Two Christian United States military veterans are in the middle a 47-day, cross-country bicycle tour to raise awareness for post traumatic stress disorder and aim to raise $1 million to support a growing, God-centered ministry that helps combat veterans overcome their struggles by helping them accept God’s will for their lives.
As estimates show that at least 22 U.S. military veterans die from suicide every day, U.S. Marine veteran Michael Priddy and U.S. Army veteran David Allison embarked on a 2,700-mile No Man Rides Alone bicycle tour on April 28 with the goal of connecting other military veterans with the spiritual help that they need to overcome their struggles with PTSD.
The two men launched their voyage in Squaw Valley, California, and will ride from town-to-town until they reach the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia.
Priddy, who spoke to The Christian Post last week during a tour stop in Springfield, Missouri, explained that his purpose during the trip is to let veterans who are struggling with PTSD, like he did, know that hope and a permanent change for their lives can be found through the miracle of God’s healing grace.
Priddy, who served in the War in Iraq and served as a Department of Defense contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan, told CP that his own struggles with PTSD led to a divorce, made his kids want nothing to do with him and even made him feel like a monster. However, he was finally able to quell the disorder when he took part in a six-day retreat program run by the faith-based ministry Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs in August 2014.
As previously reported by CP, Mighty Oaks, which has seven outposts throughout the U.S., runs six-day programs designed to help veterans and active duty military personnel suffering from PTSD contrast how they are currently living their lives, to the “biblical blueprint” that God has laid out for their lives.
Despite the fact that 22 veterans and 1 active duty service member commits suicide every day, none of the 1,000 Mighty Oaks alums has committed suicide.
Priddy told CP that the secret to the success behind Mighty Oaks program is found in the instance when participating veterans personally decide to take the crucial step to refocus their lives around God.
“It’s just the gospel of Jesus Christ and the healing power that can only come from Him and when the men decide to accept Christ,” Priddy explained. “It is just that instance when you make that decision and that instance that you get it and finally submit and fall to the altar and say, ‘Ok God, do with me what You will.’ That is the thing that starts the healing process.”
“As any person of faith knows, you are going to struggle everyday. But, Mighty Oaks creates a brotherhood that we missed from the military — the comradery — it’s all the same kind of men who are going through the same things. We are all just going to keep marching towards being Christ-like every single day and that is where the healing comes from,” he continued. “The suicide gets taken off of the table from there and it is just no longer a thought because you have a purpose for life.”
Priddy became an instructor at Mighty Oaks’ Sacramento-area outpost, which opened up in February 2015 and partners with the faith-based non-profit The Eternity Challenge.
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SOURCE: SAMUEL SMITH
Christian Post
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