2 Vets & A Bible: New Nonprofit To Assist Veterans In Need

GREAT MILLS, Md. — After nearly 32 years of faithful friendship, John Trejo Sr. and Larry Messick, both members at Life Community Church, have gone through the proper channels to start a nonprofit ministry entitled 2 Vets and a Bible.

Trejo served in the United States Marine Corps, and Messick has served every branch in some capacity, whether active duty, veteran or civil service.

The website will be active at a later date; it will have important information and links to community services that veterans can access easily.

Trejo said he knows what it’s like to battle internally like so many veterans — whether before going into the service or after active duty.

He struggled with abandonment and anger for so long after his father left the family when he was a child.

“Our mission is to meet them [vets] where they are and let the Lord handle the rest,” Trejo said. “I was so angry because of my father leaving when I was young. I didn’t understand it, and I carried that anger for so long until I walked into a church. I did get the chance to meet him later in life, and I’m so glad I had that chance.”

Messick was the usher at Springs of Life Church, under the direction of Pastor Don Weber at the time.

“I walked in, and Larry shook my hand,” Trejo said. “I knew that day that I had to surrender my life over to God.”

“It was the most peaceful feeling I’d ever felt,” Trejo said.

The mission of 2 Vets and a Bible is to reach veterans everywhere with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, assuring them that they are never alone in whatever they are experiencing.

The statement also reads, “We are there to support them [vets] and guide them through the Veterans Administration, helping them find the appropriate department to assist them in whatever they need — the whole time assisting them spiritually and guiding them to a place of peace and confidence in themselves and those assisting them through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.”

Trejo is now the president of the local Southern Maryland Chapter 101 of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship in America. They meet on the third Monday of every month at Coast 2 Coast Seafood Bar & Grill at 14442 Solomon’s Island Road in Solomons, Md. Be prepared to pay at cost.

Each month, someone speaks and shares updates on the chapter and gives an opportunity for prayer requests and testimony.

The more Trejo and Messick got into Full Gospel, the more they knew that another ministry was forming in addition to it. They were making trips to the Veterans Administration in the District, and that’s how the ministry formed.

“We stay prayed up,” Trejo said. “I ask God to give me something that they need to hear. One day we got there [Veterans Administration], and a vet was outside so upset because he couldn’t get benefits.

“He had been trying for over 30 years. He allowed us to pray with him. He went back in, and we saw him a couple hours later, and he was outside just jumping; he was so happy. It just took a minute to pray and trust God.”

Trejo said there have been many times that he and Messick speak something and the vets will confirm that they had been dealing with that very same thing.

“Some of the guys really are broken up and have been through a lot, and when they hear us talking about God, they come over,” Trejo said. “Before COVID, we met with about 19 veterans in the cafeteria downstairs in the hospital, and after the [pandemic], things kind of broke up; some of the men had been through major things [trauma], but the Lord has brought them through it.”

“They want in on this,” Messick added, “and we’ve spent more time at the VA Hospital in [the District] that if we see them wandering down the hall, we can direct them where to go. We get a chance to pray for them.”

“We would see many veterans just sitting around not doing too much,” Messick said. “They literally just wanted someone to talk to. We started talking with them and speaking the truth of Jesus Christ, and they were hungry for more. They also really needed assistance with the process of filling out documents.”

Messick and Trejo started assisting disabled veterans with obtaining the benefits that they deserved.

“We’ve prayed with so many great people,” Trejo said. “I just can’t even count how many, and Larry has gotten me through with my cancer diagnosis. I’m getting better now, but it’s tough.”

Messick is battling Parkinson’s himself, but he won’t complain. He pushes through bravely. He also has 57 years of volunteer fire and rescue service behind him, starting at Ridge Fire and Rescue.

“We help each other remember things,” Trejo said. “It’s funny at times — we’ll finish each other’s sentences.”

Messick serves as an usher at Life Community Church in Great Mills, and Trejo is a dedicated soundman. They take turns with the driving responsibilities. They have a heart to serve the community, and now, with the help of the internet, they’re praying with people live from Germany through Full Gospel Global.

“If our families could see us now praying for people in Germany live,” Messick said. “My mom just wouldn’t believe it.”

They are in need of another vehicle and would be too humble to ask. It’s a nonprofit ministry that is just getting off the ground. They have been paying for products such as Bibles, rosaries, business cards and brochure business supplies out of pocket.

Nonprofit status will assist, but that will also take time to get up and running. They will have their website available in the coming weeks. They are gathering information, and an updated newsletter from Full Gospel will have more details.

Trejo and Messick both were honored by the Quilts of Valor Foundation — a reflection of “healing and comfort.” They were presented with their quilts at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park.

“After I received mine,” Trejo said, “they said they had one left with all four service branches on it.”

Messick smiled, as he knew the Lord had chosen that one just for him. His dedication to the country and to all four service branches spoke volumes to him and the community — both proud to serve this country and both honored to have this long, blessed friendship.

“We’re going to continue doing what we can,” Trejo said.

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