Veteran’s Day holds special meaning at Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free. Its founder, director, and volunteers all served in the military.

“It comes down to gratitude. We appreciate when people appreciate what we’ve done for this country,” says Army veteran Steve Prince, director of Warriors Set Free.

“It’s a unique experience for me because I served for quite a while, but I [also] look at how grateful I am for those young men and women who are standing guard and defending freedom for us today,” he continues.

“So, it’s not just me going, ‘Hey, I deserve all this!’ There are [many] people I also owe for their sacrifice and dedication to this nation.”

(Graphic courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

There is a 50 percent higher suicide rate among the veteran community than the civilian population. In 2022, there were 16.2 million veterans in the U.S. Four years prior, nearly two million veterans received treatment in a mental health specialty program offered by Veterans Affairs.

Warriors Set Free helps struggling veterans heal from the past and win life’s battles through Christ. Typically, a veteran will only talk to another veteran about things they experienced in a war or military service. More about that here.

If you know a veteran in need, connect them with Warriors Set Free. Start with a phone call or text to the veteran in your social circle; Veteran’s Day is an excellent reason to reach out.

“There’s the classic ‘Thank you for your service,’ which is fine, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. I encourage saying anything slightly different; try, ‘I appreciate that you served our country,’ or ‘I’m thankful that you defended freedom for us,’” Prince suggests.

“It just shows gratitude for them [as an individual] – that you’ve said something different than the same phrase everybody says repeatedly.”

You never know how much your call could mean to an isolated, struggling veteran.

“Whenever you randomly think of someone, that could be the Holy Spirit putting that person on your mind. I’m trying to be more obedient when I think of people, just giving them a call and saying, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’” Prince says.

“One individual said, ‘Man, you got a direct download from God because I needed to talk to somebody today!’”

Simply completing household chores can be a good way to say “thank you,” too.

“When I was still in the National Guard and going to drill once a month, a neighbor across the street was a veteran. If I were gone for the weekend, I would come home, and my driveway would be plowed, or my yard would be mowed – things I would have done if I was home, but he chose to step in. That meant a lot to me,” Prince says.

The easiest way to help veterans is also the most important.

“If everybody who reads this or prays for a veteran in their family would [also] lift up Warriors Set Free [and] our nation, our veteran community – that is priceless,” Prince says.

Header and story images courtesy of Warriors Set Free.

(Graphic courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

Army veteran Steve Prince leads Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free Ministries. Veteran’s Day events allow Prince and his team to connect with fellow vets.

“A perfect day for me would be going to two or three events and finding one to 50 veterans who are hungry to grow in their faith, heal from the past, and win life’s battles,” Prince says.

Veterans gain crucial skills from their military involvement. Unfortunately, some experiences – especially combat – leave veterans with invisible scars.

As noted here, veteran suicide is 50 percent higher than the nonmilitary population. One in 10 veterans deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan has substance abuse problems.

“Veterans carry the trauma of life we all carry. But on top of that, they’ve volunteered to kill our nation’s enemies; to go to war, risk their life, and maybe come home, maybe not,” Prince says.

Christ offers the healing veterans need. However, that healing often lies out of reach at the local church. “It (military experience) separates us” from the general populace, Prince says.

“Veterans will walk into a church, look around and go, ‘Nobody here has any idea of who I am or what I’ve been through, and I can’t connect.’”

That’s where Warriors Set Free comes in. Connect with the ministry here.

“We refer to what we do as freedom ministry, and we use a gift from Neil Anderson called The Steps to Freedom in Christ,” Prince says.

In walking with veterans through Anderson’s seven-step process, “the goal is for them to see their identity in Christ as far more important than their history as a veteran,” he continues.

Then, “they can fit back into the community. They can be godly men and women who, by the way, are phenomenal leaders with unique skill sets.”

Header image courtesy of Warriors Set Free.

“We assist veterans in building their faith to heal from the past and win life’s battles,” Director Steve Prince says of Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free Ministries.

