Combat Trauma / PTSD

We believe that true healing has not only physical, emotional, and psychological aspects but spiritual as well. The spiritual component has often been neglected, yet God is the True Healer and Jesus Christ is the avenue to experience true recovery from the ravages of combat trauma, particularly those visited on the mind and emotions.

We have information and materials to assist you as you take the steps of courage necessary to find the peace, the calm the healing that God can bring. However, this journey is not one you should take alone. We are working to train up a nation-wide support team – local churches and community groups – who want to stand with you, encourage you and help you see the Hope-Giver, Jesus Christ.

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A Season of Healing

“You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” — Psalm 16:11 For the last ten years my husband threw himself fully into his military career. He loved the job, the friendships forged, and the call to serve. Being […]

Scars and Forgiveness

I have a collection of scars, some received through no fault of my own. Well, truth be told, nearly all of them could have been prevented. Like the one I just got from slicing my finger open on a can. The stitches are out but it still itches. The thing about scars is that they […]

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!” Steve Carlin, National Director, […]

We Can All Be Influencers For Change

We Can All Be Influencers For Change To Help Those Suffering The diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, has been found to be the most severe form of Combat Trauma. It is a common reaction to an uncommon event. It is common for those who saw, smelled, felt, heard and tasted things of […]

PTSD Prayers from King David- Though I’ve Walked Through the Valley

PTSD and King David? “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. . . . But […]

No Longer A Victim

WAR IS HELL… It is reported that the first person to utter those words in a public address was William Tecumseh Sherman, the famous Civil War Union General. He said to the 1879 graduating class of Michigan Military Academy, “You don’t know the horrible aspects of war. I’ve been through two wars and I know… I tell you, war is Hell! … let me tell you another story, about a very courageous warrior by the name of Nate Self.

What Does A Military Kid Say About PTSD?

What Does a Military Kid Say About PTSD? Q. What does your father do in the military? A. “My dad is a chaplain in the Navy and he has been deployed several times since our family became a military family.” Q. You were recently chosen to do a critique of the book Helping My Hero!! […]

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 […]

E-Kit: Ministry Suggestions

Ministries Launch Point Your church or group has many skills, talents, resources and ideas which you can utilize in serving the military around you. These suggestions are just a launch point for your discussions and brainstorming! First Steps 1. Develop a team of like-minded people in your church or group and begin praying together. 2. Identify […]

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 […]

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.

Hope Vs Wishful Thinking

“Is that present what I think it is? The box looks about the right size. I sure hope so. I’ve really been wanting it. It is hard to wait until I can open it.” “I hope I am selected for this new job.” “I hope my husband comes home safely from deployment.” “I hope my […]

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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Helping My Hero!

Cost: $12.99

Helping My Hero!! is an early-reader book for 4th-6th grade children, whose parent may have combat trauma. This book tells the story of two military families and their experiences dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Christ-centered solutions are presented for the issues the families face.

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My Hero’s Home!!

Cost: $10.99

A Guide for Young Children Whose Parents May Have Combat Trauma

Cru Military introduces Book 1 of 3 for children whose families are experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress. My Hero’s Home!! is a coloring book for K-3rd grade children, which tells the story of Cody and Carrie as they discover how and why combat trauma is affecting their family.

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Bridges To Healing

Bridges to Healing (BTH) is a ministry initiative launched in 2007 to motivate and train churches to become Bridges to Healing for our military service men and women who are confronting Combat Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The initiative began with live seminars, which have since been held for over 500 churches. The E-Kit video […]

Combat Trauma e-books

Combat Trauma manuals are now Kindle e-books! The release of “The Combat Trauma Healing Manual” in 2007 opened up new (or reminded us of 2000-year-old) Christ-centered solutions to facing Combat Trauma. It was quickly followed by the companion book, “When War Comes Home” for wives of combat veterans. By the grace of God, these books […]

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.

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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.

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

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.

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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. (NOTE: The 29 hours of Continuing Education Credits are no longer available for those who have completed the course.) 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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VE Day: Honoring our heroes with healing

Today we celebrate the 70th anniversary of VE-Day, the celebration of the end of World War Two in Europe. The video below tells the story of an American hero who helped change the course of world history by serving his country on the battlefield in Europe during WWII. Now nearly 90, the former Sherman tank […]

Please go through this book with me

Scott and Karen Clark share their amazing story of how God inspired Scott in an unusual way. One of the key elements is that he did something and he didn’t stop with just himself. He realized there were other people who could benefit from doing that and he invited them. “One day a friend of […]

The E-Kit: Faith Makes A Difference

You can make a difference The military is a unique culture with unique needs. And faith in Jesus Christ is making the difference in the lives of military men, women, veterans and their families. The E-Kit seminar is showing churches and individuals how they can make an eternal difference in the lives of those who are […]

