In this Memorial Day program, Joni talks about a veteran who once was spiraling into darkness, but after attending a Joni and Friends Warrior Getaway has now found the light. He’s discovered a new purpose in life which is helping other veterans like him, all in the name of Jesus.
Our Warrior Getaways are designed to serve Veterans and their families by providing a wide range of accessible family activities, powerful speakers, worship, and fellowship with other Veterans. Learn more here.
SHAUNA: And Joni, our time together today is pretty special as we honor the United States servicemen and women who’ve given so much to safeguard our country.
JONI: Oh, that’s right Shauna; it’s Memorial Day. And while this holiday is set aside to remember and to mourn those who’ve lost their lives in service to our country, I want to tell our friends listening about a special veteran because this man, his name is JB; well, JB’s story brings honor to all our nation’s heroes, and it brings glory to God. Because Jesus rescued JB and now, Jesus is using JB to rescue his brothers-in-arm.
His story begins when his mother gave birth to him at the age of 15. JB never met his father and he was adopted by his grandparents, but unsteady life with them was volatile. Then there was his stepfather who beat him viciously with a belt.
Motivated by the attacks of 9/11—and to escape his home life—JB [at the age of 17] enlisted in the Marine Corps and headed to boot camp shortly after high school graduation. From there JB was deployed to Iraq. There, he was ripped with shrapnel during a mortar attack that killed four of his buddies and wounded four others. JB’s best friend was cut down right in front of him. The next day another close friend took multiple shots going over a wall. JB tried to rescue him, but his wounds were too much. JB held his buddy in his arms, listening as his friend used his very last breath to call out for his mom.
By his second deployment to Iraq in 2005, the carnage of war was taking a terrible psychological toll on JB and his unit. Fighting to stay alive by day and escaping from the horror of war with cocaine at night; all of it was mind-numbing.
Then, when JB received word that his birth mother was dying of cancer, he hurried home. And for the first time in his life, JB told his mother that he loved her. A few hours later, she passed away. And JB couldn’t handle one more crisis. That’s when he went AWOL.
When he returned to his unit, JB was court marshalled. And so, at home, over time, he married, had children and was drinking heavily. His life spun out of control, and he abused drugs to numb the pain. JB dragged his wife, Melissa, and their kids through hell. But God put a stop to that. And God did it through our Joni and Friends Warrior Getaway. We design our getaways to bring healing to traumatized disabled veterans, and there at Warrior Getaway, JB and his family found Jesus and a new sense of belonging. For too many years he had felt alone and consumed by nightmares. But at Warrior Getaway, surrounded by veterans who truly understood him and who faced the same demons he faced. JB, a Purple Heart recipient, discovered a new purpose in his life. And I praise God for that purpose because now he is helping and serving other veterans just like him, all in the name of Jesus.
SHAUNA: Oh, Joni! I just love that Jesus, the rescuer of our souls, rescued JB and his family from the dominion of darkness and brought them all into the light of his love.
JONI: Hallelujah!
SHAUNA: And God is now using JB to bring other disabled veterans into the rescuing arms of Jesus Christ.
JONI: That’s what happens at our Warrior Getaways, and that brings honor to our fallen heroes on this Memorial Day and all year long. God bless you today and thanks for listening!
© Joni and Friends