"Chaplain" Sherman (left) is not a chaplain,
nor is he even a member of the United States military

MEPS, or Military Entrance Processing Stations, the facilities located all over the country where new military recruits are processed before leaving for the basic training of their particular branch of the military, were in the news recently when the ACLU's objections to the presence of the Gideons at these facilities prompted the Department of Defense (DoD) to issue new regulations on MEPS religious activity.

The new regulations state that a private organization, known as a "non-federal entity" (NFE) in military regulations, "shall not be permitted to post or station a member within the premises of any MEPS ... for the purpose of distributing literature," and "Under no circumstances will any member of any NFE be permitted to proselytize, preach or provide spiritual counseling to, or otherwise communicate information of a religious nature to applicants or federal personnel on MEPS premises."

So, the MEPS problem is solved, right? Wrong!

The Gideons weren't the only non-federal entity using the MEPS as a forum to proselytize. Back in June, MRFF exposed another, far more problematic organization operating at these facilities -- a civilian ministry with the very military sounding name of United States Operational Support Command (USOSC). USOSC evangelists were not only given access to the MEPS, but were wearing military uniforms so close in appearance to U.S. Army uniforms that the new recruits, completely unfamiliar with military uniforms and insignia, would never guess that they weren't real military officers.

Apparently, in addition to seeing no problem at all with the proselytizing of recruits by these officer impersonators, the MEPS commanders and Inspector General, who not only sanctioned, but praised, the USOSC were completely oblivious to the fact that Title 10 of the U.S. Code strictly prohibits any person who isn't a member of the armed forces from wearing "the uniform, or a distinctive part of the uniform, of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps" or "a uniform any part of which is similar to a distinctive part of the uniform of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps."

The original article from June about MRFF's investigation can be found at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/rapture-ready-evangelical_b_106739.html

The photo above, with the caption "Chaplain Tim Sherman meets with First Sergeant Rivera of the Los Angeles, CA, MEPS in a recent visit to southern California," appeared on the "MEPS - Military Ministry" page on the In PURSUIT! Ministries website at the time that MRFF exposed these officer impersonators. The page also contained other photos of both the Fargo, ND, and Los Angeles MEPS facilities. Sherman, who is the director of In PURSUIT! Ministries, also holds the rank of "major" in the USOSC.

The website also contained this statement:

"Today’s enlistees know full well what their probable duty assignment will be if the War on Terror continues. These young people, and MEPS staff who may have recently returned from combat, need to be presented with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only source of true lasting peace in their hearts and minds."

Now, you'd think those new MEPS regulations stating that, "Under no circumstances will any member of any NFE be permitted to proselytize, preach or provide spiritual counseling to, or otherwise communicate information of a religious nature" at a MEPS would have put an end to the MEPS operations of non-federal entities like USOSC and In PURSUIT! Ministries, Right? Wrong!

Last week -- four months after the new MEPS regulations were issued -- MRFF verified that Bob Keller, an In PURSUIT! Ministries chaplain affiliated with Worldwide Military Baptist Missions (WMBM), is not only still operating his ministry at the Los Angeles MEPS, but might be given his own office there soon.

This is Keller's current bio on the WMBM website:

"Bob Keller is the Chaplain for the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles station is the largest MEPS in the country and processes over 28,000 men and women entering our Armed Forces annually Bob has been a faithful servant for many years working as a Chaplain for local police forces and within our nations criminal justice system through In Pursuit! ministries. Please pray for the Kellers as they evangelize, disciple and counsel the MEPS active duty military personnel and the young men and women who are joining our military forces."

Meanwhile, back at In Pursuit! Ministries, there have been some changes to the website since MRFF exposed their organization's unconstitutional entanglement with the military. The "MEPS - Military Ministry" page has been replaced with a "Military Outreach" page, which links to a new page on separation of church and state. (http://ipministries.org/2009/01/01/on-the-separation-of-church-and-state/)

This new page, about the "rampant phobia of the Biblical Christian’s involvement in government," contains many statements such as:

"It isn’t even about 'separation of church and state.' It’s really all about the world’s hatred for Jesus Christ and the Truth of His Word."

"The Biblical Chaplain is a resource; not a requirement. Although the presence of a Biblical Chaplain in a time of crisis is a source of encouragement and strength to most people, to some this may be an uncomfortable convicting reminder of their continued rebellion against God."

Although new MEPS regulations are in place, MRFF in no way considers the MEPS issue closed. The Gideons may be gone, but MRFF will continue to closely monitor these facilities for new, continuing, or returning non-federal entities that are permitted to operate in violation of these new regulations.