Centurion’s Watch
During the time of the Roman Empire, “Centurions” were considered an elite fighting force, much like today’s Special Forces personnel in America’s Department of Defense. These were proven warriors, exemplary in leadership, dependability, and courage. It was a Centurion about whom Jesus proclaimed, “I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” And it was a Centurion, while watching the events unfold at the Cross of Jesus Christ, who declared, “Surely He was the Son of God!”
Today, another group of Centurion’s has been brought together, but with a different mission. Their mission is to ensure that every military family will hear the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ regarding how they can experience strong, healthy, marriage and family relationships.
“When the Centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and
all that happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!”
– Matthew 27:54
The Beginning
It was a “God moment” which led Army Reserve Chaplain (Major) Doug Hedrick to begin the not-for-profit organization Centurion’s Watch (CW) as a means to help solve the crisis facing Guard and Reserve families. While serving in Iraq, Doug recalls that: “For the first time, I experienced the enormous strains of combat and later how deployment had impacted my life and that of my wife and children.” As Doug and his family continued their healing process, he discovered that while Active Component branches had Christian faith-based ministries offering family enrichment support, the Reserve Components did not. As Biblical truth began to transform Doug’s family, he also observed that Reserve Component families with similar practices were being restored from the stresses of military life. Thus Centurion’s Watch (CW) was born.
Who We Are
CW is a non-denominational, Christian faith-based nonprofit organization founded and committed to encouraging the men and women in the United States’ Reserve and Guard Components, and their families, by nurturing strong marriages
based upon timeless Biblical principles. The mission of CW is to encourage the men and women in the United States’ National Guard, Air Guard, and Armed Service’s Reserve Components, and their families, by equipping them with Biblically-based education to strengthen marriages, and help them grow in their faith in order to sustain healthy marriage relationships.
The Challenges We Face
America’s total military force comprises less than one percent of her total population. More than half of that force are members of our Nation’s Guard and Reserve. Shockingly, since September 11, 2001, 250,000 military families have experienced divorce, tragically outnumbering families that have experienced injury or death by a ratio of 5:1. Suicides, Post-Traumatic Stress, long separations, financial pressures, severe-post-service unemployment, misunderstanding or alienation by their countrymen and women, and reintegration issues are among the unique challenges military families face on a daily basis.
Even as wars in Iraq and Afghanistan draw to a close, the pressure of real-world military service, including deployments away from families, cyclical preparation challenges before deployments occur, and returning home after deployment, are part of the unique challenges faced by America’s Armed Forced personnel and families. Returning “to the home front” from deployment also demands the very best efforts, preparation, and attention if they, their marriages, and their families are to survive and prosper. CW was created to help reverse these trends among American warriors and their families.
What Makes CW Different
• Uniquely focused on America’s Reserve and Guard Components
• Independent, Not-for-Profit
• Biblically-Based
• Leaders are Christian
• Proven record of executing highly-impactful military marriage strengthening programs
What We Do
Centurion’s Watch offers a variety of marriage strengthening programs for the purpose of equipping military couples with a Biblical perspective on how they can build a strong, healthy and lasting marriage. Centurion’s Watch conducts a highly popular “Fortified” military marriage conference that gives couples time away with fellow warriors to have fun, reconnect and apply Biblical wisdom to fortify their marriage.
Centurion’s Watch provides dynamic and inspirational educational material on a variety of topics relevant to today’s military family. This is especially meaningful to couples who cannot attend a “live” event due to a deployment or extended military operation.
Centurion’s Watch connects its military couples with local Biblically-based education providers, support groups, counseling and marriage mentors through their national network of faith-based providers and supporters that includes churches, businesses, para-church, and local military community support organizations.
Centurion’s Watch coordinates community outreaches to provide assistance to military families in need. Centurion’s Watch works closely with several military, civic and para-church groups to identify families in need and then provides practical opportunities for concerned and patriotic Americans to offer their practical support.
A few testimonies from attendees:
“Attending the Fortified military marriage conference saved our marriage. We love life
again and will now put God first in our marriage.”
“The CW conference helped us remember why we fell in love in the first place.”
“Despite dealing with PTSD, this conference gave us hope that we are going to make it.”
Centurion’s Watch Needs
PRAYER
- Praying for the expressed needs of the organization and the military families we serve
VOLUNTEERS
- Helping CW with outreach to the faith and military community
- Helping CW serve the practical needs of military families
- Helping CW improve its internal ministry operations
- Helping CW at one of their marriage strengthening programs
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
- Sponsor a military couple to attend a CW marriage strengthening program
- Support the operational needs of the ministry
MARRIAGE MENTORS AND COUNSELORS
- After attending a CW marriage strengthening program, interested military couples are often referred to a faith-based marriage mentor or counselor. If you have experience in either one of these areas and would like to use your gifts and passions to help Military couples we could use your help.
ATTEND A CONFERENCE
- Go to www.centurionswatch.org if you are interested in attending or recommending one of our marriage strengthening programs.
Centurion’s Watch
wk. 317-506-3684 | fax. 317-562-1967
doug@centurionswatch.org | www.centurionswatch.org
P.O. Box 26324 | Indianapolis, IN 46226