In June 2009, we met a young man who had been a fellow soldier and had served during the early years of the War on Terror. After completing his service obligation and returning to civilian life, he had sustained an electrical-burn injury in an accident. Electrical burns are especially devastating because of the internal injuries that occur as the voltage passes through the body. The electricity entered through the back of his head and exited through his face. He is in a long and arduous reconstruction process now, but the fact that he is alive and still functioning, both mentally and physically, is miraculous. As we visited with him, the love and grace of Christ shone clearly through him in the midst of his suffering. So many burn victims we have met have demonstrated the strength that only comes from the Lord.
In early 2006, we met a family in southern Virginia that was enduring the challenges brought by the father’s critical-burn injury from an accident with molten steel. We met them through mutual friends from our church in DC, and we were able to encourage them in their recovery. Nearly four years later, we are still friends, and they send us updates on how they are doing.
This scenario often repeats itself with others we have met. At other times, our opportunity to offer encouragement is simply through a phone call or a letter, along with a copy of Refined by Fire and a financial gift. Sometimes we will receive a thank-you note several months later, telling us how a family was encouraged by our contact. We don’t always know how our ministry may bless a burn survivor, but as President John Quincy Adams said, “The duty is ours, the results are the Lord’s.” We are always amazed by how the Lord knits lives together and how he puts the right people in our lives. We pray he is glorified through our ministry.
We would be remiss if we did not offer our sincere thanks to those who have graciously and generously donated to our small ministry. At the time of this writing, Face the Fire Ministries has provided more than $190,000 in financial gifts to civilian burn survivors, wounded and burned military personnel, and several burn centers across the country.
In 2005, we established a fund at Fort Sam Houston in Texas to provide childcare at no cost for families of wounded service members recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center. We have replenished those dollars on two occasions since our original gift, ensuring that spouses and parents can get a respite from caring for small children while attending to a wounded spouse or son or daughter. Our most recent gift to a burn center was to Shriners Hospitals for Children, which operates burn centers in Sacramento, Boston, Galveston, and Cincinnati. Mel and I take no salary or income from the ministry, so all donations go directly to help burn survivors and their families.
By God’s great kindness, Face the Fire Ministries exists because of the story God authored, using Mel and me in spite of ourselves. It is a mighty privilege to visit with burn patients and their families, and to try to comfort them as we were comforted.
Psalm 31 could have easily been written in a burn unit. It captures so vividly the need for refuge and strength, pleading for healing among the ever-present fear of the unknown. Yet it ends by reminding us that the Lord preserves us, and thus we are to be strong and courageous.
Finally, let me bring you up-to-date with my own recovery. In the summer of 2005, I had my final reconstructive surgery. Barring new medical breakthroughs that make it possible to fix what cannot be fixed now, I am done with my recovery. It seems incredible that Matt was twelve at the time of the attack and is now a student at Texas Tech, looking at the reality of adulthood ahead of him. He is seeking the Lord’s direction in what career path he will take in just a couple of years. Mel and I pray for the Lord to guide and bless his decision making for his future and direction in life.
In 2007, we returned to Texas after a twenty-year Army career culminating in Washington DC. Though we miss the daily or weekly interaction with our many friends in DC, with whom we get to visit on the occasional trip back, we do not miss the pace, expense, or traffic in our nation’s capital. We are making many new friends here in Texas—“the Promised Land,” as a dear friend calls it. We’re grateful to live in a great nation, and a great state, with great opportunities, and to be blessed by our sovereign Lord. We ask for your prayers for the wisdom and discernment to heed the Lord’s call on the direction our lives will take from here. We thank you for your prayers and your support over the years, and we pray the Lord will richly bless you. We also ask for your prayers and your support for the men and women who have put on the uniform of our nation’s military, raised their right hands in support of our Constitution, and willingly placed themselves in harm’s way, and who now endure the challenges of separation from family and the rigors of the pace of operations in our nation’s War on Terror.
Brian and Mel Birdwell
December 2009
Acknowledgments
* * *
Journal Entry 10/5/01
I praise you, God, for all the people you have used, your chosen angels, to spare Brian, to pull him from that inferno.
* * *
We are so grateful and indebted to the following people:
Matt Birdwell: Son, thank you for always being a trooper and for understanding. God will use you in mighty ways! We love you.
Americans of faith who prayed for our family
B&B Media, Tina Jacobson, Vicki Andrews, and staff
Shirley Baldwin, for your friendship and love
Col. (Dr.) John Baxter
Col. Robin Davitt
Capt. (Dr.) Brandon Goff
TSgt. Jill Hyson
Cpl. Dan Nimrod
Spc. Kris Sorenson
Lt. Col. (Dr.) Dave Kristo, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Georgetown University Hospital, Dr. Michael Williams, and staff
Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Marion Jordan, Dr. James Jeng, and the awesome Burn Center staff
Dennis and Joyce Boykin, for years of friendship and caring for our puppy
Maj. John Collison, for being the ring bearer in the emergency room
Col. Robert Cortez
The guys who carried me (Brian) out of Corridor 4 in the Pentagon:
Lt. Col. Bill McKinnon
Col. Karl Knoblauch
Col. John Davies
Lt. Col. Thomas Cleary
Lt. Col. Gerald Barrett
Col. Roy Wallace
Paul and Holly Fine
Charles and Eloise Clarke, for loving me (Mel) even though your pain was so great. You gave me a wonderful blessing by allowing me to spend so much time with you. I love you.
