Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: Ministering to Returning Combat Veterans

by Darlene Wetterstrom, David A. Thompson

Help bring combat veterans all the way back home.

Over a half million combat veterans have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. With thousands of military personnel still deployed, few communities escape the direct impact of solders returning from war. Yet their needs and the needs of their families are often hidden in plain sight in our congregations and communities. This book identifies specific needs of veterans and their families and gives creative and practical ways your church can minister to them.  It is a “must have” for anyone serious about giving back to those who have given so much.

"You [Thompson and Wetterstrom] are plowing very important ground, and I thank you for the reminder." - author Philip Yancey

119 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2009

Reviews

[Melody Hufstedler]

I wish more churches used this information. As a therapist I see loads of veterans who have had terrible experiences with their faith communities post-deployment. We need to do better about bringing these families into community.

[Rich Kooyer]

David and Darlene live in a State (Minnesota) where the National Guard and Reserves are activated routinely. David's experience as a Navy Chaplain is apparent in his listing of resources available throughout but also in how he lists situations that are uniquely related to members of the military and veterans. One flaw seemed to be in how absent the context of veterans support in our current times happened to be from the book in comparison from previous generations when the Vietnam Era was a miserable era to be returning home from combat. It is that network that helps support veterans and servicemembers today. The foundation of their book is built around treating veterans with respect and dignity and not showing a lot of overwhelming sympathy or reverence. That doctrine is followed through the remainder of the manuscript with character and dignity. It is very well done with great composition and ideas for programs and support structures.

[Jeremy Pedersen]

very easily readable survey of all aspects of serving in the military....from the demographics to the deployment process to the difficult cases of death and wounded warriors. As an Army chaplain myself, i highly recommend this small book to anyone wanting practical suggestions on how to help those who serve and have served in uniform.