Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: Ministering to Returning Combat Veterans

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: Ministering to Returning Combat Veterans, written by David A. Thompson and Darlene Wetterstrom and published by Abingdon Press in 2009, discusses ministering to a population many churches ignore either because they’re unaware of their needs or just don’t know how to address them. The book’s scope goes beyond the title to not only instruct churches on how to minister to returning combat veterans but also how to help their families before, during, and after deployment, and in the case of a military casualty.

Both authors are well qualified to deal with the issues they address. David A. Thompson is a Licensed Professional Counselor who assists deploying and returning soldiers and their families and has personally experienced several military deployments. Darlene F. Wetterstrom is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker experienced with military families. It is clear that they have a handle on the unique mental, emotional, and spiritual challenges faced by those in the military and their families. Throughout the book there are case histories of military personnel which help the reader see into the soldier’s psyche; this understanding of the inner life of these individuals is essential for those in the church who wish to address their specific needs as well as the needs of their families.

The tone of the book is respectful of the military but also recognizes that those in the church have varying viewpoints on the moral issues regarding war and the military. Chapter Six addresses moral and spiritual issues facing soldiers and their families and has an overview of Christian teaching on war and peace with descriptions of topics such as the pacifist position, just war theory, and ethical situations in war. This background is important so that a person ministering to veterans can “be a helpful resource for a service person seeking guidance on ethical issues and actions.” The point is made that some veterans will struggle with moral or ethical failure due to their wartime service and those ministering to them need to “share the gospel of grace and forgiveness.”

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is well organized and laid out and covers an impressive amount of material in under 120 pages. It is full of practical tips; the first six chapters each conclude with a “Tips for Ministry” section with clear instructions for putting the information just presented into practical use. Chapter Seven deals with how to create a military family-friendly church and lists specific ideas for military outreach at the pre-deployment, deployment and post-deployment stages. There is information about programs such as Adopt a Soldier and Operation Paperback which can get the entire church involved in this ministry. The authors have provided a valuable tool for today’s church to reach out to this often forgotten population.