Wounded Veterans Find Hope for Their Marriages
Wounded Veterans Find Hope for Their Marriages
Alaska marks a new start for military couples.
Each Sunday evening throughout the summer, Samaritan's Purse aircraft touch down on the gravel runway at Samaritan Lodge Alaska to the sights and sounds of a flag-waving crowd. In one way, it marks the end of a journey for weary military couples, but it's the beginning of something, too.
Many people across the country are praying for these wounded veterans and their spouses—that God will use their week in Alaska through Operation Heal Our Patriots to bring them both rest and a new start with God and each other.
Warrior Couples Find Healing in Alaska
Couples come to Alaska looking for a way to fix what's broken—broken relationships and marriages on the brink. Often they feel far from God.
But as they step away from daily life and distractions, many couples find hope awakening again as they go through six days of chaplain-led, Biblically based marriage enrichment training. Coursework and spiritual care are integral parts of their week, as are once-in-a-lifetime wilderness experiences in Lake Clark National Park and surrounding areas. They also connect with other couples who have faced a lot of the same struggles. Perhaps for the first time, they don't feel so alone.
"Each year we get to see God work powerfully in the lives of these couples as they become a part of the Operation Heal Our Patriots family. God has been faithful to restore and transform many lives and marriages devastated by the wounds of war. I'm grateful that our connection to these men and women doesn't end in Alaska. Our commitment to them is for life."
Operation Heal Our Patriots serves married veterans and active-duty military personnel who were wounded after 9/11. If that describes you and your spouse, please consider applying. Applications open 1 Feb. each year.
Apply NowON THE GROUND: For 17 weeks every summer, military veterans and their spouses are invited to Operation Heal Our Patriots for a week-long marriage retreat. Kristy Graham takes listeners behind-the-scenes to experience what these military couples do day by day, immersing them in what life is like at Samaritan Lodge Alaska. Hear how the Lord transforms marriages through Biblically based marriage classes, excursions in the beautiful Alaskan wilderness, and intentional conversations with chaplains, staff, and volunteers.
Lives Transformed
Operation Heal Our Patriots began more than 10 years ago in response to the epidemic of broken marriages among military families. The only real hope to change grim statistics is through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Since 2012, God has been faithful to transform lives and rescue marriages at this wilderness outpost. We have welcomed 1,904 couples since then to Samaritan Lodge Alaska and we praise God that 850 participants have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, 1,008 have been baptized by our chaplains in Lake Clark, and 961 couples have recommitted their marriages to God.
ONE COUPLE'S STORY
Surprised by God’s Grace
Tripp and Katie Butusov experienced forgiveness and new life in Jesus Christ.
Tripp and Katie Butusov arrived at Samaritan Lodge Alaska in a crisis of faith.
“I thought that God hated me,” Katie said. She'd lost loved ones and blamed herself. She also had a long list of unanswered prayers.
Army soldier Tripp had his own struggles. A dozen deployments between 2002-2010—some including intense combat situations—left him with severe post-traumatic stress. “I've been blown up several times,” he said. “You don't realize how it affects you until you're back amongst, let's call it, ‘normal people.’ My reactions didn't fit the situations.”
The return to civilian life was a rocky road, even with his understanding wife who had herself spent 12 years in the Marine Corps. Tripp's PTSD-fueled anger affected everyone around him. “Now I suffer mentally per se. Or other people suffer,” he said.
Previous church experiences had left Tripp feeling like he constantly failed God's standards. “Every time we would get to the last 15 minutes…you're like, oh my God, I'm failing here. I was here last week, I made some improvements, but here I am again.”
Both came to Operation Heal Our Patriots with skepticism. They felt Christianity might be pushed on them. Katie wondered if she was “too far gone” for God's love.
Just as their week in Alaska was beginning, Chaplain Dan Stephens asked the couple to talk. Here it comes, they thought. But it wasn't what they imagined.
Dan began a simple illustration, pulling out a $2 bill. He offered it to each of them. The couple wrestled with receiving something they hadn't earned.
“This is God's love for you,” Stephens told them. “It comes with no strings. It's there if you take it. So just take it.”
