Thank you Lord for the men and women of our armed forces. Protect them as they protect us. Defend them as they defend us. Encourage and strengthen their spirit, soul and body in the execution of their duties and responsibilities. May they be mentally and physically strong when required to face the challenges of combat. Undergird them with Your spirit and might when they are called upon to endure the hardships of battle.

I pray that nothing would take them by surprise but that they would be aware of all potential aggression. Enable them to curtail hostile actions before they start.

Reveal to military leaders the strategies and plots that enemies would wage. Give leaders wisdom and insight in all decisions. May response to any aggression by enemies of this nation be swift, accurate and effective. Father, give our military favor with the governmental agencies of this country. I pray that our Congress would appropriate sufficient funds to keep our nation’s military preeminent in the world.

Scripture References

Matthew 9:37,38

Romans 10:13-15

Psalm 119:114,117

Isaiah 41:12,13

Religious faith has the miraculous power

to lift ordinary human beings to 

greatness in seasons of stress.

-- Sam J. Ervin, Jr.,

NBA Player for the

Seattle Supersonics

A Division of Campus Crusade for Christ International

July 2007

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As our courageous men and women return from their tours on the frontlines, many are coming home to another battle. And just like in Iraq and Afghanistan, the stakes are often life or death.

The Iraq War began in March 2003, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan started in October 2001, with over 2,000,000 troop deployments to date. These deployments have averaged approximately 10 months at a time, with sometimes short returns home. U.S. forces have sustained more than 25,000 casualities, with 3,000+ deaths and another 22,000+ wounded. With plans for bolstering deployments in 2007, many families will be facing their second, third, and even fourth deployments.

There are thousands of active, guard, and reserve troops and families in our local communities that are silently hurting. Men and women returning from war face difficulties with the transition back to "normal" life—relational and financial struggles, and, for many, Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a ticking time bomb in this generation of warriors. One in five of our returning combat veterans have serious PTSD. Veterans Affairs reports more than 400,000 untreated cases of PTSD, beginning from Viet Nam forward. The personal and societal impact of these burdens is dramatic, as seen in the rising military divorce rates and in the increased potential for substance abuse, domestic violence, and criminality.

Hence, there exists a moral mandate, and a very practical rationale, for the citizens of our nation to reach out to these military men, women and children amongst us who so urgently need our support.

Tragically, PTSD can be fatal. A recent article reported, "Jan Kemp, associate director for education for [the Veterans Affair Department (VA)] , said 1,000 veterans receiving VA care kill themselves each year Overall, 5,000 veterans—including those not in the VA system commit suicide each year" [Military Times, Kelly Kennedy]

I know your heart breaks with mine to hear that even though they are "safely" back on American soil, war can still take such a terrible and even deadly toll on those who have fought to defend our freedoms. But there is hope for our hurting veterans.

While professional psychological care is vital, the spiritual components of recovery are usually overlooked in responses to PTSD. That's why, during the past year, our team of trained professionals has been working with churches across the nation to implement a strategy to share Christ's hope and compassion with service members as they heal from PTSD. These initial efforts are already making such a difference. I think of one veteran who recently met with the director of our PTSD ministry and gave permission to share the following letter:

"The only reason I agreed to meet with you was to prove, one more time, that people, and especially Christians, did not care about veterans and, more specifically, me. I have described it recently that I felt I had been standing by the side of a road waving my arms and screaming trying to get the attention of those driving by to stop and help. I had a couple slow and roll down their windows, and, upon seeing the intensity of the injuries, keep going ..

As you already know, I was in such a place of deep rejection, betrayal and indifference that I couldn't really see anything else . . . I can now see the intricate and strategic movements of God placing you in my life at the exact moment He did, which was the start of something huge in my life… You may never completely see the “fruit" of all that you are doing now but please KNOW this, your faithfulness to God's  calling directly attributed to the changed heart of this wounded soldier! I thank God for you."

It is certainly encouraging to hear stories like this! However, there are still thousands more veterans who are "screaming" for help—many showing up in churches only to feel as if no one understands the torment they are enduring. And churches everywhere are turning to Military Ministry for assistance.

Responding to this need is a tremendous challenge. As many as 15-20% of today's returning warriors, and thousands from past conflicts, suffer from PTSD. Government resources are stretched well beyond capacity to care for these veterans. But by God's grace and with your support, our veterans and their families can get the practical and spiritual assistance they need.

Right now, Military Ministry is preparing to train leaders to head up volunteer forces at churches throughout the nation. The goal for this year alone is to train 150 leaders who will be leading 1,500 volunteers! We anticipate that each volunteer will, on average, minister to five PTSD sufferers (including both veterans and family members).

This enormous undertaking simply cannot be accomplished without the prayers and support of people like you. In addition to training men and women to lead church-based PTSD ministries, we will also deliver a wide range of ministry resources to equip leaders, volunteers, and churches to effectively reach PTSD sufferers and their families. We plan to distribute hundreds of PTSD Ministry Mobilization Kits to churches. These Kits are built around the "Bridges to Healing" video series and a new PTSD Survivors Guide, which describes a 12-part program for PTSD recovery.

With thousands of veterans in desperate need of Christ's hope and healing, your quick response is vital. Please use the enclosed envelope to send your gift today.

Thank you for your prayers for our veterans and their families. May God bless you!

Your partner in the Gospel,

Bob Dees

Major General, U.S. Army, Retired

Executive Director, CCCI Military Ministry

P.S. The letter I shared with you above closes with these words, "Thank you from the deepest part of my being for being faithful to God's call! God used you in my life and I can only imagine how many more veterans will be blessed and encouraged by your faithful passion to see that 'none should perish.^— With thousands of our veterans struggling to recover from trauma they've endured on the frontlines, please prayerfully consider what you might do to help share Christ's healing and compassion with them.

P.P.S. As Military Ministry reaches out to men and women returning from their tours, resources such as Family Readiness Kits that you've helped provide are spiritually equipping service members and their families before deployment. In fact recently, 7,000 FRKs were distributed! Thank you for your continued support to reach our troops and military families for Christ.