversation Fackler had with Chaplain Jeff Waters wherein she shared with him she used to drive a bus for Fort

Knox, transporting trainees to Louisville churches for their one evening off base during basic training.

Then it occurred to them: First Baptist is large enough to accommodate 119 soldiers in their fifth week of training and their commanding officers for an evening of food, fun, fellowship and a message of God’s love.

And Bold Knight was born.

The evening began when three busloads of soldiers arrived. They filed off the buses and stood in formation before marching into the building. Upon their entry into the family life center, they were greeted warmly with applause and cheers. And then the feast began.

Pizza provided at a discount by Mr. Gatti’s and all sorts of goodies baked by members of the church family covered two rows of tables which stretched nearly the entire width of the gymnasium floor. Laden with slices of pizza and precariously balanced plates of sweets, the soldiers made their way back to their tables to enjoy a feast the likes of which they hadn’t had in quite a while – at least five weeks.

This Bold Knight celebration had an extra feature. Using cell phones provided by Bluegrass Cellular and members of the church family, each soldier who wished to do so had five minutes to call and talk to their loved ones back home.

Photos by Sandra Stone
First Baptist Church Brandenburg welcomed 119 soldiers training at Fort Knox to a Bold Knight celebration, Jan. 26.

While the soldiers ate and awaited their turn to call home, members of the church made their way through the crowd, chatting with the soldiers and making them feel welcome.

“We feed them, and we minister to them just by mingling with them,” said Connie Fackler. She and her husband, Bruce, coordinate the food and organize the kitchen staff for the event.

“Parents have sent letters thanking us for ministering to their children,” Bruce Fackler, who added many of the soldiers express their thanks as well.

A time of fun, skits and games organized by Steve Butler followed the meal.

Directed by music minister Roxanne Nanney, the youth presented a program to begin the worship service in the sanctuary, and then it was time for a message from Rev. Sherman Ramsey, pastor of First Baptist Church.

Ramsey was an engaging speaker, sharing his message of hope and salvation with the young men, interacting with them and ultimately inviting them to the altar if they wished to dedicate their lives to God that night.

Twenty-two soldiers made professions of faith during the altar call. They prayed with Ramsey and were then led to another room by Cy Moorman and the church’s men’s outreach group for a quiet moment of prayer and sharing. Another altar call went out for those who wished to come and pray or needed someone to talk with. Counselors, organized by Cy and Gina Moorman, stood by to talk with them if they wished.

The formal portion of the service ended with Connie Fackler leading the congregation in “Amazing Grace.”

She then stood at the back of the sanctuary and beamed as she looked out over the sea of shaven heads bowed in prayer.

“I’ll hug every one of them tonight,” she said. “Tonight I’ll be their mom.”

Click Here to Go Back