With Northwest Florida home to several military installations and a large veteran population, local churches play an important role in serving the military community. Recently, about 20 faith leaders from churches and ministries in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties visited Hurlburt Field to attend Clergy Day, an event dedicated to helping church leaders better understand the military community, its challenges and its mission.

Northwest Florida, including Navarre, has a heavy military population, including about 34,000 military retirees, according to Santa Rosa County’s economic development office. Navarre also serves as a bedroom community for several surrounding installations, and many of its residents face unique challenges related to their service. Trey Olman, who is training to be an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel Navarre, said those challenges require a space where veterans can be vulnerable and feel supported by people who understand what they have gone through firsthand.