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Double deployments, double challenges

You helped a military couple overcome . . . Their marriage was a battlefield. Now Spencer and Margaret* volunteer with the Military Ministry of Cru® to help other couples. Marriage can be especially challenging when both parents are active duty. Spencer and Margaret can tell you firsthand. Spencer serves in the Air Force. Margaret is […]

Looking for Leverage

Working Together “Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.” — Hebrews 4:16 I did some vehicle recovery training early in my military career. I don’t remember much of it other than this one exercise […]

Light in a Dark Place

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. — Romans 12:12 Desire To Be A Light We gather with military couples every Saturday night for dinner and Bible study. And at the end of our meeting time we take prayer requests—and then pray. But on this particular Saturday night, a certain prayer request brought […]

A Precious Window of Time

Lessons from Mogadishu and Other Battles Pastor Jeff Struecker is a former Army Ranger portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down. He retired as a Chaplain after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jeff Struecker was a 24-year-old Army Ranger when he led a convoy into the fiercest fighting of Somalia. He was prominently featured in the movie, Black Hawk […]

Military Ministry of Cameroon

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.” One specific promise the LORD is fulfilling is the opportunity to join with an increasing number of communities to care for and disciple the military in their midst. One such […]

Building Strong Military Families

An All-Too-Familiar Cycle Military life today revolves around an all-too-familiar cycle of deployment; the preparation for deployment phase, the during deployment phase, and the reintegration phase (returning home). With the intense reality of this cycle being repeated throughout a military career, it is no surprise that military couples have challenges to reestablish normal or even regular routines for the family. Cru Military, in […]

It’s All About Relationships

“It’s all about relationships!” You’ve probably heard that quote before. But that statement has great meaning as Cru Military moves forward with a laser focus toward gospel-oriented ministry to those who have served, or are serving, and their families. The spiritual needs have never been greater as we seek to fulfill the Great […]

Your Eternal Difference

Do you have a heart serve and minister to servicemembers and their families? Have you ever thought, “I think I could do that” or “My church has wanted to do something for the military, but we don’t know how to start.” You can do it and we want to challenge you to take action for […]

Download Our New Mobile App

Stay spiritually fit and ready to serve by using Gloo, a mobile app designed with the military community in mind. We are helping the global military community grow and helping them help others grow through the technology they use every day. Powered by

Choosing Hope

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. —Hebrews 11:1 What is it that you hope for? Perhaps it is the safety of your spouse, or for an easy transition after deployment, or for a certain assignment. Or could it be that you have been walking in difficulty […]

Forward Into Battle

Cost: ~~$14.99~~ $12.74

Cru Military Recommended Resource: Forward into Battle examines the similarities between serving in the armed forces and serving the Lord. Written by a 33-year military veteran, the book reviews the radical transformation God’s warriors experience when they begin serving in His forces. Each chapter includes questions for group or individual study as well as a personal assessment to enable readers to plan how they can apply the reading’s lessons in their service in God’s army.

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Weekend to Remember Military Marriage Getaways

Cru Military in partnership FamilyLife wants you to know they understand the added struggles of military life. Because they appreciate your service, they want military couples to attend at a discounted military rate. And at select getaway locations you will find an emphasis on military marriages with a special greeting on Friday evening, a project […]

Art of Marriage Ops

The Art of Marriage Ops Marriage is the most important commitment that a man and woman can make. When the pressures of military service threaten the marriages of military couples, it often takes outside forces to keep that commitment strong. The Art of Marriage Ops campaign was created for this very reason. FamilyLife and Cru […]

What Not to Say When Someone’s Spouse is Deployed

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. – Colossians 4:6 What Not to Say I’ve made a list of things people hate to hear when their spouse is deployed. Perhaps you could add to this list, but these are the statements about which […]

D-Day and the Bedford Boys

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. — John 15:13 June 6, 1944 Bedford is a small town in rural Virginia. Nestled in the Blue Ridge foothills, it’s a tranquil spot to visit and ponder the enormous price this community made in service to our […]