Common Ground on a Big Stage

Divinely orchestrated encounter at chapel unites two warriors in enduring friendship I have often wondered how God might use me—a retired Army veteran, full-time staff member with Cru Military, and supporter of our military—to reach out to veterans, especially wounded warriors. They are an elite group of unsung military heroes suffering the seen and unseen wounds […]

Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior

“Oh God, I’m dead!” Allen Clark graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1963. He volunteered for a tour in Vietnam where he sustained injuries in a mortar attack that necessitated the amputation of both legs below his knees. For his military service, he received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. “For some […]

Spiritual Fitness

The U.S. Army’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program lists five domains in which each soldier needs to be established: PHYSICAL – EMOTIONAL – SOCIAL – FAMILY – SPIRITUAL. It is particularly important to the Christian Soldier to strengthen his or her Spiritual Fitness and that of their family. Spiritual fitness helps ensure positive growth after exposure […]

Two Wars

A Chinook helicopter down. Surrounded by al-Qaeda. The ultimate fight for survival. Army Ranger hero, Nate Self tells the complete account of the battle he led in Afghanistan to rescue a Navy SEAL who had fallen into the hands of al-Qaeda fighters. It’s the story of a hero who fights two wars—the fight in Afghanistan and the […]

Disregarded

You are a nobody. No one cares about you. Why should they? No one wants to know you. You don’t deserve the respect that others get. You are such a jerk. Who do you think you are, anyway? Have you heard any of those comments before? If not from someone else, then have you been telling yourself […]

What happened to my husband?

Lauren’s Journal… “Where is my husband? Who is this man that they sent home to me? There must be some mistake! I pick up the morning paper and read the names of the fallen. Jason’s name is not listed among the dead, and for this I am eternally grateful. Yet, I ache for myself. My […]

Go ahead. Shoot me.

Have you ever wondered if God really cares about what happens to you as you live life? Quite frankly, the thought had never entered my mind while living some of life’s most difficult experiences. Instead, I was thinking, “Now what?” It wasn’t until later in my life after truly taking the time to reflect was […]

Shots in the Dark

Earlier this month I was awoken at 1:30 am to shouts and arguments on the street behind my house. I didn’t pay any attention until I heard POW, POW… POW POW POW. I looked out the back window and could see cars on the street and people yelling and running around. Then I heard my […]

You are NOT weak

If you are suffering from PTSD, every day can provide a new surge of fearful thoughts that threaten to shut you down and turn you into stone. This condition exists not because you are weak or cowardly, but because you are wounded, and your brain is not processing incoming stimuli properly. But with God’s help, […]

Care and Counsel for Combat Trauma

One Soldier’s Story Name/Age: Sean Davis, 35 Home: Portland, Oregon Unit: Oregon National Guard Served In Iraq: 2003-2004 His squad went on 35 combat missions by truck and helicopter in their first 30 days in Iraq. Davis recalls the horrible smell of civilians burning in cars set afire by roadside bombs and remembers a friend in full […]

Return to Mogadishu

During the violent and dangerous events of Black Hawk Down, former U.S. Army Ranger, Jeff Struecker was certain he’d die. But in the very center of chaos, Jeff’s certainty of death was swallowed by his greater certainty of eternity with God through Christ. Jeff’s confidence – what he calls “bullet proof faith” – compelled his remaining […]

Test of Faith

The incident in Mogadishu, Somalia, made famous by the book and movie, “Black Hawk Down,” changed my life. It all began after high school when I visited an army recruiter. I asked, “What do you consider the toughest job in the army?” “Being an Airborne Ranger,” was his quick reply. “That’s what I want to […]

Deployment…

Life in Afghanistan was pretty boring–that is, for my first 72 hours. They choppered us about 12 clicks from our FOB and our mission was to walk back through several small towns, seeing what they needed and trying to sniff out intel about insurgents in the area. We had just left town, and were taking […]

Where Was God?

U.S. Green Beret among those killed in Afghan attack Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) — Two Americans — one a Green Beret — were killed Monday when an assailant wearing an Afghan National Security Forces uniform opened fire on the group, U.S. and NATO’s International Security Assistance Force officials said. Oscar Nominee Kirby Dick Speaks Out About […]

Spiritual Battlemind for Military Wives

The Army has a plan for training its soldiers to have self-confidence, courage and mental toughness so they can courageously face fear and adversity in combat. It’s called “Battlemind Training.” This training involves a mindset that helps them survive and succeed in their mission. As the wife of a combat trauma sufferer, you also need […]

Door Openers and Closers

Most people have good intentions when they reach out to a combat veteran and want to help and support. But sometimes they respond with questions or comments that should have been left unsaid. Perhaps they did not really think the comment or question all the way through. As concerned Christians, we want to offer the […]