Scout honors grandfather’s memory with updated version of World War II devotional
Veterans Magazine
May 2007 | View Story
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Evan Hunsberger was 13 when he found a worn copy of the inspirational book his grandfather and one million other servicemen carried during World War II.
Moved by the stories of comfort it brought his grandfather, Hunsberger decided to republish the pocket-sized devotional, Strength for Service to God and Country, as his Eagle Scout project. Today the book is bringing strength to a new generation of servicemen and women. It is available at www.StrengthforService.org or by calling 1-866-297-4312.
“We will never be finished with this project because there will always be a need for these books, whether they are for people serving overseas or at home,” said Hunsberger, now 21 and a senior at UCLA. “The book is meant for anyone who is in service of others.”
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Chaplains Distribute Strength for Service Books
Daily Devotional Offers Comfort and Hope
The Military Chaplain
September 2007 | View Story
“Strength for Service speaks right to the heart of a warrior and hits on the topics that are at the forefront of our thoughts. The size is ideal for carrying in a cargo pocket or in the pouch of a pack. The recruits seem to enjoy reading it and are blessed by the stories and prayers,” says Chaplain Lieutenant Jason Rochester.
Rochester is one of many United States military chaplains who request hundreds, even thousands, of the daily devotional Strength for Service to God and Country each week. The books are provided free of charge to chaplains and military personnel thanks to the generosity of people across the nation who financially support the project.
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Strength for Service: A Devotional Impacts Generations of Americans
American Veteran
Fall 2007 | View Story
Evan Hunsberger was 13 when he received his grandfather, Eugene Hunsberger’s worn, underlined copy of Strength for Service to God and Country. Eugene had kept this pocket-sized hardcover daily devotional from his days as a corpsman serving in the Navy in World War II and the Korean conflict. More than one million servicemen also carried this book with them during this period of war, before it went out of print in the 1950s.
Moved by the stories of comfort it brought his grandfather, Hunsberger decided to republish Strength for Service as his Eagle Scout project. Today, the book is bringing strength to a new generation of servicemen and women.
“We will never be finished with this project because a need for these books will always exist, whether they are for people serving overseas or at home,” said Hunsberger, a recent graduate of UCLA. “The book is meant for anyone who is in service of others.”
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Support Grows to Provide Daily Devotionals to Troops
Church Executive
January 2008 | View Story
Churches across America have joined forces with the General Commission on United Methodist Men (GCUMM) to support Strength for Service to God and Country, an ecumenical daily devotional geared toward the military.
One such church, Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church in Sun City West, Arizona launched an effort to raise enough funds to print and distribute 10,000 books. The initiative was spearheaded by member Cal Lackore, a 73-year-old veteran of the Korean conflict, who knew the impact the devotional would have had on him if only he had had one.
“Though the books were available during the Korean conflict, I was not fortunate enough to have received one,” said Lackore. “It would have made a big impact on me, which is why I wanted our church to help support this project. If we can encourage the faiths of the men and women who are fighting on our behalf, why wouldn’t we?”