Serving Christ Around the World

One of the great joys we have as a global ministry is the opportunity to recognize and appreciate the contributions of military members and families all around the world as they serve both their nation and Christ! “I know it is God who showed me great love when I hit rock bottom. Now that my […]

Power of Prayer

“It’s the most important thing I do,” says Karen Trimble, Prayer Director at the Military Ministry of Cru. “It’s the foundation of everything we do,” she says. “We have always been a praying ministry.” Trimble has worked with the ministry for the past 17 years, but when she was asked in 2008 to lead the Prayer Ministry, […]

Hope For Heroes Newsletter – Winter 2017

Faithful Under Fire Our men and women in uniform faithfully serve with honor and distinction because it’s the right and godly thing to do. But just because it’s right, doesn’t make it easy. The guide deals with issues such as PTSD, modeling a godly response to persecution, seeking God in prayer, spiritual and physical warfare and laying down your […]

Serving Those Who Serve

It is through the generous support and prayers of friends like you that we are able to expand our reach into the global military community! Lives are being eternally changed! A recruit in basic training writes, “These classes have helped me de-stress from boot camp. They’ve been like an oasis from all the craziness. The best part is getting time […]

Faithfulness in Healing Our World

Finding Hope in Struggle During Christ’s first Advent, the known world was one of great upheaval and change. But the Lord was doing some of His most important work against the backdrop of such chaos and challenges. The same can be said now for His work in the nation of Ukraine. The Lord is using […]

Parenting During Deployment

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” —John 7:38 Start With Faith Parenting well during a deployment begins with our faith—which begins with belief in the truth of Scripture. Being “plugged in” to our source of faith, the Lord Jesus, allows us […]

Faithful Under Fire: A Devotional and Bible Study

“Inspirational and hard-hitting. Hacksaw Ridge absolutely delivers an incredible, true story of self-sacrifice, courage and heroism during one of the most intense battles of WWII. Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss was a man unashamed of his faith who persevered through unrelenting adversity and persecution. This movie is a must see!” Keith Morgan, National Director, […]

Ambassadors of Healing

Ambassadors of Healing With a Global Heart “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” – President Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address One of our nation’s greatest […]

A Conversation With Yourself

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence. — Psalm 42:5 Has loneliness during deployment caused you to “talk to yourself”? Do you often feel that no one understands your situation? Perhaps […]

Freedom Indeed is NOT Free

Freedom Indeed is NOT Free “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 I came home from church to see the American flag laying on the ground next to the dumpster in the muck. The sight broke […]

Steps to Keeping Your Military Marriage Strong

There are many blessings to family life—but, at times, many challenges. Perhaps you are experiencing a sweet season in your relationships right now, and would like to see them grow even stronger. Or perhaps you are struggling and would like to have some answers and help. We recommend all husbands and wives, no matter the season they are in, consider taking the initiative to build into their marriage.

A Salvation Story

A Salvation Story For All Help couldn’t come fast enough Housing 110,000 captives—more than a quarter of them American—Stalag VII A was the largest prisoner-of-war camp in Germany during World War II. My uncle, Lt. Col. Ray Tyrrell, was one of them. On June 21, 1944—on his 63rd combat mission from RAF East Wretham in […]

Betrayed and Feeling Helpless, This Military Wife Trusted God

Betrayed and Feeling Helpless, This Military Wife Trusted God Purposeful Love and Grace We first encountered the young Marine who was assigned to the Wounded Warrior Battalion when we volunteered to bring goodies during the weekly Bible study the chaplain had every Wednesday evening in their barracks. This Marine was the one leading the Bible […]

PTSD From a Child’s Perspective

PTSD from a child’s perspective: What is happening with my daddy? “We used to go to the park a lot before Daddy went away for such a long time,” said Cody to his mom. “When will he be home so I can play catch with him? I really miss having him here to say goodnight […]

WWII and Beyond – A Story of Commitment

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. . . . Love never fails.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7,8 Because today is Valentine’s Day, which has its challenges and opportunities during deployment, I want to share with you a tender (yet powerful) story of a young Christian couple who kept their marriage […]

PTSD: How Do I Move Into The Future?

