Care for Returning Soldiers

PTSD resources for churches back to top

American Public Media - Beyond the Yellow Ribbon website

In this essay, Chaplain Morris suggests that communities of worship should be on the

frontline of helping combat veterans and their families readjust to life in the U.S. Here, he

offers seven steps to help in this process.

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (Christian Reformed Church) website

Article describes PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) and offers these resources:

Worship Resources

Congregational Resources

Psalms and Prayers for those with PTSD

Suggestions for Pastors

Denominational Resources

Learn More about PTSD

Read a letter to Christian Reformed pastors and elders addressing the concern of TBI and

PTSD. link

Christianity Today: Veteran Ministry (Article) website

How churches can help soldiers and their families readjust after combat?

Iraq War Veterans Organization website

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD Support Groups, Other PTSD Links and Publications.

Jocelyn Green - "The Silent War At Home" website

A fabulous article printed in Today's Christian about how the church can help Soldiers

returning from combat.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - Veteran's Ministry Coming Home

Collaborative website

The Coming Home Collaborative is an open and growing volunteer association of people who

are concerned with the psychological and spiritual healing of veterans, especially those

currently reintegrating with their families and communities.

How can your church can reach out to newly returning veterans and their families? Here are some resources available:

Reaching out

Essential resources

Welcome home guide

Other veteran's outreach initiatives in our synod

Suggestions for returning soldiers

Tips for Families in Transition

Gather with other recent vets and their families

Veteran Ministry articles in InterActs

Suicide Warning Signs (this link goes to CBS News' site)

Military Ministry website

Military Ministry and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) are in the process of producing a 30-hour video series and certification program that will help prepare professional, pastoral and lay counselors for serving military members and families. Together, Military Ministry and the AACC will join forces to deploy tens of thousands of Christians from thousands of churches in the fight to build bridges between PTSD suffering and God’s love and healing power.

National Center for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder website

The National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) aims to advance the clinical care and social welfare of U.S. Veterans through research, education and training on PTSD and stress-related disorders.

Southern Baptist Church - North American Mission Board:

Biblical Response to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) website

This is a six-session video training conference, presented above as recorded at Southern Seminary during the Chaplain Training Conference in March 2009, and and accompanying manual. The manual, available for download along with two brochures (see items 2-4 below), can also be used independently of the video training. The training was developed by by Chaplain John Steven Evans and Chaplain Richard E. Sale.