It helped them understand what they'd been wrestling for decades—grace, which is God's unmerited favor.
Tripp and Katie had come to Alaska hoping to calm their inner storm and find forgiveness. The simplicity of the Gospel astonished them.
“I'd been denying this aspect of my life,” Tripp said. “And there it was being offered to me like that $2 bill. I thought, I can just take it? Let go of everything and accept it?”
A little before 11 p.m. on June 2 they received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
The transformation was immediate. Katie, a self-described “foul-mouthed Marine,” said her language is cleaned up now. When she called her parents, they were “bawling their eyes out…we don't even know this person calling us right now.”
On Friday morning, the couple, now walking with Jesus Christ, recommitted their marriage to God and were baptized in Lake Clark. Please pray for the Butusovs as they begin walking with the Lord.
We praise God that so many military couples have experienced the healing power of Jesus Christ through the project over the last 10 years.
But Alaska is only the beginning.
For many couples, Alaska is a mountaintop experience in many ways. Going back home is hard. The problems are still there. But so is Operation Heal Our Patriots.
"The real work of ongoing discipleship begins when they're back home and dealing with life again," said John Pryor, a former Marine who now serves as director of Operation Heal Our Patriots.
Focus on Family Care
Operation Heal Our Patriots Family Care is the year-round, lifetime component of the program. When Franklin Graham tells military couples in Alaska "you're family now," this is what he means.
First, regional chaplains help connect Alaska alumni with local Christian congregations that are faithful to God’s Word. They also maintain regular contact with couples through phone calls, emails, texts, social media, web meetings, and in-person pastoral care sessions. Sometimes, chaplains will even make special trips to be present during major life events.
There are also various gatherings that provide new chances for veterans and their spouses to hear and respond to the Gospel—including Fortify Your Marriage weekends and chaplain-led regional events. In addition, we offer our annual Operation Heal Our Patriots Reunion.
Team Patriot Serves
The Family Care ministry also offers opportunities to serve through Team Patriot, a program in which veterans and spouses can serve U.S. homeowners who have been affected by natural disasters.
"Team Patriot provides a sense of purpose and community, but more importantly, it gets them involved in serving through the church," said Edward Graham, a retired Army Ranger and vice president of Operations at Samaritan's Purse. Edward is the youngest son of Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham.
"Imagine how it will impact a homeowner who's lost everything to see a wounded service member out in their yard helping them get back on their feet. We want these wounded men and women to remember that they are heroes and that God wants to use them."
Key Leaders
"Now God has placed our whole family in ministry, and we’re thankful we get to serve together. Operation Heal Our Patriots has created so many disciples, and veterans are now helping other veterans. God is doing so much and we’re honored to be a part of it."
Key Leaders Mentor
Finally, the ministry extends beyond the outreach of our chaplains and other staff members. It is also built upon connection and mutual support from other military couples in the program—more men and women who have their back and understand their struggles.
Through our Key Leader initiative, a group of military couples—all Operation Heal Our Patriots alumni—are pursuing their calling to teach and strengthen other couples in their marriages and in their walk with Christ. Key Leaders go through a year-long, chaplain-led training and mentorship process while also continuing to serve military couples in their communities.
Apply For Operation
Heal Our Patriots
Apply NowMarried U.S. military personnel, current and former, wounded in combat or combat-related activities since 9/11 are encouraged to fill out an Operation Heal Our Patriots application online at samaritanspurse.org/patriots-application. Applications for the summer season are accepted starting 1 Feb. each year.
All travel to and from Samaritan Lodge Alaska is planned, provided, and paid for by Samaritan's Purse.
Bless the Marriage of a Military Couple
Operation Heal Our Patriots helps military couples build a strong spiritual foundation during a week of Biblically based workshops, relationship-building wilderness activities, and individual care by our retired military chaplains. We offer all this free of charge to these American heroes as a token of our appreciation for their service and sacrifice. Your gift will help us cover the costs—including transportation, lodging, activities, and long-term Family Care—so that we can help them find hope in the Lord.