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Exodus 20:2 ESV A new year typically offers us opportunity for new hopes, new goals and new dreams. However, a new year may also bring new fears, anxieties and many negative emotions – particularly for those who wrestle with […]

Advice For Military Dads

Looking back over my military career, I can honestly say it was easier carrying out my duties on the job than it was being a good father to my two children. In part, this was because my professional training prepared me for the demands I’d face at work, but I learned about being a dad […]

Stepfamily Bootcamp

Military stepfamilies face unique stressors. We call these stressors the 3D’s of Demands, Distance, and Deployment. Combine these stressors with a rigid military lifestyle and you have a unique and challenging environment in which to try to blend a family. Until now, there have been no definitive helps for either blended families struggling with these […]

Practical Suggestions for Ministering to Combat Trauma Sufferers

Most of these suggestions come from combat veterans who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Others come from friends and family who love and care for these veterans.

Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaways

Date: January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016

Location: Multiple Locations

Introducing the Bridges to Healing Children’s Series

“How does one explain combat trauma to small children whose hearts are already hurting?” – Jocelyn Green In answer to her own question, Jocelyn wrote,“‘My Hero’s Home!!’ is an inviting, easy-to-use tool full of stories, cartoons, activities, and more, all designed to gently guide and encourage young children whose parents may have combat trauma. Invaluable.” […]

Where is God in suffering?

Where was God for Alexander? The better question is: where are you? Job 2:9–13 Alexander A. was 49 years old, too old to serve under his nation’s current rules, but he was determined. He had many years’ experience running artillery batteries and anti-aircraft systems, and his country needed him, so he was not to be put […]

My Hero Hurts!!

Cost: $12.99

A Guide for Teenagers Whose Parents May Have Combat Trauma

My Hero Hurts!! is a study guide for teenagers whose parent may have combat trauma. This book tells the stories of military families and their experiences dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

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The Military Family

Cru Military loves the military family! We recognize the well-equipped military family, as a unit, must respond to every challenge which comes their way. And Cru Military resources provide this vital unit with a comprehensive set of studies and seminars which speak to their specific needs for unit-y. The military family works best when they […]

Spiritual Fitness Guidebooks

Cost: $9.99

Airman Edition Marine Edition Sailor Edition Soldier Edition Read More

Weekend to Remember: Remembering Why They Fell In Love

Learn more about Weekend to Remember getaways for military couples.

Preemptive Prayer

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. —Romans 12:12 When did you learn to pray? Was it in Sunday School at church? or at home around the dinner table? or saying your bed-time prayers with your parents? or in Vacation Bible School? or in a youth group? or with an athletic team? […]

Buddy Care for Your Marriage

Strengthening Our Marriages Together “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” —John 15:13

Getting Connected

Finding Community Near You MilitaryBeliever.com MilitaryBeliever.com allows you to connect, serve and grow with military believers, churches, and ministries around the world. Use it to search for fellow believers, events that meet your needs and interest, as well as opportunities for service in your area. The Cru Military App Download the Gloo app here to […]

Prayer Wars

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need. Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have […]

50 Years of Bringing Hope to Our Heroes

Over the past 50 years, spiritual warriors like you, together with Cru Military, have helped men and women in our global military community discover the life-changing reality of knowing Jesus Christ as Savior. God called evangelist Dr. Bill Bright and Colonel John Fain to launch this critically needed ministry just as the volatile Vietnam War […]

North Platte Canteen

This 7 minute video produced by Cru Military (formerly Military Ministry) was uploaded to YouTube in 2007. It is narrated by Dick Foth, who told the Canteen story live in front the audience of the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast in Lincoln, Nebr. Dick’s presentation came to the attention of Cru Military through the research of Cru […]

Bridges to Healing Ministry

The Bridges to Healing video, produced in 2007, introduces the Bridges to Healing ministry of Cru Military.

