Dear partner in reaching troops for Christ,

for I am the LORD, who heals you.--Exodus 15:26 (NIV).

Praise God for this word of hope. Because so much healing is needed.

After facing brutal suicide attacks, roadside bombs, watching buddies killed, and more, tens of thousands of American troops are now suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder--plagued by horrific nightmares, mired in depression, and often suicidal.

But the simple truth about the path to ultimate healing--through Christ--has too often been ignored; its just too politically incorrect or outside the mainstream. Unfortunately, the consequences have been deadly.

On average, five active-duty troops attempt suicide each day. Additionally:

- One in five returning troops are being diagnosed with serious Post-Traumatic Stress symptoms, and less than 40% of these will seek help.

- In 2009, a record-breaking year for suicides in the service, 245 soldiers killed themselves. 1,100 troops have taken their own lives since 2006.

- For troops suffering from combat trauma, two out of three of their marriages are failing. 200,000 military marriages have come apart, more than 27,000 in 2009 alone.

- Veteran homelessness is on the rise with 1/3 of our nations homeless being veterans.

Those statistics are painful, but as the verse above reminds us, there is hope. Heres just one story, told by a military wife who is a veteran herself:

[My husband] deployed several times to the Middle East ... When he came back [from his last deployment], I noticed different things ... [he] became isolated, drank very heavily and was volatile. A year after arriving home, he also bought a gun

He became so unstable that my daughters and I had to flee the house twice in one week. Things became so serious, I found myself having to do a court order for his treatment

What I have found throughout this journey is that there is very little positive support for PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder] sufferers and their families. I am sure you are aware of the PTSD facts which are very grim. [Rand Study reports that only 40% will seek help and only 10% will receive adequate help/treatment.]

Since [Military Ministrys] Bridges to Healing [ministry] involves GOD in the recovery process, it provides HOPE. To me, having faith in GOD provides HOPE in all things in your life ... I have seen tremendous progress with my husband while he has been attending [Military Ministrys PTSD support] group since January 2009. I know this group could also benefit others who are affected by this as well.

Praise God with me that this story has a happy ending! But please keep praying ... because so, so many do not. 18 veterans are killing themselves every day of the year and although our services and medical facilities are doing everything they can, there are just not enough resources to adequately handle this epidemic. So if the national experts are unable to meet the tremendous demand, then who can? Who can step in and fill this void, touching the lives of tens of thousands of troops and their families?

You can--by pointing these men and women to Christ.

Military Ministry is being inundated by requests for our Combat Trauma Healing Manual--a 178 page workbook that combines the latest insights of the medical and counseling communities with the timeless principles of Gods Word. The manual addresses not only the physical and psychological aspects of PTSD, but the spiritual ones as well--clearly sharing the Gospel to provide hope not just for today, but for eternity.

We recently heard from a counselor on a military base; she works with soldiers returning from combat. This counselor shared that she literally could not keep the Combat Trauma Healing Manuals in stock; every time she put a box out they were gone. But on this base and many others, theres just no more money in the budget to get moretroops who urgently need this help are walking away empty handed. Thats where Im hoping you will come in. The prophet Ezekiel (Ezek 22:30) said: I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land ... but I found none. Would you stand in the gap to ensure that every warrior who needs this help gets it?

Each copy of the Combat Trauma Healing Manual costs just $10--$10 to quite possibly save a life, marriage and family! Again: these men and women risked their very lives for us; now its time that we fight for them and for their families. Literally anything you could offerperhaps $50 for five manuals, $100 for 10, $500 for 50, or even more--would be such a blessing to transform lives and bring healing to the hurting.

I have enclosed an envelope to send your gift; please act as soon as possible as many of these troops are giving up hope ... giving up on life. But you can offer them healing through the Lord.

Thank you again for your partnership. May God bless you for caring.

Your partner in the Gospel,

Robert F. Dees
Major General, US Army, Retired
Executive Director, Military Ministry
A Division of Campus Crusade for Christ

P.S. The response to these materials has been tremendous as troops are so grateful that, in their despair, someone finally told them about the Source of Hope: Thank you for bringing Christ into the healing process ... Now I know, Jesus is the only cure for PTSD and I praise Him for that! Please prayerfully consider how you might help many more find new hope in God. Thank you again.