The most critical conversations turn to Christ and the freedom He offers. “We focus specifically on helping veterans grow in their faith, no matter where they’re at,” Prince says.

“We see a lot of veterans who’ve never had the Gospel explained to them. We get to explain that and see them accept Christ.”

(Wikimedia Commons)

While most veterans transition successfully into civilian life, others struggle against hidden wounds. The veteran suicide rate is 50-percent higher than the national average.

As a veteran-to-veteran ministry, the Warriors Set Free team offers unspoken understanding. More about Warriors Set Free here.

“Veterans have a brotherhood based on our past and the service that we’ve been through,” Prince says.

“They (veterans) call us on our hard days, and they call us to celebrate. I’ve been in prison with veterans, and jails and courtrooms; at weddings and celebrating the birth of a child.”

From wounded to warrior

Traumatic experiences often leave individuals with emotional/psychological scars. These wounds only heal with time and intentional processing.

“A lot of veterans are hurting, and they need a ‘big brother’ [figure] to put an arm around them and comfort them in their time of need. We get to walk with those guys, building their faith and helping them be disciples of Christ,” Prince says.

“The core of what we do is called a freedom appointment. It’s a one-day session where we lead people through The Steps to Freedom in Christ.”

Veterans who’ve experienced freedom through Warriors Set Free Freedom Appointments summarize the encounters here.  One individual discovered a new purpose.

“His freedom appointment changed his life. He went from very little hope in his life and not being successful as a husband and a father to thriving and leading ministry. [Today,] he’s ministering to others, and his marriage is stronger,” Prince says.

“His family is intact, in large part because of what God did through his freedom appointment and Warriors Set Free.”

Watch that veteran share his testimony here; the story begins at 4:48.

(Graphic courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

Find your place in the story

Connect with Warriors Set Free here or through social media. Or, call the main office, “and we’ll start a conversation,” Prince says. Warriors Set Free is based in West Michigan, but you don’t have to be.

“We’ve done a lot of virtual appointments, especially in the last couple of years, and we would love to make a freedom appointment with any veteran anywhere.”

Warriors Set Free is expanding beyond its West Michigan base. “Michigan, as a whole, doesn’t have the veteran population that a lot of other states have,” Prince says.

“We prayed, and we kept being pointed towards Atlanta, Georgia. Fort Benning is down there; they have a lot of National Guard and Reserves. There are a lot of retired veterans down there as well.”

Is God calling you to help veterans? You might start by helping Warriors Set Free begin work in your state.

“If someone has a passion for bringing a strong veteran ministry to their area, wherever that is, we want to talk and see if that’s what the Lord has for us,” Prince says.

“We don’t have a patent on discipleship and prayer ministry, and we want to spread this thing far and wide.”

Using Atlanta as a test model, “we talk about taking this to every city with an NHL team from there,” Prince says.

“Veterans are great people, especially when you put them ‘on mission’ – when you give them a purpose and a direction to make things happen. So, that’s what we’re looking to do outside of Michigan, wherever the Lord leads us.”

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Brett Sayles/Pexels.

Warriors Set Free is part of Set Free Ministries, which introduces people to the freedom they can have in Christ, provides biblical guidance, and encourages discipleship. Warriors Set Free provides this same counsel and guidance specifically to veterans. Their director, founder, and volunteers are all veterans. Steve Prince explains this is key for the ministry to be successful.

“With myself being a veteran of about 25 years [of service], I connect with veterans the way a veteran can talk to a veteran. I will sit down with a vet either over lunch or over zoom and just listen to their story. I can relate to a lot of them even among different generations or different branches. I was in the Army, but we connect with Marines and Navy and Air Force because we all have a similar experience of leaving home to go defend freedom,” he says.

(Photo courtesy of Eric Ward via Unsplash)

“I use my military background to connect with them so they can start to understand that someone else understands. That allows them to open up and start to tell me what they’ve been through.”

Guided by Truth

Once the conversation gets going, Prince is then able to offer veterans biblical truth.

“If a veteran isn’t living his or her life to the full, we can help him or her see what they’re doing [isn’t] in alignment with Scripture,” he says.

