Speakers at the Bridges to Healing training seminar on Feb. 25 and 26 wanted to make it clear that, with training, anyone can help Soldiers who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  But no one human, they claim, can heal a PTSD sufferer:  Healing must come from above.

"God is the healer," said Bridges to Healing speaker Chris Adsit. "God wants you to be a bridge between Him and the wounded warrior."

Sponsored by the Northwest Military Ministry and Campus Crusade for Christ, the event brought area ministers, commanders and interested community members together at the Lakewood Boys and Girls Club. Over a two-day period, attendees learned ways to use their faith to help bridge the gap between PTSD sufferers and God. According to the event's speakers, it is this bridge that allows the Spirit of God to enter a PTSD sufferer's body and spirit, beginning the true road to healing.

"The answer to these problems is Jesus," said Shawn Schrader of the Northwest Military Ministry. "The military needs (the Christian) community."

Speakers at the event included Chris Adsit, who is the author of a book entitled The Combat Trauma Healing Manual; counselor Rahnella Adsit; combat veteran Josh Renschler and Schrader. It was Schrader who got the event rolling by outlining how members of faith living around Joint Base Lewis-McChord could lend their expertise to help Soldiers.

"We need to mobilize the church, equip the leaders and reach out to the military and their families," Shrader said in his opening statements.   

The first day of the event was partly geared toward teaching attendees about PTSD and Secondary Stress Disorder and the corresponding symptoms. Chris Adsit also spoke about the important elements of a healing environment.  He argued that a healthy healing environment is crucial to any sort of healing process, especially in cases involving PTSD.

The first step toward a healthy healing environment is making sure a PTSD sufferer has a relationship with God, he said. If a sufferer rejects God and puts up a wall keeping Him out of his or her life, then healing can't begin. "Until that wall is broken, we don't have anything to offer," he added. "The creator can't be excluded."

On the second day of the event, topics such as how to facilitate and organize support groups were discussed. Attendees were given pamphlets and completed workshops. The event was serious but joyful, with everyone eager to learn ways to help PTSD sufferers.   

"This is amazing stuff," said combat veteran Renschler. "The ministry is coming together to help our veterans."  

Renschler suffered from PTSD after his Stryker unit was struck by an IED in 2004, and he denied his condition for a long time. He said it wasn't until he received help from a local minister that he began to accept what had happened and move to a ‘new normal.'

"You come back from war expecting to be who you were when you left," Renschler said. "You need to start looking at the new normal and accept God's help."