FishHawk Fellowship Connects With Military Personnel

There's nothing pleasant about waiting on a bus at 5 a.m., especially if it happens to be chilly or rainy.

But once a month at the FishHawk Sports Complex park and ride, the task is made more tolerable thanks to the members of the FishHawk Fellowship Church Military Connects ministry.

On the third Thursday of each month the members of the ministry are on hand to greet early-morning bus riders with a smile, a cup of freshly made hot coffee and a bag of muffins or coffee cake.

It's simply a way to say thanks to the local military personnel, said Duane Rackley, one of the organizers of the Military Connects ministry.

There are four buses that depart from the park-and-ride at the FishHawk Sports Complex, most headed to MacDill Air Force base with military personnel who live in FishHawk Ranch and work at the base. 

"This is something we've been doing since last March," explained Rackley. "And the weather has cooperated all but one time."

Sondra Horst works behind the scene baking cinnamon pecan coffee cake, lemon poppy side muffins and other goodies to be distributed to the riders. 

"She's a baker and has a gift for hospitality," said her husband, Kelly, a member of the ministry who is also stationed at MacDill. "She just loves to bake goodies."

The ministry came about one day when Holly Rowlette, a military wife, and Trisha Rackley, a former military wife, were discussing ways to reach out to the military in the community.

"We do a lot of other things in the ministry but this is one way easy way we found to say thanks to the soldiers," said Holly Rowlette, who also leads the Military Mothers of Preschoolers groups in the area.

According to the Rev. David Whitten, pastor of FishHawk Fellowship Church, there are about 102 military families registered in his church of 400 families.

"Our military lives so far from the base and can feel isolated," said Whitten. "This is a great way to let them know they're not alone."

"This is an easy way to love on them (the military) without expecting anything back or getting in their face," said Trisha Rackley. "And it's not just military. A lot of civilians ride the bus, too."

Phillip Rowlette, a member of the Air Force, called it a simple gesture of encouragement and friendship.

"There's no charge and no strings attached," said Rowlette. "No one is pushing an agenda. I think it's a testament to our church and its love of the community."

He explained that the reason FishHawk Ranch attracts so many military personnel is because housing around MacDill Air Force Base in south Tampa is so much more expensive.

"The first thing military people ask when they're stationed here is where is the best place to live?" said Rowlette. "There's a lot of word of mouth about FishHawk Ranch in the military.

"You can get a better cost of living and larger house in the FishHawk area," he said, noting he moved his family to FishHawk in May 2008. "Plus, this is such a family-oriented community. It's a great place to raise a family."

Bryana Fern, 18, braves the brisk temperatures and early-morning hours each month to offer coffee and baked goods to the approximately 50 military and civilian personnel who ride the buses to MacDill.

"I'm not a morning person but I felt strongly that someone of my generation should be represented here," she said. 

David Dawson, who rides the bus each morning, is grateful for the gesture. "It's great that people come out to show their support," he said. "It's nice to have a muffin to take to work."

"We've got one guy who always takes an extra muffin for his buddy on the next stop," said Trisha Rackley. "Most of them seem to really appreciate what we do."