Veterans Day is coming up on November 11th. The Media Center has six resources for church work with military service members and their families. The resources include:
- Pastoral care training for working with veterans who suffer with PTSD
- DVDs for youth and children whose parents have been deployed
- Devotional books on faith in times of war
Read the list below for more information on these resources and request to borrow them using the Resource Request Form.
Pastoral Care of Veterans
Welcome Them Home, Help Them Heal: Pastoral Care and Ministry with Service Members Returning from War by John Sippola, Amy Blumenshine, Donald A. Tubesing, and Valerie Yancey.
This award-winning practical guide expands the reader’s knowledge of how to provide physical, mental, and spiritual care for veterans and sparks a spirit of willingness and hope. It defines the role of the church, discussing the basic principles for outreach, guidelines for creating a welcoming and safe environment, and presenting ideas for activating the healing rituals of the church year.
Love Our Vets: Restoring Hope for Families of Veterans with PTSD by Welby O’Brien-Bayer.
This book answers more than 60 heartfelt questions, providing down-to-earth wisdom and much-needed tips for taking care of sufferers of PTSD. The book is written for families, but it provides much wisdom for caregivers as well.
For Youth and Children
Military Youth Coping with Separation: When Family Members Deploy.
This DVD helps youth cope with the deployment of a parent and understand that they are not alone. It includes an Interactive Military Youth Stress Management Plan and Facilitator’s Guide on CD-ROM.
This DVD helps children understand deployments, homecomings, and illness or injury as a result of military service in three videos featuring Sesame Street characters. All videos and printed materials are in English or Spanish.
Devotionals
Grace Under Fire: Letters of Faith in Times of War by Andrew Carroll.
This booklet includes a letter from a soldier from each American war from the American Revolution through the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. All branches of the military are included. The letters are annotated with biographical information and relevant scripture. The letters are intended to show the power of faith in times of war. The Media Center holds a Certificate of License for this booklet so that you may make copies for everyone in your group.
Strength for Service to God and Country: Daily Devotional Messages for Those in the Service of Others edited by Norman E. Nygaard; revised edition compiled by Evan Hunsberger.
This classic devotional book for military service members, originally published by Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, an imprint of the United Methodist Publishing House, has been updated to reflect contemporary language and culture while remaining true to its original spirit. It also contains new reflections and devotions from contemporary religious leaders. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the General Commission on United Methodist Men (GCUMM) has been actively raising awareness and financial support to supply a copy to every man and woman serving in the U.S. armed forces worldwide.
Request These Resources
These resources can be borrowed by anyone associated with the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, free of charge. We can even mail them to you! All you need to do is fill out the Resource Request Form.