Lake Region—Sabbath, Nov. 3, 2007, was Veteran's Appreciation and Awareness Day at Capitol City Seventh-day Adventist Church in Indianapolis. Phillip Willis Sr., a retired Air Force chaplain and Lake Region Conference personal ministries director, spoke for divine worship.
Salient points of Willis' message reminded us of the appreciation due to veterans for the freedom and democracy we enjoy as a direct result of their service and sacrifice. Willis struck relevant chords with other veterans with his citations of some military chants and his sharing of heroine experiences as a "grunt" or infantryman in the Vietnam War. Willis underscored that the shed blood of Jesus is the only life-saving and emancipating blood of people and all nations.
The afternoon program featured Thomas Harris. A former Vietnam War veteran, Harris presented a seminar titled, "The Veteran's Spiritual Disconnection (VSD)," answering questions such as: How does it feel to fight a war that you know very little about, much less agree with, and were drafted to fight? How do you recognize the signs? and How can the church help?
According to Harris, being a participant of war can drastically and dramatically affect the mental, emotional, psychological and ultimately the spiritual well-being of veterans of war. Harris identified several causes that may contribute to VSD, including steps the military uses to indoctrinate soldiers with a "killer instinct." According to Harris, the instinct is designed to prepare the soldier to survive unfriendly territory, protect his comrade soldiers, and seek out and destroy the enemy. In many cases, such indoctrination, combined with combat fighting on the battlefield, results in "psychic numbing." "You are psychically numbed when you can cut off the ears and fingers of the enemy and wear them as a necklace around your neck," recounted Harris of his own war interactions.
Harris cited mental health experts describing the disconnection of one's conscious or feelings apart from being affected by human suffering and even taking the life of another. "This numbing also results in perhaps the deepest level of numbing," said Harris. This is "spiritual numbing" where the seat of one's conscious resides. Spiritual deadening ultimately results in "the veteran's spiritual disconnect," said Harris. While often a very slow process, it may only be cured by helping those who are disconnected to reconnect with Jesus Christ.
Harris informed that many Vietnam War veterans experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a normal, psychological and emotional reaction to something traumatic over a period of time. According to Harris, some of the signs and symptoms are flashbacks, inability to sleep, mistrust, emotional irritability and periods of unexplainable rage, among other emotional problems. These are debilitating effects of war on many veterans which also contribute to VSD.
Early on, many Vietnam War veterans were misdiagnosed with substance abuse or other problems, rather than PSTD, said Harris. He stated that much of this emotional dysfunction could have been helped if there were adjustment services for veterans. Such services were vital to a veteran's ability to return to normalcy before returning them to the U.S. and their family only days after having been involved in graphic combat. According to Harris, these factors also contribute to VSD. Exposure to machine gun fire, running for cover, bomb-dropping plans, being awakened in the night to enemy warning sirens, and killing and witness of same can contribute to VSD.
In the mid 1980s, Harris worked as a Veteran Center Team leader in Indianapolis. In the early 1980s, veteran centers were set up nationally to assist the return and readjustment of Vietnam War veterans back into civilian life. This meant helping the veterans cope with the deep impressions and mental scars of firefights, and literal bloodbaths resulting in the loss of limb, the lives of fellow soldiers, the "enemy," and innocent children.
In some cases, the mission of veteran centers meant helping veterans diffuse sheer hate and forgive themselves for a cause which they were forced to participate, but did not agree. Harris shared stories of how he received calls to his home phone in the middle of the night from Vietnam War veterans in crisis who felt they would kill somebody or themselves unless help reached them fast. Harris recounted how he responded to many such calls.
Harris' presentation was strategic to the bottom line of ministry everywhere. Jesus' example shows that effective ministry is meeting the needs of people. This follows a decision for Christ. Harris' presentation addressed current and past needs which often confront veterans of war, and their families.
Effective church response begins with awareness, followed by understanding, fellowship, supportive congregational integration and professional referrals, where appropriate. Harris shared how he suffered from VSD for more than 40 years, and that it was just five years ago that he finally met restoration of his mind and soul and reconnection with Jesus through the love shown him at the Capitol City Seventh-day Adventist Church.
On multiple levels, Harris' presentation produced an appreciation for veterans' service and sacrifice, awareness of emotional and spiritual challenges which confront veterans of war, discussion of how the Adventist Church may meet present needs of war veterans, and steps the Adventist Church may take to expand its ministries by preparing to meet the projected increased demand for spiritual-based services being requested by veterans of Desert Storm and the current Iraq War.
Bryan Chapman, communications department, Capitol City (Indianapolis, Ind.) Church
Thomas Harris is a former Veteran Center Team leader, former member of the National Advisory Committee on Veteran's Readjustment, and Executive Board member of the Congressional Black Caucus Brain Trust on Veteran's Issues. Readers may contact Tom Harris by e-mail at Harris746786@aol.com.
