25 Years of Ministering to the Civil War Reenacting Community

Chaplain Alan Farley andThe Re-enactor's Missions for Jesus Christ

by Connie Payne staff writer for Civil War Courier

As
a result of attending the annual New Market, VA reenactment on Mother's
Day weekend, 1979, Alan Farley fell in love with it……all of it. 30
years later, he is still in love with it.

After
spending nearly 5 years in the ranks, Alan, a devout Christian, felt
compelled to begin holding chapel services. In 1983, Alan added the
role of chaplain to his impression, while still maintaining his role as
1st Sgt. within his unit. Carrying out the duties of 1st Sgt. while
trying to ensure that those who wished to worship had a venue and time
to do so was a difficult one, and the services were poorly attended. "I
was trying to do a dual role….and it didn't help that most event
organizers, at that time, did not schedule any time for a chapel
service" says Farley, "After I found 15 minutes here or maybe 20
minutes there, I would have to go through both reenactment camps
informing everyone of where and when we would have a service." With
attendance never topping 15 participants, Farley felt that God was not
blessing his efforts.

Politics
and bickering within the brigade that Farley belonged to were "at an
all time high", and Farley questioned whether he should even remain in
reenacting. Disheartened, he took a month off, and dedicated that time
to prayer and fasting, asking for the direction he needed to make his
decisions clearer. He received the direction he was looking for, in a
clear personal message to leave behind the military impression and "put
down the musket and pick up the Sword, the Bible". From that moment on,
Farley decided to dedicate himself to a full-time, period-correct
Chaplain's impression.

At
Bentonville, NC that year, Farley shared his decision with his
regimental and brigade commanders, and was informed by his brigade
commander that there was no room for a chaplain, and that they could
not lose a musket. Farley resigned on the spot. Seeking out the host
unit, he discovered that a chapel service had actually been scheduled,
and offered his services, which were quickly accepted. Knowing that the
11th North Carolina Band was also in attendance at the event and
scheduled to perform on both Saturday and Sunday, Farley met with their
conductor and asked if they might participate in the chapel service.
Not scheduled to return on Sunday until just prior to the afternoon
battle, the conductor changed the schedule for Farley, and included the
band in the church service. That Sunday service saw nearly 85 people in
attendance, and Farley felt confident that his decision to take on a
full-time chaplain's impression had been divinely confirmed.

Shortly
after returning home from that event, Farley received a phone call from
the commander of the newly formed Stonewall Brigade, Col. Rusty Todd.
Seeking to put together a correct Confederate brigade command staff,
Todd had filled all positions except chaplain, and had asked his staff
for recommendations. Farley's name was mentioned, and the position was
offered to him. Farley was eager to accept, but informed Todd that he
would have to be allowed to hold a church service at every event that
they attended, and that every member of the staff would need to be
present. Todd informed him that he would have it no other way. Farley
joined the Stonewall Brigade in late 1984.

In
March of 1985, after being referred by Col. Todd, Farley found himself
in contact with Harold Wyatt of the Saylor's Creek event committee. An
immediate bond was formed between the two men, and plans were soon made
to include a Saturday evening service at the event. The idea was to
allow an "out" for those men who wanted no part of the drunken antics
that can sometimes occur in military camps on Saturday evenings. Nearly
30 men showed up. It was during this Saturday evening meeting that
their vision for a ministry outreach was shared, a vehicle through
which they could minister to the reenacting community and Civil War
enthusiasts in general. It was decided that the ministry would be
called, "Re-enactor's Missions for Jesus Christ". Over the years it has
become known as RMJC.

The next
several years saw organizations and units split, politics and
personalities clash, and many changes take place within the reenacting
community. Farley found his niche with Lee's Lieutenants, a group of
individuals who portray Generals and personalities from the war, using
these impressions to accurately teach history. One of the main vehicles
they use for getting their message out is a program they provide
called, "Meet The Generals". Besides their usual participation in
School Days and one-on-one discussions with spectators and reenactors
alike, the Generals are often asked to participate in the Sunday church
services.

As word of the
RMJC grew, so did interest in the group. At one time over 60 men
portrayed chaplains and colporteurs (chaplain assistants) across the
country, stretching from the West Coast to the East Coast, and most
points in between. A newsletter was started to introduce new members,
and to keep everyone informed of the happenings of the group. Farley
shared that this newsletter was then opened up to anyone interested in
reenacting or the Civil War era in general, and that it "grew beyond
our imagination." At the height of The Christian Banner, the group was
mailing over 7,000 newsletters every month to over 30 states and 17
foreign countries.