“We refer to Scripture as truth because it is similar to a military manual. We have technical manuals and field manuals in the military that tell us how to do our jobs and how to accomplish tasks. Scripture is very much the same, so we start discipleship processes with many veterans and then encourage them to continue that through their church, through another ministry, or with us long term.”

On Veterans Day tomorrow, Prince encourages everyone to think about how they can best honor veterans, both in interactions on Veterans Day and the rest of the year.

(Photo courtesy of Caleb Fisher via Unsplash)

“As a society, we want to talk too much, and Scripture says to be slow to speak quick to listen. It’s a very important skill just to be able to listen and ask gentle questions,” Prince says.

“I don’t recommend saying thank you for your service because it’s become very hollow since that’s what everybody says. If you walk up to that veteran and say, ‘Look, I know you’re in the military, and I want to thank you on behalf of my family,’ or change it up at all. That means a lot more to me personally than thank you for your service.”

Prince asks for prayers for veterans both on the holiday tomorrow and all year. To learn more about how you can connect veterans to Warriors Set Free and pray for those they’re already ministering to, visit their website here.

Header image courtesy of Aaron Burden via Unsplash

There’s no immediate solution in sight, yet hope remains. Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free Ministries, is run by veterans for veterans. Director Steve Prince says he and other trained veterans help hurting individuals find healing in Christ.

“To hear a wife overflowing with joy because her husband is more alive and more present – a better husband, a better father, a better part of the kingdom of God – is a huge, huge joy that I get to experience.”

Helping wounded warriors

Using a biblical process developed by Christian author Dr. Neil Anderson, Warriors Set Free staff and volunteers guide wounded vets from captivity to freedom. Through one-on-one, team, and group training sessions, veterans receive the spiritual principles they need to achieve lasting healing. Learn more about Warriors Set Free here.

“Men, in general, don’t want to ask for help and then you put the military mindset on top of it – we’re trained to tolerate pain until we break. So, one of the questions I ask a lot of people is… ‘How’s that working for you?’,” Prince says.

“Most people believe life is going pretty good – until it’s not.”

Case in point: a Vietnam veteran who recently found freedom from decades of significant pain. At a weekend event in Michigan organized by Warriors Set Free, “God dealt with some pain that’s nearly 50 years old,” Prince describes.

“To watch a man break and feel the love of God and get healing from the trauma [inflicted by a war] that was 50 years ago… is priceless.”

Many vets won’t share their struggles with anyone except other veterans, Prince shares. Warriors Set Free’s vet-to-vet approach allows people to connect across generations. “I was Army from ’92 to 2015, but I can sit across from a Marine from the Vietnam era [and] understand some of [his] experience,” he explains.

U.S. Army Soldiers from Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division scan for enemy personnel during a patrol through a village southeast of Salman Pak, Iraq, Feb. 15, 2008. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Timothy Kingston) (Released)

“I’ve been deployed; I’ve been through training; I know what it’s like to go through something similar. That’s typically enough for them (veterans) to trust me and be able to open up.”

Next steps

If you know a struggling veteran, click here to connect with Warriors Set Free. Prince and this ministry are based in West Michigan, but that doesn’t limit their reach or availability.

“We’d love to talk to people in other parts of the country and give them a little bit of guidance, and some of the training and lessons we’ve learned over the last five years to equip them locally,” Prince says.

“We’re not exactly sure how God’s going to do that yet. But, if there’s someone in Sacramento, California, [or] Calgary, Canada, we’d love to talk to them… encourage them and share everything; we’ve not cornered the market on this.”

Whether you personally know a veteran or not, Veteran’s Day is a reminder to pray for “wounded warriors” through the country. “The biggest prayer for veterans is that they would open up, that God would send someone into their lives that could understand their story,” Prince says.

“Joy shared is joy multiplied, pain shared is pain divided.”

Header image is a stock photo obtained via Pexels.

