Bob Reynolds returned from a military deployment to Iraq in 2004 with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Immense emotional trauma and grief consumed him as he battled painful memories.
“When you see death and pain and misery, it’s hard to deal with,” said the Army National Guard veteran, sharing that he struggled with severe PTSD after returning home.
Years later, as a law enforcement officer in Sumter, South Carolina, Bob was involved in two shootings within 24 hours of each other—one ending in the death of a criminal suspect.
The incidents triggered the depression he experienced after Iraq.
Following the fresh wave of trauma, Heather feared for her husband’s safety at work and his mental health at home. With the stress of Bob’s career driving a wedge between them and creating conflict, their marriage was rocky.
Finding Hope in the Struggle
Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) chaplains responded shortly after the two South Carolina shootings to offer emotional and spiritual support to the Sumter Police Department. A chaplain shared with Bob how he could find peace with God through surrendering his life to Jesus Christ.
Bob decided to follow Christ that day—handing over his burdens and struggles and asking Him to make his heart clean.
Soon after, he and Heather heard about a Marriage Resiliency Retreat in Alaska hosted by the BG-RRT. They jumped at the opportunity.
“We wanted to do everything we could to bring God back into our lives,” Heather said.
But as they headed to beautiful, remote Alaska, they started second-guessing their decision to go.
“I felt like we were not as advanced in our walk with Christ as the other couples,” she explained. “Like maybe we were out of our league.”
Bob asked God for a sign that they were supposed to be there. Shortly afterward, the couple struck up a conversation with a visiting chaplain, Steve.
“We locked eyes,” Bob explained, thinking that Steve seemed familiar. The two men shared many commonalities, including serving in Iraq at the same time.
Bob started telling Steve how much he reminded him of the military chaplain who prayed with him in Iraq after he was injured in a vehicle overturn. Minutes later, Bob figured it out.
“When Steve smiled, I realized that he was the guy I was trying to tell him about. I started tearing up. Twenty years later and God has us here.”
Bob never told Steve how he was hesitant to attend the retreat, so he was baffled when Steve suddenly said, “Well, I think you got your answer whether you are supposed to be here or not.”
“From that moment on, I put my pride away,” said Bob.
Letting Go of Fear
As the week went on, God continued to move in their hearts, healing emotional wounds and drawing Bob and Heather closer to Him and to each other.
At one point, they joined other couples on a hike where they were asked to pick out a stone for later use.
Near the end of their time in Alaska, staff members encouraged them to write a word on their rock—something they wanted to leave in Alaska. Heather wrote “fear” and tossed it into the icy lake—surrendering the anxiety for her husband’s safety that she had been holding onto.
“I realized the fear that I was feeling,” she said. “I needed to let it go.”
The couple recommitted their lives to Jesus Christ and were baptized together in Alaska. They also renewed their vows during the retreat, rededicating their marriage to God.
“I can’t even explain how grateful I am to know my husband and I are walking with Christ together,” Heather said. “I owe all the glory to God. He put [the retreat] in our lives to help us along the way.”
