A HIGHER CALLING - Chaplains for Veterans
A Program of the Institute for Living Intentionally

Helping veterans secure a share of the American dream they fought to protect

New Insights for Helping Veterans

Wednesday, 19 March 2014 03:30
Written by Kevin S. Bemel
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Are you looking for fresh insights into helping service members, veterans, and their family members deal with the challenges of transitioning to civilian life?

Rabbi Kevin Bemel, one of the founders of A HIGHER CALLING – Chaplains for Veterans, will be participating in a forum sponsored by Loyola Marymount University on Healing Moral Injury and PTSD. If you will be in Los Angeles on April 2 please plan to attend what will be an enlightening evening. For more information and to register please click here.

Forum sponsored by Loyola Marymount University on Healing Moral Injury and PTSD

Please pass this along to someone you know who can use this information or serves our veterans. Comment here.

 

© 2014, Kevin S. Bemel, All Rights Reserved

Did you know George Washington said . . . ?

Tuesday, 18 February 2014 03:30
Written by Kevin S. Bemel
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Portrait of George Washington

George Washington wrote his Farewell Address as an open letter to “The People of the United States.” It was first published in the American Daily Advertiser on September 19, 1796. Soon thereafter it was republished in periodicals across the country and as a pamphlet.

Among the many ideas President Washington expressed is:

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

We at A HIGHER CALLING – Chaplains for Veterans work to make sure that veterans and their family members continue to have the spiritual support that our first President and Commander-in-Chief thought was so important to sustaining happiness.

By dialing toll-free, (800) 80-VETS-4 [800-808-3874], any veteran from World War II to the Gulf Wars can speak to a chaplain. So can their family members. They will not be asked in which branch they served, whether they were wounded or disabled, what type of discharge they received, or if they have a religious affiliation. They will have to answer only one question:

“How may I help you?”

In honor of George Washington’s birthday please tell a veteran or friend about our program. We are available round-the-clock to speak with veterans and their family members as they transition back to civilian life.

Simply send them the link to our website: http://www.living-intentionally.org/ or pass along our telephone number, (800) 80-VETS-4 [800-808-3874].

We deeply appreciate your helping us in our mission to help veterans secure a share of the American dream they fought to protect.

Please pass our number, (800) 80-VETS-4, along to one veteran that you know. Thank you for commenting below.

 

© 2014, Kevin S. Bemel, All Rights Reserved

Honoring the Four Immortal Chaplains

Monday, 03 February 2014 03:30
Written by Kevin S. Bemel
0 Comments

Have you heard the story of the Four Chaplains? Being that today is Four Chaplains Day, please take two minutes to read this remarkable story of heroism.

The Four Immortal Chaplains

Humanity was in the throes of World War II when in the early hours of 3 February 1943 a torpedo from a German submarine, U-223, hit the Dorchester, an armed troop transport carrying more than 900 men. The ship started sinking quickly amidst ammonia and fuel oil in the freezing waters 100 miles off the coast of Greenland.

Among the first on deck were four chaplains: Father John Washington (Catholic), Reverend Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed), Rabbi Alexander Goode (Jewish), and Reverend George Fox (Methodist). Having handed out every life jacket, they took off their own and gave them to other men seeking to escape the fast sinking ship.

In about 18 minutes the Dorchester sunk. Witnesses saw the four chaplains standing arm-in-arm on the hull of the ship as it submerged, praying for the safety of the men in their charge.

Coast Guard Cutters Comanche and Escanaba violated orders and searched for survivors, eventually rescuing 230 men. The four chaplains were not among them.

Dan Kurzman tells this story movingly in his wonderful book No Greater Glory – The Four Immortal Chaplains and the Sinking of the Dorchester in World War II.

Working in memory of the Four Chaplains, my colleagues, Father Christopher Allen and Dr. Bryan Dove, and I seek to serve our nation’s veterans and their families through A HIGHER CALLING – Chaplains for Veterans . By calling toll-free, (800) 80-VETS-4 [800-808-3874] those who have served can speak with a chaplain round-the-clock regardless of the branch in which they served, whether they were wounded or disabled, what type of discharge they received, or if they have a religious affiliation.

Please honor the memory of the Four Chaplains by supporting our work. Any amount will help and be appreciated. Become an active partner in tending to the spiritual and emotional care of our veterans and their family members by contributing a minimum of $18 per month, the cost to help one veteran. Enlist in A HIGHER CALLING – Chaplains for Veterans Active Duty Program and join with us in helping veterans secure a share of the American dream they fought to preserve. Donate here.

Please pass our number along to one veteran that you know and then join us on Active Duty here! Comment here.

 

© 2014, Kevin S. Bemel, All Rights Reserved

A Higher Calling Launches Today!

Wednesday, 29 January 2014 03:30
Written by Kevin S. Bemel
0 Comments

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!

I am thrilled to announce the launch of A HIGHER CALLING – Chaplains for Veterans

Round-the-clock chaplain access for veterans and their family members

A Helping Hand for Veterans

By dialing toll-free, (800) 80-VETS-4 [800-808-3874], any veteran from World War II to the Gulf Wars can speak to a chaplain. So can their family members. They will not be asked in which branch they served, whether they were wounded or disabled, what type of discharge they received, or if they have a religious affiliation. They will have to answer only one question:

“How may I help you?”

For many service members a chaplain was their lifeline at a time of dire need. Spiritual crisis, emotional trauma, physical debility, a chaplain is there for active duty personnel. But such difficulties do not end when a veteran sheds his uniform for the last time. Confronted with transitioning to civilian life, the need for chaplain support can be greater. But . . .

  • Active duty chaplains are busy taking care of their soldiers, Marines, sailors, airmen, and Coastguardsmen. Many of them are deployed with their people. They simply cannot shoulder the responsibility of caring for veterans.
  • The Veterans Administration does not have enough chaplains to minister to the patients in their hospitals, let alone their clinics and other facilities.
  • Wounded Warriors, The Soldiers Project, and other worthwhile organizations are taking care of the critically wounded, physically and emotionally, or training heath care professionals to do so better.

What about the veterans who do not have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or are not disabled to the point where they rate care at a VA facility? To where can they turn at a moment of crisis and know they can speak to someone who understands their situation, has shared their experiences?

Two of my colleagues, Father Christopher Allen and Dr. Bryan Dove, and I started A HIGHER CALLING – Chaplains for Veterans to fill this gap. You can learn more about this exciting new venture at the website for the Institute for Living Intentionally.

Do you know a veteran who needs help? Pass along our number, (800) 80-VETS-4 [800-808-3874]. Heck, tell anyone who is willing to listen we are here to help veterans and their families.

Would you like to support our work? Come on active duty with us. You will not have to go to boot camp and have a drill sergeant scream at you day and night (unless you want to – we will arrange it)! By contributing a minimum of $18 per month, the cost to help one veteran, you can enlist in A HIGHER CALLING – Chaplains for Veterans Active Duty Program and be our partner in helping veterans secure a share of the American dream they fought to preserve. Donate here.

Please pass our number along to one veteran that you know and then join us on Active Duty here! Comment below.

© 2014, Kevin S. Bemel, All Rights Reserved

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