More than 700 couples gathered to worship God and to grow in their faith and marriages during the Operation Heal Our Patriots Reunion.
Mike Beaulieu experienced a life-changing encounter with God during a week of marriage training in Alaska through Operation Heal Our Patriots. His faith and resolve to live for Christ were strengthened like never before.
“Everything feels great when you leave Alaska, but the battle isn’t over,” he said. “Alaska course corrected me back toward God’s path, but when I got home, I got off track.”
Mike and his wife, Wendy, returned home and the old demons were waiting. Mike struggled to find purpose and felt like he was walking in darkness. But this time the Beaulieu family was not alone in their struggle.
Mike and Wendy Beaulieu now serve as a Key Leader couple, using their story to lead others in their walk with Christ.
“Operation Heal Our Patriots was there immediately,” Mike said. “They continued to keep me on the path.”
Now, 10 years later, Mike and Wendy are not only thriving but they’re serving as a Key Leader couple and investing in the lives of other military couples.
Their powerful testimony kicked off the 2024 Operation Heal Our Patriots Reunion, Feb. 22-25, in Aurora, Colorado. This year’s reunion was the largest ever, with more than 700 couples attending. The weekend event included worship, fellowship, and workshops on marriage and spiritual renewal.
Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham addressed the group of veteran couples with truth from God's Word.
Other Key Leader couples shared stories of God’s grace and redemption throughout the Reunion. Our Key Leader program helps couples like the Beaulieus connect with Alaska alumni in their area to build community and continue growing in their marriage and relationship with Christ.
“We thank God for what He’s done in Mike’s life and in many of your lives,” said Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham. “Life is tough. But we put our faith and trust in Christ. There’s no one here that has gone too far or done too much that God can’t forgive.”
Answering God’s Call
Graham’s youngest son, Edward, is a former Army Ranger and now serves as chief operating officer of Samaritan’s Purse. He shared with his fellow veterans and their spouses how God called him to leave the military and come to Samaritan’s Purse.
“God moved His hand and I had to go. I was comfortable in the Ranger Regiment and in special operations. But God’s time with me there had ended,” he said. “Now, I’m where God called me. I’m in His purpose.”
Edward Graham, chief operating officer for Samaritan’s Purse and a retired Army Ranger, encouraged other veteran couples to pursue Christ.
He used the example of Peter walking on water to illustrate how believers must be willing to get out of their comfort zone and follow Christ. When Peter saw Jesus walking on water, he jumped out of the boat and joined the Savior on the waves.
“If you want to be part of a miracle, you’ve got to get out of the boat,” Edward Graham said. “That boat was Peter’s comfort zone. It looked a lot safer to stay in the boat than to go where Jesus Christ was.”
Although Peter loved Jesus, he still made mistakes. Jesus rebuked Peter several times when he took his eyes off the Savior’s Kingdom purposes. Peter even denied Christ three times before the crucifixion.
But in John 21, Peter receives his final course correction from Jesus. He reinstated Peter, forgiving him for his denial and telling him to care for the sheep and lambs—His followers.
Edward Graham took time to speak with Operation Heal Our Patriots couples.
“When Peter was restored, he never went back to his comfort zone; he never went back to fishing. His calling was to make fishers of men.”
Edward Graham then challenged the audience to surrender everything to God. “We all have the same calling—it’s to serve and worship the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Building a Strong Foundation
Greg Laurie pastors Harvest Christian Fellowship and has led large-scale evangelistic events for 25 years.
But there was a time when he never imagined this path for his life. Laurie’s parents were divorced and he grew up in a home where alcohol reigned. He began drinking and partying in high school.
Laurie’s life changed when he met Christian students who were bold in their faith. He surrendered his life to Christ and committed to doing life God’s way – including his marriage. He has been married to Cathe for 50 years.
Pastor Greg Laurie used his own experience with his marriage to encourage the military couples.
“Our marriage has been tested like everybody else’s. We do not have a perfect marriage. The reason we’ve stood the test of time is because we built it on a strong foundation.”
His exhortation on Friday night to the Operation Heal Our Patriots alumni was to make Jesus their firm foundation, which was critical for him and Cathe after their son died 14 years ago—a time he described as the hardest in their marriage.
Laurie said that if couples want their marriage to survive the dark days they must remember that God’s design for marriage is for man and woman to “leave and cleave.”
“Your relationship with your spouse supersedes all others. Your spouse should be your best friend. You’re united in goals, plans, and efforts.”
Laurie spoke to the Biblical command for husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church and for wives to respect their husbands. “None of these things can be done without the help of God,” he said.
At the end of his message, Laurie invited anyone who wanted to receive Christ as Savior or to recommit their life to Him to offer a prayer of repentance and commitment. “Christ can break the cycle of sin and write a new story for you, but you must call out to Him,” he said.
Our chaplains prayed with many couples and individuals at the reunion.
Overcoming Discouragement
Later at the reunion, Don Wilton, who served as Billy Graham’s pastor for more than 20 years, used Nehemiah 4 as a framework for understanding how to rise above discouragement. God gave Nehemiah the important task of rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem, but Nehemiah could have chosen to quit after experiencing opposition.
“What did Nehemiah do? He talked to God. If you want provision, if you need forgiveness, if you need to know anything, talk to God,” Wilton said.
Don Wilton shared from the story of Nehemiah, exhorting couples to trust God.
Wilton encouraged the veterans and their spouses to follow Nehemiah’s example of never giving up and trusting that God will sustain. “Don’t be afraid. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God is the One who said He would never leave you nor forsake you.”
He challenged them to put on the full armor of God so they can withstand the devil’s schemes. “He’s going to try and infiltrate your heart. Just because you’re a believer doesn’t mean that the devil doesn’t have your number,” Wilton said.
Wilton also urged daily Bible reading to overcome discouragement: “This Word is a light unto our feet and a light unto our pathway.”
Living a Life Devoted to God
Tim Lee lost both of his legs during a landmine explosion in Vietnam while serving with the Marines. Up until then, he had refused to live in a way that honored God.
“I made up my mind that I could live my own life. I rebelled at school, against God, and against mom and dad,” he said. “God would speak to my heart, but I wouldn’t listen.”
Double amputee and Vietnam War veteran, Tim Lee, used his testimony to point to God’s faithfulness.
Lee still remembers a fellow Marine who read the Bible often and loved God. “I knew this was the testimony I was supposed to have. But I wouldn’t do it.”
The turning point came when Lee was injured and doctors didn’t expect him to live. Lee asked God to spare his life and promised to follow Him the rest of his days.
Lee has since devoted his life to evangelism, having preached in all 50 states and many countries around the world.
On Sunday morning, Lee also offered an invitation for anyone who wanted to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. “I was the prodigal son,” he said. “If you don’t know Jesus, then your life is incomplete. Come home today.”
We praise God for the thousands of lives transformed through Operation Heal Our Patriots over the years.
We praise God for the many individuals who made a decision for Jesus Christ during the 2024 Reunion. Please pray for these military couples as they seek to live for God and to be a Gospel witness among friends and family and in their communities.
