Vantage point
Welcome home, military
War exacts a great cost. I have known many who have gone
through it:
• A neighbor, a Christian, whom I knew for years before
he confided in me that the memories of war tortured his soul. When I prayed for
him, it was the first time he wept in front of another person.
• A seeker, a man who had not yet given his life to Christ,
who sought out our church and pled for help to silence inner demons from more
than 20 years before. We supported him with counsel, prayer and fasting. But he
was soon gone, before he made the decision that could have changed his life.
• A former Navy SEAL who carried physical scars —
a limp, a cane, a metal plate in his head — and psychological wounds to
match that required a lot of love and understanding from his church and pastor.
• A chaplain, who returned to find his wife had left
him following her multiple affairs.
I have also seen the toll on families. They have gone
through war as well.
• A family, bereft of the husband and father killed on the
battlefield.
• A family whose husband and father returned, but was
never the same.
• Families — so many — waiting and praying,
and trying to live life with some semblance of normality.
Those who have been through war — on the battlefield
or at home — desperately need the support of the Christian community. They
probably won’t tell you much about their needs. That’s why Christians and
churches need to proactively reach out in love to returnees, veterans and
military families.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love
and good works” (Hebrews 10:24, NKJV).
They have served us. Now we must serve them.
Ken Horn
Want to bless someone in the military? TPE is offering
subscriptions for those in the military, past or present, at below our cost.
You pay half and we’ll pay the other half for anyone currently serving or for
any veteran. Download order form for more details.
E-mail your comments to tpe@ag.org.
