Ministry to Returning Military
The Paradox of Peace
Spiritual
care for military personnel and their families following deployment to
Iraq
and Afghanistan
The Paradox of Peace is a 36 hour training for pastors and congregational
and community leaders who want to provide support to returning military personnel “beyond the yellow ribbon.” It is an opportunity to learn how to
participate in the reintegration process
and help individuals and families find their “new” normal.
The first training
will be held July 16-22, 2007 in the 5th Floor Conference Room, 215
Centennial Mall South, Lincoln.
Overall Purpose
Provide training about trauma and the healing power of spiritual care to
faith leaders in order to develop community support for military personnel and
their families during deployment to and
reintegration from service in Iraq
and/or Afghanistan.
Learning Objectives
Recognize the importance of
spirituality in the reintegration process
Develop a broad understanding
of trauma
Provide congregation members
coaching techniques in providing support for military families
Learn strategies for providing
outreach to families
Discover the network of
support services available for military families and how to make referrals
Find ways of encouraging
families to use available resources
Recognize the importance of
and ways to create safe spaces for family members to talk about their realities
The following (and many others) are questions which will be addressed in
the context of the Paradox of Peace workshop.
What are the Battlefield
skills that make life in the civilian world challenging?
Do you realize that supporting
the deployed troops and their families does not mean that your congregation is
taking a political stand?
Why don’t they just get back
to “normal?”
How is support of the family
during deployment part of the welcome home
process?
Do you know how to provide
safe spaces for people to talk about difficult issues such as
war?
The cost for this first training is $50.00.
We need to have at least 12 people register – and space is limited to
25. We will establish a waiting list, if
there are registrations beyond capacity.
War has profound effects on the soul of the soldier. Providing care to soldiers is a practical
expression of our faith and hope in the transforming power of God’s love.”
– Kathleen Gathercoal
George Fox
University
Newburg,
OR
“The road home from war is longer, steeper and often more challenging than
the road to war for most soldiers and their families. After the joyful, long anticipated reunions
there is a difficult period of
transition, readjustment, and hard work ahead for every soldier and
their family. The church can be a
helpful partner in the process.”
– Chaplain John Morris
Minnesota
National Guard
“Congregations have a unique ability to support military personnel as
they reconnect with the people they have
known, their community, personal ideals and ambitions. This may be especially true for the National
Guard.”
– LT Brian Weigelt
CHC, USNR
For more information or to register for the workshop,
contact Caroline Walles at Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska.
Send
e-mail to IMN Staff - im50427@alltel.net
