In post WWII Europe families were, for the first time in military history, allowed to accompany the soldiers. To make the 3-to-4-year duty tour easier, the bases/posts were structured to be more like ‘back home USA’ by building schools, chapels, stores and recreation areas.

Although this was a far more pleasing alternative than an unaccompanied assignment, yet it was still far different than ‘back home’. This was especially noticed in the worship styles offered. In these early days, three broad choices: Catholic, Jewish, Protestant were offered. The Protestant service was most often dominated by ‘High Church’ pastors with a ‘General Protestant’ order of service. Many soldiers and their families desiring less formal styles began securing commanders’ permission to conduct services in the chapel during the week or on Sunday evenings. These were designated ‘Pentecostal Fellowships’ and scores sprang up across Europe and Asia.

These groups began meeting together on American holidays for fellowship, worship, and encouragement. By 1959 the informal leadership of the groups recognized the weakness of no formal structure to ensure continuity after their leader’s rotation. An informal council was held and the leaders petitioned their respective denominations to provide oversight with no immediate result. In January 1961, an early fellowship leader, Don Amison, curtailed his army career and came at his own expense to organize the work in Europe. Soon, retreats, training events and local ministry centers resulted. Thus, the ministry to the military was born. Today the Centers operate in the Far East, Europe, and the USA