Such growth
and enthusiasm also brought some heartbreak and concern. Even though
the RMJC required a "Statement of Salvation Testimony" and an agreement
with their ministrys "Statement of Faith" from those who took on the
roles of chaplains and colporteurs, complaints came in from reenactors
that the chaplains were using their platform to further their own
beliefs. Some were using modern day paraphrased Bible versions as
opposed to the version used during the 1860s, and some led reenacting
groups in modern-day chorus' as opposed to the hymns of the War period.
As men were confronted, some came in line with the vision of the RMJC
and its historical standards, while others quit. As time went by, some
left reenacting altogether or became busy in their own home
congregations and personal lives. Some were simply never heard from
again. Today, the RMJC has only a small handful under their ministry,
but they are dedicated men who desire nothing more than to see God's
hand at work in their ministry.

Early
on in the growth of the ministry, the group was able to partner with
Dr. James Ellis of Fundamental Baptist Home Missions of Bessemer City,
NC to reprint original gospel tracts; Confederate, Union and US
Christian Commission. They printed these tracts "on faith", and the
group would then pay for the tracts as the Lord would provide. In 25
years the group has reprinted over 90 different titles and distributed
well over 1.5 million pages of these tracts, always relying on
donations to take care of the printing and distribution costs, and
always operating "by faith". At Gettysburg in July of 2008, over 30,000
tracts were distributed, and over 20,000 Union and Confederate New
Testaments have been printed for the soldiers at different times in the
past.

Farley maintained a
full-time, secular job for the first several years of the RJMC's
existence. Often leaving on Thursday evenings when he could get a
Friday off, he would arrive late to an event, dedicate himself to a
weekend of preaching and teaching, and then drive all Sunday night to
make it home so that he could return to work Monday morning. In 1991,
Farley took a leap of faith and quit his secular job, dedicating
himself to full-time ministry. In 1994, while participating at the
reenactment in Wheeling, WV, he was officially ordained.

Since
his decision in 1991 to leave his secular job, he and his family have
taken on the role of "missionaries living totally by faith." They
travel as a family over 35,000 miles each year, attending between 20
and 25 reenactments across the country. Farley walks through every door
that the Lord opens, preaching "protracted" meetings, patriotic
Sunday's, pulpit supply, and attempting to fill pulpits as they travel
to help with expenses. By his side is Faith, his wife, who left her
secular job in 1992 when they moved from Falls Church, VA to
Appomattox, VA. At that time, Faith joined Alan on the road full time,
and was able to not only provide support to him, but was able to be
home with their children. Her own personal prayers had been answered.

A
true "family affair", the Farley's eagerly embrace both their 21st and
19th century lifestyles. Faith sews, quilts and tats, and plays an
active role in the ministry, particularly with female reenactors.
Daughter Katherine, nearly 20, spins wool with an antique spinning
wheel, knits socks, and quilts. Son Benjamin, 18, is already a farrier,
does his own blacksmith work at reenactments and is gaining a
reputation for rebuilding and refurbishing antique guns. Both children
work actively within the RJMC ministry.

In
Farley's 25 years of ministry, and 30 years of reenacting, his stories
and remembrances could fill a book. "The good times have far outweighed
the bad" he says, "…we have allowed God to stay in control." Taking the
bad with the good, Farley has lost several friends throughout the
years, some of them younger than himself. Never discouraged, he states
simply that, "The consolation we have is in knowing that many of these
friends who have passed on were led to the Lord through this ministry."

The
same 25 years has seen over 1,800 people brought to the Lord. From
Jewish to Muslim to those of nearly every denomination who had left
their religious beliefs somewhere behind them. It is to the lost and
the unchurched that Farley has such a heavy heart. When asked what
keeps him going, he stated humbly, "I guess it's the knowledge that the
vast majority of reenactors still need the salvation of the soul that
only Jesus Christ can give. Just as any other missionary, God has
burdened our hearts for these unreached people."

If
you are interested in assisting with the efforts of the RMJC, or would
like more information, you are encouraged to visit the links below, or
to contact Chaplain Farley with questions.

NOTES OF INTEREST AND OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY RMJC

For more information on RMJC, visit their website at: www.rmjc.org

Weekly
Devotional - RMJC offers a "historical devotional" that is sent weekly
via email and can be requested by contacting Chaplain Farley at ChaplainFarley@gmail.com

Tracts
- RMJC also provides bulk orders of tracts for others to give away. You
pay only their printing and shipping costs. They also offer sample
packs of either Confederate or Union tracts for a nominal cost. Those
can also be requested by contacting Chaplain Farley at the above email
address.

Claplains Museum -
RJMC has also been collecting religious items from the War for over 20
years. They are currently working with Kenny Rowlette to start a new
museum, "The National Civil War Chaplain's Museum and Research Center"
dedicated to the work of the chaplains and USCC delegates during the
Civil War. To learn more about this museum, visit www.chaplainsmuseum.org

Donations
- If you are interested in making a tax deductible donation to the
RMJC, you can do so by sending all contributions to Chaplain Alan
Farley – P.O. Box 970, Concord, VA 24538