WNALC Annual Gathering 2019

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” 

Hebrews 12: 1b (NIV)

More than 85 of our sisters in Christ worshipped together, joining in song, prayer, praise & thanksgiving in Indianapolis on August 6th, 2019.

Our Honorable Guest

The Rev. Leslie Haines

The Rev. Leslie Haines serves as executive director for Lutheran Military Veterans and Families Ministries, Inc. (LMVFM) She received an A.A. in Music, a B.A. in Criminal Justice, and an M.A. in Theology. She also completed “Clinical Pastoral Education” through a hospital chaplaincy training program, and she completed a residency training program for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.

In 1983, Chaplain Haines enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a Huey helicopter crew chief until 1988, when she graduated Officer Candidate School (OCS). Since 2001, Chaplain Haines served in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in Detainee Operations, as well as Kirkuk, Iraq, until she was injured and medevac’d to the U.S. for surgeries and treatment. In 2015, she retired as a major, serving in military police.

Chaplain Haines developed and planted LMVFM during her third year of seminary in 2007. She served her year-long deaconess internship by establishing the ministry in Fort Wayne. Upon graduation in 2009 from Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne), she accepted the call to serve as LMVFM’s executive director. In addition to her duties as the ministry’s chaplain and executive director, Leslie serves as the lead counselor for LMVFM, programs director and lead trainer for LMVFM’s training programs.

Chaplain Haines joined us as a keynote speaker in Indianapolis. She spoke to attendees about the negative impact deployment in the service has on our veterans’ mental health. Post Traumatic Stress, suicide & domestic violence are just a few things that affect our military men & women after they come home from combat zones. Service dog in-training Dooley (pictured right, with the Rev. Dr. Amy Schifrin) accompanied Chaplain Haines at the gathering & provided many opportunities for pets & hugs.

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