The Fronks: Connie, thanks for being there for us.
Immanuel Bible Church, Pastor Michael Easley, the staff, and body of believers. What an incredible witness you are for Jesus Christ.
Dennis Jernigan and Shepherd’s Heart Music for your friendship and gift of music
Kansas City Chiefs NFL Club and their great fans
Gen. John Keane, for your “muddy boots” hugs
Karen Mann: I (Mel) love you, friend. Thanks for all the prayers, tears, and middle-of-the-night phone calls.
Jan Menig, for giving up your tee time to be at the hospital
Natalie Ogletree, for being the most precious gift God gave us in our most desperate time of need
My (Brian’s) mom, Loretta, and stepfather Patrick Reves, for training me up as a child should go, according to Proverbs 22:6
Col. Dane Rota, for being a great big brother. Thanks for everything and for always being there when I (Mel) needed you most.
Gen. Eric and Patty Shinseki, for your leadership, friendship, and constant encouragement
The United States Army, for a great twenty years
Dept. of the Army Public Affairs team, for their service
Scott and Debbie Vance: Thanks, friends. We love you. That’s all.
Maj. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, for being a great godly influence and for all our Saturday morning visits
Kathryn Weeden and the Senate Page school
Capt. Calvin Wineland, the NASCAR wannabe
The YOU Sisters, my (Mel’s) great friends who supported me through this crazy time. Thanks for your love and encouragement. YOU are the best!
Fellow burn survivors
John, Tick, Louise, Kevin, Juan, Dave, and Wayne
and
THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, JESUS CHRIST
Bibliography
Resources
Books
Munster, Andrew M., M.D., and Glorya Hale. Severe Burns: A Family Guide to Medical and Emotional Recovery. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993.
Yancey, Philip. Where Is God When It Hurts? Zondervan, 1990.
Swindoll, Charles R. Why, God? Word Publishing Group, 2001.
Web sites
Face the Fire Ministries, Inc.
www.facethefire.org
Immanuel Bible Church
www.immanuelbible.net
Burn-related resources
Tampa General Hospital Regional Burn Center
http://www.tgh.org/burn1.htm
The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, Inc.
http://www.phoenix-society.org
http://www.burnsurvivor.org
National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research
(This is a great resource to familiarize yourself with burn rehab.)
http://www.ncddr.org/rr/burn
American Burn Association
www.ameriburn.org
Scriptures for Comfort
We leaned on these verses for comfort and strength through the dark days of Brian’s hospital stay.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
He keeps the feet of His godly ones, but the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail. Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered; against them He will thunder in the heavens, the Lord will judge the ends of the earth; and He will give strength to His king, and will exalt the horn of His anointed. 1 Samuel 2:9-10
Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven, with the saving strength of His right hand. Psalm 20:6
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1
The Lord is their strength, and He is a saving defense to His anointed.
Psalm 28:8
The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. Psalm 29:11
The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; from His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works. The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength. . . .
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in You. Psalm 33:13-16, 18-22
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel and His strength is in the skies. O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!
Psalm 68:34-35
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.” Psalm 91
The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Psalm 93:1
For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are His also.
Psalm 95:3-4
Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Psalm 96:6
On the day I called, You answer me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3
O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle. Psalm 140:7
The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright, but ruin to the workers of iniquity. Proverbs 10:29
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power. For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. Proverbs 24:3-6
Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock. For He has brought low those who dwell on high, the unassailable city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He casts it to the dust. The foot will trample it, the feet of the afflicted, the steps of the helpless. The way of the righteous is smooth; O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level. Isaiah 26:4-7
And He will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is his treasure. Isaiah 33:6
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From His innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” John 7:37-38
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Face the Fire Ministries
Face the Fire Ministries, Inc. seeks to assist burn survivors, as well as our servicemen and women who are wounded in combat, their families, and the medical facilities that specialize in their care.
Healing from such traumatic injuries is a long and arduous process. Our hope is to provide comfort for those facing such difficult physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges. Through these efforts we hope that others are healed, strengthened, and encouraged as we labor in the Spirit and power of our true Savior and the Great Physician, Jesus Christ.
To learn how to help minister to those in need, please contact:
Face the Fire Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 1112
Granbury, TX 76048
(571) 278-5103
www.facethefire.org
About the authors
LTC (RET) BRIAN BIRDWELL, a Distinguished Military Graduate of Lamar University, has served at Ft Sill OK, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Ft Riley KS, and the Federal Republic of Germany (from where he was deployed to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm). He earned the Bronze Star for action in the Gulf War. Later he served at Ft Leavenworth KS, Ft Lewis W
A, and returned to Ft Leavenworth to attend Command and General Staff College. On 9/11 he was serving on the Department of the Army staff at the Pentagon as the Executive Officer to the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management. Since his recovery, he has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC’s Nightline, CBN, CNN, and FOX News Channel.
MEL BIRDWELL, a graduate of Kansas State University, has had extensive experience in working with programs for senior citizens in Kansas and in Washington. In June 2002 she was presented with the fourth annual Robertson McQuilkin Award for Commitment to Marriage by FamilyLife. Brian and Mel have been married for twenty-three years and have a son, Matthew.
GINGER KOLBABA, managing editor of Marriage Partnership magazine, a publication of Christianity Today International, is the author of Dazzled to Frazzled and Back Again—the Bride’s Survival Guide (Revell) and more than 100 magazine articles. She and her husband, Scott, live in Illinois.
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