Veterans in the United States face many issues that civilians don’t. Probably the most well-known problem is post-traumatic stress disorder, but that’s not all of the mental and physical issues they deal with — and sometimes suicide is the result.
To combat this crisis, the Church on Boll Weevil Circle in Enterprise ministers to this valued but underserved group through their BRAVE ministry.
“When a veteran leaves the military — either with good or bad circumstances, retirement, whatever — a lot of them feel like they were disposable. You lose that sense of camaraderie. There’s not a whole lot of emphasis given when people leave the military on what [to do] from there,” said John Logsdon, military pastor at the Church on Boll Weevil Circle and leader of BRAVE ministry.
“So we’re trying to fill that void and fill that need.”
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BRAVE — which stands for “Battle buddies Ready to Assist Veterans Everywhere” — meets the first Tuesday each month at 6 p.m. at the church. For the 40 or so who attend, the evening consists of fellowship, a meal, guest speakers and dedicated time to share with others who have walked a similar road.
“I’ll just ask the crowd, ‘Does anybody have anything?’ Frequently, we’ll get somebody who will raise their hand and say, ‘You know, I’ve really struggled this month. This is the whatever (like a difficult anniversary), and I’m having a hard time dealing with it,’” Logsdon said.
“Typically, what will happen is another veteran in the room will say, ‘Brother, I know where you’re at. Sister, I know where you’re at. Let’s go out and sit at the picnic table.’ The two of them will go outside off by themselves, and they’ll do a little peer support.”
Network of aid
For those who need more intensive help, BRAVE has a network of pastors, deacons and mental health professionals.
One of the most important rules in the group is confidentiality. To heal, the veterans need to know that what they say will be kept confidential. There is only one exception — when someone wants to hurt themselves or others.
If an attendee shares something without permission, they will be asked not to attend for six months. Before coming back on a probationary period, the person must discuss with the board what happened. If it happens again, the person is asked not to come back for a year.
“Now, that doesn’t mean I’m not going to help you,” Logsdon said. “I will still meet with you one on one. We’ll still provide all the services. We’re just not going to let you participate in the meeting because the people in the meeting need to know that trust is there.”
Representatives from organizations such as the Alabama Veterans Administration, the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion also attend. SpectraCare provides counseling and suicide-prevention resources. Job placement is facilitated through the Alabama Career Center. Hand Up Enterprise and the Department of Human Resources helps those who need food, clothes and general household goods.
For those with housing needs, a Veterans Affairs social worker will discuss Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing — subsidized housing available through a partnership with the VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In the last 18 months, BRAVE has placed 19 previously homeless veterans in apartments or houses complete with furniture and appliances.
BRAVE has provided two vehicles, including one equipped with a power chair and a power chair lift. They have given away several additional power chairs, wheelchairs, shower chairs and other mobility equipment.
One veteran’s wife is an amputee and requires air conditioning due to her health condition. BRAVE stepped in and fixed the air conditioning in their truck. Veterans in danger of losing utilities have water and power bills taken care of when needed.
Eternal needs
But more importantly, BRAVE addresses needs that are not simply physical.
Several have been baptized. At least seven suicides have been prevented. Many have found a purpose with their lives after the military.
Funding and volunteers are BRAVE’s biggest hurdle. Though a ministry of the Church on Boll Weevil Circle, it’s not funded by it.
“All of our funding comes from crowdsourcing. It comes from talking to other people and saying, ‘Hey, this is the need we’ve got.’ I will tell you that every one of those needs has been met.
“When we got the tires for [a] car, I made a Facebook post that said, ‘We need $600 for a set of tires.’ Within 30 minutes, I had $800 donated. So the need is being met, but the need continues to grow. I think our biggest hurdle has been having enough workers to meet the need,” Logsdon said.
One steady contributor is nicknamed the “blue-haired mafia” — the church’s Woman’s Missionary Union. They provide laundry baskets filled with cleaning supplies, towels and similar items for those placed in apartments.
Upcoming training
Logsdon wants to reach beyond Enterprise and help veterans across Alabama. He’s creating a resource guide that lists all the current resources for veterans. They are hosting a free suicide prevention training on July 19.
“We need other churches to do the same thing we’re doing. I am willing to come to their church to teach them how to set up a BRAVE ministry and walk them through how to do what we’re doing,” Logsdon said.
For more information about BRAVE, go to https://www.churchonthecircle.com/brave/. To learn more about the upcoming resource guide or training opportunities, email cobwcbrave@gmail.com.
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