Story: Lane County Stand Down

After writing the book, “The Combat Trauma Healing Manual” we wanted to start a small group in Eugene. One of the churches provided a good space, and advertised the group for us. We talked with all those we knew. We prayed. And we prayed some more. A year later we had gotten pretty discouraged. We […]

Story: Combat Trauma Small Groups in Arizona

One day, a friend of mine from church came to me and said that his son was having some problems with PTSD. He’d never been in the military and really didn’t know what was going on with PTSD, but he’d heard that I had PTSD, so he was seeking a little help. He had this […]

Story: We Started With Prayer

Our story really begins out of a discipleship training program, and our son’s story, and our own personal history of really feeling God call us to start a military ministry. I think we had not resisted the call, but wondered, why on earth would we start a military ministry in Houston, Texas? You know, why […]

Story: The Lord Moved Me

Larry and Evelyn read an article in the newspaper about a seminar being held the next day. The Bridges to Healing seminar, put on by Military Ministry (now Cru Military), aimed at preparing and motivating people in the Eugene/Springfield area to minister to the 400 National Guardsmen returning from Afghanistan the next month. Since their […]

How to be a Bridge Person

You can become more effective in becoming a Bridge Person… a person who helps bridge the gap between a warrior who is wounded and Jesus Christ. Don’t be a barrier keeping them from wanting to know Christ. The bottom line? Love as Christ loved us.

What Not to Say to Combat Veterans (and Why)

This is a general guideline put together by former Sergeant Andi Westfall, who served with the National Guard as a medic during Operation Iraqi Freedom and who suffers with PTSD. These tips will be useful when interacting with a veteran and should not be considered absolutely true for every veteran. Each Soldier, Marine, Airman, Sailor […]

Combat Trauma Healing Manual

Cost: ~~$19.99~~ $17.99

This manual offers spiritual solutions for your struggles with PTSD.

It combines the latest insights of the medical and counseling communities with the timeless principles of God’s Word.

Purchase

Volume discounts will be automatically applied for orders of 10 or more books.

When War Comes Home

Cost: ~~$23.99~~ $21.59

This book offers comfort and practical help to the wives of combat veterans struggling with the hidden wounds of war, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Insights from the medical and counseling community are wrapped in biblical principles and the shared experiences of other military wives.

Purchase

Volume discounts will be automatically applied for orders of 10 or more books.

God And The Military

Cost: $4.98

There is great emphasis on core values in each of the services. Tommy Nelson’s comments regarding the following questions enhance the understanding of core values.

Is it right to bear arms?

What is the proper role of government in society?

Purchase

Volume discounts will be automatically applied for orders of 10 or more DVDs.

Loving Your Military Man Small Group Study

Cost: ~~$11.99~~ $10.79

In this ten-part study, author Bea Fishback shows military wives how to help build lifelong marriages that leave strong, stable legacies for their children and grandchildren.

Purchase

Volume discounts will be automatically applied for orders of 10 or more books.

Making Your Marriage Deployment Ready

Cost: ~~$9.99~~ $8.99

Making Your Marriage Deployment Ready uses time tested marriage principles and prepares military couples with the necessary tools to counter deployment challenges and bring hope and victory to active duty, Guard and Reserve families.

Purchase

Volume discounts will be automatically applied for orders of 10 or more books.

Defending The Military Family

Cost: ~~$4.99~~ $4.49

Taking time-tested principles you will find this study to be a practical and enlightening way to gain great insight into how to deal with the issues you face in raising your children while in the military.

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Volume discounts will be automatically applied for orders of 10 or more books.

Defending The Military Marriage

Cost: ~~$9.99~~ $8.99

Your Marriage—defend it with honor, guard it with vigilance, preserve it with love.

Purchase

Volume discounts will be automatically applied for orders of 10 or more books.

Bullet Proof Faith – 25 pack

Cost: $12.99

Jeff Struecker was a sergeant during the battle in Mogadishu made famous by the book and movie “Black Hawk Down.” This is the story of his courage and faith.