(Photo courtesy Faith Comes By Hearing/MilitaryBible Stick)

USA (FCBH/MNN) — In the fall of 1963, President John F Kennedy made this unique observation about our military veterans: As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

For the most part, people think that giving discounts and free meals is a way to honor the service of a veteran. Faith Comes By Hearing thinks there’s a more long-term investment to consider: a military BibleStick. They’re so sold on this idea that they launched an October Giving Challenge to supply military BibleSticks for veterans. Though October is over, the funds are still rolling in, and, says FCBH spokesman Bill Lohr, “We’re very close to [the goal] we’re trying to hit: 14,000. That’s quite a few BibleStick: $25 each in terms of cost, but that is really an amazing outreach that we’ve had within our churches.”

As the saying goes, “Many hands make light work,” and FCBH has been developing partnerships with churches. $25 from one person gets a BibleStick into someone’s hands, but Lohr wonders what could happen if $25 were multiplied by 100 people…or even 1,000 people. “Believe it or not, over 9,000 churches have participated over the last five or six years–many of them, two, three, four, and now even, this year, five times: the fifth year that some of these churches have participated.”

Thousands of believers have found a way to put their appreciation into action for what the military is doing. After all, it’s hard not to be grateful when you realize “somebody is putting their life on the line for our freedom, for our security, so that we can live in the way that we do here in this country, and people see that.” Lohr goes on to say God’s Word offers peace and comfort in highly stressful combat situations at just the moment they need it.

(Image courtesy FCBH/Military BibleStick)

Chaplains distribute and use Military BibleSticks– digital players pre-loaded with recordings of the Audio Drama New Testament and specially selected Psalms –in pre-deployment briefings, counseling sessions, Bible studies, weekly chapels, and other spiritual services.

With the anti-religious tone present in some branches of the military, getting God’s Word out can be tricky. How to do it is the key, Lohr adds. “It’s much like what the Gideons do in providing a New Testament and handing people a printed Bible; that’s all that we’re giving them, so there really is no issue in terms of proselytizing and the other things that many of these other groups are talking about and pushing.” Chaplains and soldiers request the BibleSticks. That’s not to say it’s not without challenge. “We’ve had chaplains who have contacted and chaplains who we’ve provided BibleStick for who have come under fire and possibly looked at situations where they’re going to be removed from the military.”

When that happens, Lohr explains, ”It really isn’t a situation of [us or anybody else out there] trying to convert everybody to Christianity. We’re simply trying to give them God’s Truth in His Word so that they can make a choice for themselves.”

Here’s just one story of the impact a BibleStick makes:

I am a disabled American Army Veteran. I want to thank you for this gift. The BibleStick is the key to me keeping my spirituality. I have PTSD, major depression disorder, and bad knees and back. This is very painful and makes it difficult to get to church. This BibleStick gives me hope.

The BibleStick is very beneficial for Veterans returning from a combat zone. It distracts your mind from where it wants to go. The BibleStick gives me positive reinforcement in life. It is very convenient. I can relax and listen, or ride and listen. It gives me comfort and assurance.

Thank you so much for sending this New Testament audio stick. I am an Army Ranger Veteran with 14 years of service. This technology helps me listen to the words of Jesus between classes and while traveling.

Thank you so much for the BibleStick. It is very uplifting hearing the Words of God.

(Photo courtesy FCBH)

It’s Veterans Day. Lohr says there are two things to come away with from this story. First, “Pray for our soldiers everyday…. They need to know that we’re covering them and that we’re there for them. And we ask that you’ll just join us in those prayers.”

Second, remember those who have served in World War II, Korean War, Balkan War, Vietnam War, and Gulf War. “There [are] a lot of folks that have served in the past,” says Lohr, and BibleSticks are very helpful to those in Veterans Homes.

Learn more at MilitaryBibleStick.com.

Men of U.S. 64th Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, celebrate the news of the Armistice, November 11, 1918.
(Wikimedia Commons)

USA (MNN) — In the U.S., Veterans Day was declared an official holiday back in 1919.

Veterans Day was originally intended as a day of reflection on the sacrifices made by those who served in World War I.

