Vets for Vets

THE PROBLEM:

Post Traumatic Stress

Many war veterans are suffering today from PostTraumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is a new name for an old story. After the Civil War it was nostalgia, for WWI it was shell shock, in WWII and Korea it was called combat fatigue. No matter what the term, the symptoms are the same, and most veterans who suffer with it will only identify with another veteran who has had like experiences.

The Horrors of War And Its Consequences

Unlike other victims of traumas, war veterans carry scars that few humans ever experience. While the ministry of Point Man is helping veterans "make peace with their past," we still must consider these devastating results:

292,131 Americans died in WWII, which lasted only four years. Of the 800,000 who saw direct combat, 37.5 percent became serious emotional casualties.

Most Korean War veterans still feel unacknowledged for their sacrifices, and many have been plagued with readjustment problems over the years. Twenty-five percent of the 198,380 who were in combat suffer from emotional debilitation.

Between 40 & 60 percent of all Vietnam veterans have persistent problems with emotional adjustment. While only 58,000± died during the 16 years of the Vietnam war, more than 150,000 have committed suicide since the war ended

The suicide rate for Vietnam veterans is 33% higher than that of the general population.

Stress from the Gulf War is now surfacing. According to the VA, "The war, although short, posed distinctive dangers of Post Traumatic Stress because of the people who fought in it. Female troops, national guard and reserve troops called to active duty with little warning, parents of small children and ethno-cultural minorities are all at increased risk of PTSD."

Fifty to seventy-five percent of veterans are involved in drug and alcohol abuse problems.

Unemployment of vets is twice the national average.

Estimates are that fifty-percent of the homeless population are veterans.

THE SOLUTION:

A Ministry By Vets For Vets

Point Man International Ministries, a non-profit Christian organization formed in 1984 to bring spiritual and emotional healing to veterans and their families suffering from "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" (PTSD). The organization was initially established to support Vietnam veterans, but has since expanded to reach soldiers and veterans of all wars. Join a ministry of veterans who have found healing only through Jesus Christ, who are taking the message of freedom, hope, and healing to their brothers in arms, through education, retreats, one-on-one counseling, support groups, workshops and conferences.

Building Relationships

Identification and availability are two key elements in effective interpersonal communications. Experts have shown that these two elements when present in a communication exchange are the icebreakers, the bridge through which relationships are connected. After all, that's a key reason Jesus Christ became man. The Christian veterans in Point Man Ministries have found that bonding, sharing, and forgiving are the vital steps to a recovered life.

Point Man Vision

An International network of small support groups, or "outposts," of Christian veterans meeting and praying for one another and evangelizing vets in their own communities throughout the world.

Developing Ministry Tools

As the ministry continues to grow and needs are identified, Point Man stands in the gap. Publishing efforts include multiple tracts for use in ministering to veterans and their families and targeting known felt needs of those still struggling with PTSD and other war related problems.

Restoration of Families

The strategy for healing that Point Man has found effective in dealing with the veteran is now being offered to the wives and children through the companion outreach of Project: HOMEFRONT. Homefront strives to bring peace to the home through cooperative ventures with the Outpost, support groups, retreats, conferences, and workshops.

Growth Continues

The primary reason for our tremendous growth is that Point Man is meeting a need untouched by Vet Centers or the VA. Moreover, because so many in the Church do not understand the problems or the spiritual implications of PTSD, Point Man has become a welcome addition to many church outreach programs.

Faith Supported Ministry

Point Man is a faith ministry. It receives no government money, no denominational support, and no income from grants or foundations. Since it's inception, Point Man has existed solely on gifts from friends and veterans across the country.

Warren First Church of the Nazarene

Warren First Church of the Nazarene is pleased to help with a small-group ministry that offers veteran men, women and veteran member families friendship, education, counseling, support, and any form of healing or help.

Our Point Man is Bob Towles, of Windham, Ohio, a veteran of the Vietnam War. Bob is Past National Commander of the Combat Infantrymen's Association and a member of the Ohio Military Hall of Fame. Bob is very active in local and national efforts to educate people on the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Warren First Church of the Nazarene is dedicated to meeting the needs of people. We have a church filled with loving, helpful, friendly people. We meet in small groups during the week and on Sunday we gather for Sunday School Bible Fellowships and Praise and Worship celebration time.