Many veterans come home from combat and struggle with depression and severe PTSD.
Tragically, some become so overtaken with despair they even take their own lives.
But one man is on a mission to help save the lives of our veterans – and here’s the incredible way he’s reaching out to spread awareness.
As a pastor and chaplain, Greg Wark is familiar with the struggles veterans face when they return home from war – from marital problems, to addiction, to even suicidal thoughts.
One of the common challenges veterans experience upon returning home are extreme feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Many who struggle feel they have no one to talk to – so they just give up.
Determined to be a lifeline to vets, Pastor Greg Wark co-authored a new book titled, “The War Fighter’s Soul; Engaging in the Battle for the Warrior’s Soul,” for veterans who are struggling to find hope.
Faithwire reported:
“Wark said he wrote “The War Fighter’s Soul” to help veterans deal with these struggles and to offer tools to help them navigate the pain and loneliness. He believes many veterans are given no assistance after returning from battle.
“They come home, VA gives them pills or they get platitudes from somebody. But what happens? The suicide rate goes from one to 44 a day,” Wark said. “It’s ridiculous. … it’s unconscionable.”
He continued, “And so I made a decision: I’m going to not be a complainer. I’m gonna be a producer. I’m gonna put something in print that anybody can read and anybody can do that’s gonna help deal with the suicide issue.”
The truth is, while veterans are in combat, they suffer through unspeakable trauma together – but when they come home, they find even their closest loved ones can’t relate or understand what they’ve been through.
Wark hopes his book will help not only veterans, but their loved ones – and even society as a whole – so more compassion and resources can become available to those who bravely served our nation.
While some veterans need deep counseling with a trained professional to deal with their trauma, Wark believes all of us can do something to fight the suicide crisis.
Faithwire continued:
“The first thing I want to encourage people to do is to honor those who deserve to be honored,” he said. “When you see somebody wearing a hat … thank them for their service.”
And as Christians, not only should we thank them, but we can offer to pray for them – right then and there.
This world can be cold, and the culture shock of returning from war back to one’s hometown can be quite the jolt.
By demonstrating an extra dose of kindness to the military veterans in your life – and even complete strangers – you can do your part to show them love and let them know they aren’t alone.
But even more importantly, telling them about Jesus, our ultimate healer, could lead those who may have walked away from the faith – or who don’t yet know Jesus – find everlasting peace and hope in Him.
Praise God for Pastor Wark’s heart for those who have served our nation.
We pray that all those who have served know they are loved by our Creator – and that their lives are valuable not only to Him – but to those around them.
May God bless our veterans.
You can post your answers to our Facebook page and join in the conversation with other believers from all around the world.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-1717
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