For every person who attends a Mars Hill service on Sunday, 20 more sermons are downloaded or played each week. Below is an email we received from one of those podcasters: a soldier, James, who started listening to Pastor Mark’s sermons while deployed in Baghdad with the 82nd Airborne Division. It’s a blessing for us to be able to serve James and others by offering these resources.
“No matter what happens, I know that Jesus is enough. . . . I know that God is real, and his people care. Thank you for all the help you have been.” –James
From: James
To: Stories
Subject: Thank You
I was deployed from January to November of 2009. I was the only born-again Christian in my entire unit. In May of that year, I lost a friend during a complex IED [improvised explosive device] attack, and two other friends were severely injured (one losing his arm) and sent back to the States. I had no “support group” at all.
I was at a very low point in my life. I even contemplated suicide. A friend of mine back in the States posted some links about you guys on his Facebook account, and I started downloading Mr. Driscoll’s podcasts and listening to them.
I started to talk to God again. I started reading my Bible. It gave me something to keep my mind busy in between missions and during downtime. Jesus was something to live for.
To this day I don’t understand why I saw and experienced many of the things I did while I was on deployment, but I know God has a reason for it all, and with that I am satisfied. I live with PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] and severe insomnia, but no matter what happens, I know that Jesus is enough.
I wanted to thank you guys personally for the help you have been to me and the soldiers I served with who had questions about Jesus. You guys helped to strengthen my faith and knowledge of the Word. I still have issues attending a church regularly because of social anxiety issues, but I know that God is real, and his people care. Thank you for all the help you have been.
I pray you guys are able to keep reaching out to military members and their families. I’ve lost several friends in the past year or so to suicide—without Jesus it is tough, if not impossible, to deal with the trauma. There is no hope without Jesus. Please keep doing what you guys do and get the Word out to my brothers in arms. God bless you all.
Sincerely,
James
Third Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
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Want to make sure more servicemen and -women like James can keep getting free sermons, books, and other resources while deployed? Give today to the Military Mission through the Global Fund.
