Reservist Training Packs a Powerful Message

Back in January, Hope Force hosted another round of Reservist Training - a weekend that saw doctors, business owners, nurses, and students converge on Nashville to take the next step in becoming involved with first-response recovery relief in disaster situations. Both Steven Greenhaw, a graduate student currently studying counseling, and Dr. Mary McDonald, a large animal veterinarian, found the seminar extremely worthwhile and spiritually challenging.

Steven's interest in Hope Force initially grew from a recommendation of a friend who said he should check out being a reservist. His friend described it as "life-changing," and Steven said attending the seminar sounded like a good fit. "I have a heart for service and also I was really interested in learning more about serving in a disaster relief setting."

What Steven received at the seminar initially surprised him; instead of a "chainsaw 101" hands-on disaster relief training, the focus of the continuous sessions throughout the days tilted more towards the spiritual realm. "It was rigorous and demanding, but the content of the sessions was incredible. It was very informative and life-giving. I learned about my identity in Christ and how my self-image is who I perceive myself to be, but identity is who I actually am in Christ. I learned how to change negative thinking patterns and replace the lies I have believed about myself with the truth of who God says I am."

Steven has grown up in the Church his entire life, yet labeled the weekend's sessions as being "some of the most powerful I have been to in my life. After attending the seminar, I was very impressed by the godliness, sincerity, and excellence displayed in each of the facilitators of the program."

Dr. McDonald was also impacted by the content of the weekend's sessions. A former veterinary missionary for three years in Bolivia, she worked with Christian Veterinarian Missions, which helps people in rural areas with their animals for the sake of bettering their livelihood. She continues to partner with them in Virginia and mobilizes veterinarians and students to use their profession for God's glory. She came to the weekend seminar with the hopes of one day partnering her organization with Hope Force's efforts.

"Hope Force does a lot of first responding. A veterinarian would be able to help with animals, livestock, and dogs and cats to help alleviate pains, euthanize, or whatever is needed. Animals can also be left to suffer or die and become a part of the problem in spreading different diseases, so our presence would be helpful."

Dr. McDonald said all she really knew about Hope Force before coming to Nashville was that they do disaster relief work and was initially surprised to see their primary focus that weekend was not situational training, but rather, the spiritual strength of their reservists.

"The first day was a great talk about the power of identity in Christ . . . and that we respond to anything in our life -- particularly a disaster situation -- out of who we are. Another talk was about understanding grief and bereavement as you may encounter people during disasters that you can help counsel or walk through those situations. The next day we talked about relationships, which are really important if you?re working on a team with all the stresses that come from being in a disaster situation."

Dr. McDonald references Hope Force's holistic approach and spiritual focus as the seminar's biggest strength and said she has taken the material she gleaned in Nashville back with her to Virginia. "I bought all the CDs and DVDs and have been listening to them since then, particularly the ones on identity in Christ and the power of that. I've been using a lot of that material as I disciple women and students. I think this issue of identity enables us to deal with stuff in our past and allows us to forgive and move on and let Christ come in and heal the broken parts so we can minister from wholeness."

Dr. McDonald left the seminar saying, "I think every Christian should go do this course in disaster because I think we need to, as Christians, be the first responders because we have inalienable hope to give to those in these situations."

If you are interested in becoming a Hope Force reservist, you can get more information here or e-mail our Training Coordinator with any questions you may have.