History
ARMED FORCES BAPTIST MISSIONS, formerly known as Servicemen for Christ Baptist Missions, was founded in 1966 through the vision of three families residing in the area of Norfolk, Virginia, the largest military complex in the world. Harold Woolston, Joe Tolston and Rev. Charles Robinson had a great burden for spreading the gospel among the military in the Hampton Roads and Tidewater areas. The major bases included Norfolk Naval Base/Air Station, Fort Monroe, Fort Eustis, Langley Air Force Base and Portsmouth/Newport News Naval Shipyards. These three families bathed their vision in prayer. Visits were made to local pastors to generate interest and support by the local churches. Their philosophy was to establish fundamental, independent evangelistic military ministries near these bases under the auspices of the local church. AFBM has continued this original vision, mission, philosophy and practice since its inception.
The vision of its founders became a reality in a short time when a three story building was purchased in Newport News, just one and one-half blocks from the Newport News Naval Shipyard, the construction site of nuclear powered aircraft carriers and submarines. Thousands of young sailors flooded the area while their ships were under construction. This location was also in close proximity to the Norfolk Naval Base, which gave the missionaries access to thousands more Navy personnel.
The new Mission was named Servicemen for Christ Baptist Missions, Inc. The building was dedicated on April 17, 1967, and became the first headquarters and a Servicemen’s Center. "Mom & Pop" (the name given so lovingly and descriptively to the Woolstons by their service "buddies") began winning servicemen to Christ even before the building renovation was completed. Their first convert was a young sailor named Allen. He was from Iowa, the Woolston’s home state. Rev. Charles Boone, Pastor of Clearview Baptist Church, became one of the Mission’s most faithful supporters. Each of the servicemen reached by the Woolstons was taken to Clearview Baptist Church where they were baptized and discipled. "Mom & Pop" are still household names known and loved by thousands of servicemen and servicewomen whose lives have been impacted by their ministry.
Two more Servicemen Centers were soon opened - one at Camp Lejuene in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and the other at Mayport Naval Base in Jacksonville, Florida. The Tolstons moved to the North Carolina Center and the Woolstons to the Florida Center. Missionaries Reverend and Mrs. Dave Price were added to the ranks shortly after the Mission began. Brother Price developed an effective follow-up and discipleship program for the new converts. Other ministries followed as Christian Servicemen’s Center were started under local church authority at Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Riley, Kansas and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Overseas military works and churches sprang into existence in England and Germany. Later, more works in the States were started at Fort Eustis and Fort Lee, Virginia; Fort Stewart, Georgia; Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Knox, Kentucky.
In 1969, the headquarters was moved to 34 South Sycamore Street in Petersburg, Virginia. Mom and Pop Woolston moved up from Florida to start a Servicemen’s Center near Petersburg at Ft. Lee. The streets were teaming with soldiers from Fort Lee and the Woolstons won hundreds of them to Christ. Virginia ("Nanny") Cawood moved from Texas to join the Woolstons at the Petersburg Center.
During the summer of 1985, the home office moved to Temple Baptist Church in Chester, Virginia, a short distance from Fort Lee. At that time the mission’s name was changed to Armed Forces Baptist Missions, Inc.
In 1992, the Executive Board voted to move the Home Office to Good News Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Virginia, the Mission’s birthplace, under the local church authority of Dr. Walt Coles, Pastor of Good News Baptist Church and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The emphasis is, as it has always been, for our military ministries to work with and through fundamental, independent, local New Testament Baptist churches. The desire of each of its missionaries and staff is to honor the Word of God by purity, separation and dedication. The Lord has promised in (I Samuel 2:30), "Them that honor Me I will honor."
God’s grace continues to sustain this vital ministry to those in uniform as we seek to accomplish our mission of worldwide military evangelism. In the 1990s, God allowed us to expand our evangelistic outreach to the military forces in Romania, Russia and other eastern European nations. Works have been established in four African nations, India and Korea as the Lord continues to open doors into several other nations to labor among both American and foreign military troops.
Please pray that the Lord of the Harvest will raise up laborers to enter these open doors as we minister to those in uniform in our Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the world. Maybe the Lord is calling you to the military fields that are ripe unto harvest. We would love to have you be a part of our continuing history at Armed Forces Baptist Missions.
Epilogue
Virginia "Nanny" Cawood remained a faithful missionary with AFBM until she was promoted to glory on September 27, 1996, at age 97. In spite of failing health, in her later years she went regularly to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, to distribute gospel tracts and witness to the patients. She also carried on a ministry in the local jail. She was a faithful soul winner, thus one of God’s precious jewels here on earth and one of His glorious possessions in Heaven.
Harold "Pop" Woolston received his final glorious promotion on June 12, 1998 at the age of 88. We believe he will receive a golden crown studded with thousands of jewels for all the service "buddies" he won to Jesus Christ. The citation accompanying his crown will read, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." "Mom" Woolston resides in Richmond, Virginia, with her family.
"Them that honor me will I honor." I Sam 2:30
