In today’s program, Joni shares about Joni and Friends Warrior Getaways, retreats for veterans and their families. These valiant men and women make great sacrifices for our freedoms, and they continue to make sacrifices as they live with disabilities.
Life-altering disabilities touch all families of all stripes.
And sometimes those are military stripes because so many American servicemen and women have sustained life-altering disabilities in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Vietnam, and yes, even from the Korean War. Twenty-six percent of American war veterans are living with a disability. Whether it is a loss of several limbs, paralysis, brain injury, PTSD, or moral injury, these veterans and their families deal with the daily grind of living with significant impairments. And here’s the really heartbreaking part: every day, 17 veterans commit suicide - that’s a 2021 statistic from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Let that sink in. Each day, 17 military veterans would rather end their lives than be overwhelmed by a disability, albeit physical, mental, emotional, or even moral. What’s a moral injury? Well, it’s this: you see, in the heat of war, a serviceman may see or experience horrific atrocities - unforgettable things that violate their sense of morality and justice. And the trauma? Well, it never goes away.
And it is why we hold Warrior Getaways at Joni and Friends. Because we serve all people with disabilities. The need is so great that these Getaways are our fastest-growing program. We will hold triple the number this year. And this means we need more volunteers: people who have a heart to serve military families. People like Ed McClelland. Now, Ed is not a war veteran, but he certainly has a love for American servicemen with life-altering injuries. Every year, Ed crisscrosses the country to serve at our Warrior Getaways, and he’s been doing it since 2013… that totals 15 Getaways! This man loves this outreach and calls our Warrior Getaway program, “the super bowl of veteran ministry!” Ed McClellan has a heart for this because he comes from a family of servicemen – seven of his uncles were in the military. And he became interested in serving veterans after he broke his alcohol addiction and came into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Right then, Ed decided to focus his time on serving others. And because he understood the prevalence of alcoholism among veterans, he decided to commit his life to bringing the Gospel to veterans through our Warrior Getaways. And so this year? God bless him, he’s already signed up to help out at more of our Warrior Getaways!
Oh, friend, I think you can see the enormous needs among our disabled American veterans. They’ve sacrificed so much to secure our freedoms, and now that they live with a disability? Well, they are still making sacrifices. So, here’s what you can do: April is National Volunteer Month, and I can’t think of a better way for you to practice Christianity with its sleeves rolled up than to serve at one of our upcoming Warrior Getaways. So, visit joniradio.org where I’ve provided a link to our Joni and Friends Warrior Getaways. Take a look at this year’s schedule and see where you might be able to serve, just like our wonderful volunteer, Ed. Oh, and while you are on my radio page, I’ve posted a couple of photos of Ed McClellan in action at our Getaways. So, if you have a heart for our disabled American veterans and their families, then learn more about helping them at joniradio.org. And then? Please, friend, follow in the steps of Ed McClelland and be a volunteer. Get all the details at Joniradio.org.
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