Purchase

Volume discounts will be automatically applied for orders of 10 or more packs.

Care & Counsel for Combat Trauma (DVDs)

Cost: $99.00

Care and Counsel for Combat Trauma is a one-of-a-kind course, presented on DVD, which equips caring Christians, professionals and laymen to better minister to military service members, veterans and their families who are spiritually wounded by combat trauma. The thirty lessons grouped into five units cover: Acute Stress and Trauma, Basic Crisis Intervention, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Military Applications, and Spiritual Solutions.

The workbook with the certification tests is sold separately.

Purchase DVD Set

Care & Counsel for Combat Trauma: Certification Workbook

Cost: $150.00

The Care and Counsel for Combat Trauma Workbook includes the study outlines and exams for each training unit in the Care and Counsel for Combat Trauma (CCCT) course on DVD (which is sold separately). Certificates of Completion awarded for passing the exams. The CCCT is a one-of-a-kind course which equips caring Christians, professionals and laymen to better minister to military service members, veterans and their families who are spiritually wounded by combat trauma. The thirty lessons grouped into five units cover: Acute Stress and Trauma, Basic Crisis Intervention, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Military Applications, and Spiritual Solutions.

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Marriage Commitment Coin & Covenant Certificate

Cost: $14.99

This 1-3/4-inch coin consists of two parts which fit together to complete the design—symbolizing the completion that takes place between a husband and wife in marriage. It comes in a classic black velveteen box with a covenant certificate.

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Quest: a Kid’s Journey through Deployment

Cost: ~~$6.99~~ $6.29

Quest is a 30-day devotional booklet aimed at 6-to-10-year-old kids with a military parent who on deployment.

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Support Your Local Chaplain

Expectations We’ve seen it in every chapel we’ve attended. Whether our chaplains minister in operational units or the community chapel—or both—they are constantly faced with unrealistic expectations of those they serve. Folks on the receiving end often want the chaplain to do it all. We expect them to give priority to meeting all our spiritual […]

Love Your Chaplain

Chaplain? Father Mulcahy! For many, the only chaplain they’ve seen is Father Mulcahy on the TV show M.A.S.H. A kind-hearted, wise and faithful priest, he was a key supporting character. In watching all the episodes that feature the father, you begin to get a sense of the breadth of duties he was responsible for. But […]

Military Love Languages

There’s a big difference between being “in love” and truly loving your spouse. Being “in love” is a euphoric experience. We’re emotionally obsessed with one another. We feel we belong to each other, that we can conquer any problems that come our way. Unfortunately, this isn’t real intimacy; it’s only an illusion. It’s also temporary. […]

Looking for someone?

“Do you know of any Bible studies at Langley AFB?” Cru Military staff, Nita Pride, received this email from a young Air Force officer. She didn’t know where to find a place where she, as an active duty military person, could be mentored, encouraged and trained. Transience is one of the most common characteristics of […]

Our New Brand

Military Ministry is now Cru Military: a caring community passionate about connecting the global military community to Jesus Christ. WHY In 2011 Campus Crusade for Christ in the U.S. went through a brand change. Each of the 26 ministry divisions under Cru have been involved in a process to most effectively connect their ministry name […]

God and the Military

God established the government as a provision and protection for the earth. Until the time of Noah, God had been the One who issued judgment against evil on the earth. When Cain killed Abel, God judged Cain and would not allow man to harm him. Genesis 4:15 says, “Then the LORD put a mark on […]

Run to the Pain

I have always known, as has anyone who knows us, that Rick and I have very different in personalities. We clearly share the same faith, convictions and values, but the ways we react and interact to almost every event in the world are almost diametrically opposed. We recently took a test called StrengthsFinder for our work with Cru […]

Pray for Your Family During Deployment

…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches […]

The ABCs of Long Distance Parenting

“I’m not there! What can I do about it?” If you’ve ever heard those words from a deployed service member, you know the frustration they offer up to the one at home. So here are some thoughts to help—they’re so simple we call them the “ABCs” of long-distance parenting.