Approximately four million U.S. men were drafted into the armed services, and roughly half ended up serving overseas.

Since 1919, U.S. servicemen and women have been honored in 96 consecutive Veterans Day observances.

U.S. involvement in at least 11 global conflicts following WWI has left its marks–physically, and more often, emotionally–on those who’ve served.

The wounds of war aren’t always obvious until it’s too late.

“The big statistic is: 22 veteran suicides per day, from the trauma of war,” shares Warriors Set Free (WSF) founder, Steve Prince. WSF is a branch of Set Free Ministries.

“[There are] 1000 new cases of PTSD a week, so 52,000 a year.”

The walking wounded

A 2008 survey conducted by the RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research assessed the mental health of veterans who were deployed to the Middle East between 2001 and 2008.

(Graphic credit: Military.com)

Approximately one-third of those surveyed had symptoms of major depression, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), or a TBI (traumatic brain injury).

“Unlike physical wounds, these conditions affect mood, thoughts, and behavior and often remain invisible to other service members, family and society,” the report’s summary reads.

When applied to all the veterans who were deployed in that time frame, the survey’s findings translate to 300,000 individuals carrying “invisible” wounds.

“These guys are being tormented; they can’t sleep,” adds Prince. He began WSF in 2014 to start changing these statistics.

“With 25+ years of service, and a heart for helping my brothers and sisters who are veterans, it fit,” Prince says.

Healing minds, renewing hope

(Logo obtained via Facebook)

WSF journeys with veterans through a healing process similar to that described by Dr. Neil T. Anderson in his book, The Steps to Freedom in Christ.

“It’s vet-to-vet ministry, but the powerful part of it is there’s action connected to everything we do,” explains Prince.

Veterans volunteering with WSF walk other vets through their deepest, darkest valleys.

“It’s an all-day process that really gets to core issues in people’s lives that they carry around.”

Forgiveness remains one of the most difficult steps for veterans, Prince says. And yet, it can also be one of the most rewarding.

“We have people list who they’re mad at, what they did, and how it made them feel. Then, we go through kind of a ‘stock prayer,’ where you insert those terms in, and they actually forgive someone,” Prince says, describing the process.

“Almost everyone walks out of there saying, ‘I feel so much lighter.’ Well, they’re not carrying a lot of the pain of the past that they’re not supposed to carry.”

Representative photo.
(Courtesy Warriors Set Free via Facebook)

Take “Gary,” for example.

Following a “Freedom Appointment” with Prince, “His nightmares were gone; his PTSD nightmares were gone.

“He’s ‘in the fight’ now; he’s going to help us reach more veterans.”

If you know a veteran that needs help, click here to connect with WSF on Facebook. Or, e-mail Prince directly at sprince@setfreeministries.com.

Biblica has been sending Scripture to soldiers since the War of 1812. (Image courtesy Biblica)

Students teamed up with Biblica on Monday to pack around 55,000 Bibles for military servicemen and their families. Mark Rader is a retired Air Force officer and Biblica’s National Director of Military Ministry.

He spoke with Joel Hill, a reporter for MNN’s sister station, WCSG, at CU’s “Bibles for the Brave” event.

“I’ve been doing this for four years, and this was one of the most amazing events I’ve been involved with,” Rader stated.

“The power of God’s Word, whether it’s in the battlefield or here in the U.S., is still the essential element for spiritual growth in a life. Many of these soldiers have never heard the Gospel before, so this is an extraordinary opportunity.”

NIV Military Bibles and NIV Finding Hope Beyond the Battle Bibles packed by CU students were provided by a partnership between Biblica and Family Christian Stores.

The groups’ “Frontline & Homefront Bible Campaign” invites Family Christian customers to donate Bibles for military servicemen and their families. The campaign runs from Labor Day through Christmas, and over 60,000 Scriptures have been donated so far.

Click here to add another one to the list.

