The year's first group of wounded veterans and their spouses has landed at Samaritan Lodge Alaska for Biblically based marriage enrichment.
This past weekend Samaritan’s Purse welcomed 10 military couples to Samaritan Lodge Alaska for the start of the seventh summer season of Operation Heal Our Patriots. Staff and couples started their time on Monday with a special observance of Memorial Day.
Military couples are warmly greeted at Samaritan Lodge Alaska on May 27 after being flown in from Anchorage aboard our aircraft. Tanalian Mountain provides a spectacular backdrop for the scene.
Each week for the next 15 weeks, May 27 to Sept. 7, wounded U.S. service members and their spouses will participate in a time of Biblically based marriage enrichment training. They will dive into practical marriage classes led by retired military chaplains and enjoy once-in-a-lifetime activities in the Alaska wilderness. One hundred fifty couples are expected to participate. In addition, a 16th week—Sept. 9-14—at the end of the season is reserved for 10 Canadian military couples.
Since its start in 2012, 843 couples have become a part of the Operation Heal Our Patriots family. More than 340 individuals have made decisions for Christ, 428 have been baptized, and nearly 400 couples have recommitted their marriages to God.
“These husbands and wives have sacrificed so much for the sake of our liberty, and we are now seeing many of them find true freedom in the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse.
In addition to the physical and spiritual refreshment offered in Alaska, couples become part of our long-term aftercare program. Our staff make personal contact on a regular basis, provide connections to local churches, prepare an annual reunion, and organize various regional activities.
This Samaritan’s Purse project is open to married military personnel who’ve been wounded or injured in combat or combat-related activities since 9/11 and their spouses.
We pray many more couples experience the life-transforming power of the Gospel this year through Operation Heal Our Patriots. Please join us in praying for this season’s military couples, our retired military chaplains, and all the Samaritan Lodge staff and volunteers as we kick off Operation Heal Our Patriots 2018.
Army Staff Sergeant Kyle Welch receives a hero's welcome at the start of the 2018 Operation Heal Our Patriots summer season.
This story was originally published May 26 and has been updated on May 28, 29, and 31.
