Your Sacrificial Love Honors Those Who Sacrificed Everything For Us

“War zones have a way of traveling home with you, even when that Warrior comes home, war is ever by his side.”

It comes in the form of Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and moral injury – which is the guilt and shame that follows veterans home from active duty. Whether there is a physical disability or not, these invisible disabilities become the enemy our veterans – and their families – must battle each and every day. 

As one of the Army veterans explained at our September South Carolina Warrior Getaway, “I feel like I never came back.” That soldier returned home from the war in Afghanistan ten years ago. 

Another veteran said it this way, “My body is back, but my soul stayed over there.” And his wife went on to say, “Transition from war to civilian life is excruciating.” 

And that’s exactly why Joni and Friends is dedicated to serving the men and women who have served us and our country in combat. Be it in Vietnam, Afghanistan or Iraq… the darkness and depression that follows our veterans home begs for the light of the Gospel.

And at our Warrior Getaways, the Good News of Jesus flows as freely as the healing tears coming from veterans, their spouses and their children.

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 8:1

Chris joined the Army when he was 18, giving four years of his life to selflessly defend us and the many freedoms we enjoy each day. Deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan over the course of those four years of service, Chris now battles continuous seizures as a result of the multiple Traumatic Brain Injuries he experienced during combat. His life is painfully isolated – not because of COVID-19, but because his invisible disabilities make social interactions nearly impossible. 

“I don’t want to end up another casualty,” he confessed.

And his concerns are heavy. With suicide rates for veterans estimated at 20 every day, the toll that combat takes on our servicemen and women cannot be ignored. But Joni and Friends is committed to honoring and protecting our veterans through our Warrior Getaways!

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

2 Corinthians 3:17

“God’s gonna make me whole again. Some day I’ll be unbroken.”

That is the heart’s cry of our veterans. And as they poured out their pain to the pastors, counselors and other veterans at the Warrior Getaway – with some veterans telling their stories for the very first time even after decades of civilian life – they found the love of God and the hope of community.

“At Warrior Getaways, healing begins.”

That healing is experienced by the whole family. One veteran’s wife said it best, “We met amazing people who love Jesus, love serving people, and understand so much of what our life has been the past few years. Our hearts are full.”