Darlynne sat in the Rock sanctuary feeling convicted to do something to contribute to Pastor Miles’ vision of Pervasive Hope. The problem was that her conviction was not accompanied with a solid idea. “I want to do something, Lord, I just don’t have a clue what,” she prayed.

As a military brat, the ad for the military ministry caught her eye. But they were in need of someone to take the reigns of the ministry and she knew that wasn’t for her.

So she dropped it—at least she tried. Two weeks later, the military idea was still knocking around her brain.

She went to Rock Church and talked to Rock Outreach Director, Zeb Hill, to find out more about how she could be involved in the ministry. By the conversation’s end, Zeb had misunderstood her interest. He thought she wanted to be the leader.

“No, that’s not for me,” she said.
“Why don’t you just pray about it,” was Zeb’s reply.

That was bad news for Darlynne. She felt completely resigned to the fact that she was not going to be the leader and suddenly, it was still on her plate. “I prayed about it,” says Darlynne. “I was freaked out, but I still prayed about it.”

Not long after, she was on the phone with her sister-in-law in Florida. She happened to bring up the time when her husband had deployed overseas and how she was so emotionally wrecked that she packed up the kids in the car and drive to the local church to ask them for help. The church gave what help they could. She was filled with gratitude. Listening to her sister-law’s voice, Darlynne could tell how much emotion was coursing through her.

For Darlynne, she knew God had spoken. She was suddenly filled with a burden for the hundreds and thousands of military personnel in the military town of San Diego who must be in the same condition. Broke. Worried. Lonely. At odds with their spouses. Out of ideas.

She decided to give Zeb a call.

Today, Darlynne leads the military ministry along with her husband. They have identified what seems to be the aspect of military life through which most other crises are born: marital difficulties.

Along with special events, Darlynne holds Bible studies with a special focus on seeking God for creating strong marriages. She also visits those who are in need of someone to talk to, pray with, or those who just need a word of encouragement.

“There’s more pain out there than I would have ever dreamed,” says Darlynne. “I have to play my small part in alleviating it. After all, these are our fighting men and women. They deserve our help.”

Join Darlynne and the military ministry for the first annual Military Marriage Conference on November 15, 2014 at the Point Loma campus. For more info, click here.