“I personally will be directing where all these Bibles go,” Rader says. “We already have about 10 or 12 military installations that have requested Scripture from us, and that’s all across the nation. Some of them also will go to chaplains that are down in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Soldiers sacrifice comfort, freedom, and their lives to protect the freedom of others. Biblica has been providing Bibles to the U.S. military since the War of 1812. Today the ministry offers hope to servicemen in active duty and their spouses.

They’re also developing a PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Bible for traumatized soldiers. Learn more here.

“Pray for the people receiving these (Bibles) all around the world,” Rader requests. “Our servicemen and women are under a lot of pressure right now, and they really need our prayers.”

Students teamed up with Biblica on Monday to pack around 55,000 Bibles for military servicemen and their families. Retired Air Force officer and Biblica's National Director of Military Ministry, Mark Rader,  spoke with Joel Hill, a reporter for MNN's sister station, WCSG, at CU's "Bibles for the Brave" event.

"I've been doing this for four years, and this was one of the most amazing events I've been involved with," Rader stated.

"The power of God's Word, whether it's in the battlefield or here in the U.S., is still the essential element for spiritual growth in a life. Many of these soldiers have never heard the Gospel before, so this is an extraordinary opportunity."

NIV Military Bibles and NIV "Finding Hope Beyond the Battle" Bibles packed by CU students were provided by a partnership between Biblica and Family Christian Stores.

The groups' "Frontline & Homefront Bible Campaign" invites Family Christian customers to donate Bibles for military servicemen and their families. The campaign runs from Labor Day through Christmas, and over 60,000 Scriptures have been donated so far.

Click here to add another one to the list.

"I personally will be directing where all these Bibles go," Rader says. "We already have about 10 or 12 military installations that have requested Scripture from us…all across the nation. Some of them also will go to chaplains that are down in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Soldiers sacrifice comfort, freedom, and their lives to protect the freedom of others. Biblica has been providing Bibles to the U.S. military since the War of 1812. Today the ministry offers hope to servicemen in active duty and their spouses.

They're also developing a PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Bible for traumatized soldiers. Learn more here. 

"Pray for the people receiving these [Bibles] all around the world," Rader requests. "Our servicemen and women are under a lot of pressure right now, and they really need our prayers."

In 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed an
Armistice Day. Seven years later, Congress passed a resolution asking the
President to issue another proclamation to set aside November 11 similarly.

In 1938, it became "a day to be dedicated to the cause
of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as Armistice
Day."

Sixteen years later, it emerged as a day to celebrate all
veterans, not just those who served in World War I. 

Today, there are thousands of troops facing mortal threat on a daily basis. Many are serving in high conflict areas like Iraq,
Kuwait, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. The
love of Christ is bringing hope and peace, but the more traditional routes of sharing God's Word are
not as successful as are some of the more creative routes.

Troy Carl with Faith Comes By Hearing says the "iPod"
generation is positively responding to their military BibleStick. In fact, with the kind of response they've been seeing, "We really hope that
people will take this opportunity to sponsor a soldier, provide the pure
Scripture that meets their challenges and helps give them comfort in their time
of need," says Carl.

A BibleStick is a digital audio player loaded with an Audio
Drama New Testament, specially geared for combat zones. The response? "Over 22,000 military Bible sticks have been distributed through
chaplains all around the world, and it's having a tremendous impact. Of course,
now they're saying, 'Give us more!'" 

Currently, more than 200 chaplains are using Military
BibleSticks in pre-deployment briefings, counseling sessions, weekly chapels,
and other spiritual services.

"Our soldiers told me they never imagined having an
Audio Bible," said an Army Chaplain at a staging base in Germany.
"They are able to listen to the Word of God while doing their missions. It is so
easy to carry and listen–anytime and anywhere. This little device is helping soldiers cope
with their issues and concerns during deployments."

Hundreds more have requested a Military BibleStick, only to find that they're
already gone. How can you help? Carl says,
"You can sponsor a soldier with a military stick for $25, and that
also includes our ministry providing an audio Bible on disk to their loved
one." The kit also comes with a response
card for service members to have New Testaments and KIDZ Bibles sent to their
families. Click here for more information.