WARNING: Please note if you have littles in the room, you may want to preview this episode before listening with them!

What does it mean to be both a man in uniform and a godly husband? Our candid conversation tackles this question head-on through the lens of Ephesians 5 and 1 Peter 3.

Military service inherently demands sacrifice, yet many husbands find it easier to risk their lives for country than to consistently sacrifice their own desires for their wives. Why? Because military sacrifice comes with medals, recognition, and praise, while marital sacrifice often goes unnoticed. As our guests reveal, this reality exposes how even noble sacrifices can become self-serving without the transforming power of the gospel.

The discussion takes an unflinching look at pornography and sexual sin—identified as the greatest barrier to spiritual growth for military husbands between 18-29. In a culture where such behavior is normalized or even celebrated, this sin silently erodes marriages in ways many men fail to recognize. "This sin is robbing you of a marriage that God wants for you and for your wife," one guest powerfully states, before offering practical resources for those battling this addiction.

For husbands facing deployment, we explore practical strategies for leading from afar: establishing decision-making patterns before departure, delegating responsibilities wisely, and trusting your wife as a partner in your absence. The conversation balances theological depth with tactical advice on expressing appreciation, speaking life-giving words, and building trust through consistent, Christ-like behavior.

Whether you're currently serving, a veteran, or simply want to understand the unique challenges of military marriages, this episode offers biblical wisdom without compromise. The military context offers no exemption from God's commands for husbands—there's no footnote that says "unless you're deployed." Join us as we discover how the gospel transforms marriage, even amid the unique stresses of military life.

SHOW NOTES:

1. False Love: 9 Steps Toward Sexual Integrity - New Growth Press

2. Amazon.com: Strengthening Your Marriage (Audible Audio Edition): Wayne A. Mack, Jim Denison, christianaudio.com: Books

3. Amazon.com : the meaning of marriage by tim keller

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Marriage is challenging enough. Add military life to the mix, and the complexities multiply exponentially. How do wives maintain biblical submission when deployments force them into leadership roles? What happens when they must hand those responsibilities back upon their husband's return?

In this candid conversation, Brian and Kelli are joined by Joshua and Brittany Brown to explore how the gospel transforms military marriages from the wife's perspective. Drawing from their combined decades of military marriage experience and ministry to hundreds of military families, they offer practical wisdom for navigating these unique challenges.

"Nothing smacks you in the face with your own selfishness and pride like marriage," Kelli confesses, speaking to the heart struggles that make submission difficult. The women reframe this biblical concept not as weakness but as spiritual strength: "It takes a strong woman to lay down and surrender her will over somebody else's."

Through personal stories—from church decisions to career changes—they illustrate how submission works in real-life military contexts. Kelly shares her journey from resistance to acceptance when Brian felt called to leave the Marines and plant a church: "The Lord showed me what a beautiful thing He had for us, even getting me out of what I wanted or was comfortable with."

The conversation unpacks both Ephesians 5:22-24 and 1 Peter 3:1-6, clarifying that submission doesn't mean silence but rather respectful communication and ultimately supporting your husband's leadership. They emphasize that wives should never submit to sin or abuse and address the trend of "geographical bacheloring" with practical advice.

Whether you're a new military wife or a seasoned veteran of deployments and PCS moves, this episode offers biblical encouragement and practical wisdom for honoring God in your marriage while navigating the unique challenges of military life.

SHOW NOTES:

1. Ephesians 5:22-32, 1 Peter 3, Titus 2

2. Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together | Revive Our Hearts

3. Amazon.com : helper by design elyse fitzpatrick

4. Amazon.com : the meaning of marriage by tim keller

5. Amazon.com : you and me together francis chan

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Can Christians share their faith while in uniform? The resounding answer from our veteran hosts is not just "yes," but "you must." This candid conversation dismantles the misconception that military service restricts religious expression, revealing the surprisingly few limitations that actually exist.

Military veterans Joshua and Brian, with over 40 years of combined service, provide practical wisdom for navigating faith conversations in uniform. Rather than starting with assumptions about restrictions, they encourage believers to assume freedom to share their faith while using wisdom about when and how. The military's unique "hurry up and wait" culture creates natural opportunities for meaningful conversations about life's biggest questions.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is the balance between boldness and wisdom. The hosts address how Christians can avoid becoming the "morality police" while still living distinctively. Simple choices, like different language patterns or the willingness to confess mistakes, speak volumes in military environments where such behaviors are uncommon.

Perhaps most encouraging is the recognition that faithful witness may not show immediate results. Joshua shares a powerful story of a former Marine who contacted him after 20 years to share how witnessing Joshua's faith journey ultimately led him to become a pastor—proving that seeds planted during military service can bear fruit decades later.

Whether you're actively serving, a veteran, or simply interested in faith conversations in challenging environments, this episode offers practical insights for sharing your faith with wisdom, respect, and genuine love. What conversations might God be preparing you for today?

SHOW NOTES:

1. The Bible, read through the Gospels and get familiar with sharing YOUR story!

2. Gospel Treason: Betraying the Gospel with Hidden Idols: Bigney, Brad J.: 9781596384026: Amazon.com: Books

3. Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions: Koukl, Gregory: 9780310282921: Amazon.com: Books

4. Amazon.com : finding common ground book

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Four spiritual journeys collide in this raw, honest exploration of what it means to discover authentic faith within military life. What happens when childhood religion meets adult reality? When intellectual barriers stand between a person and belief? When family dysfunction creates a hunger for something more?

Through the lens of Ephesians 2:1-10, we hear Kelly describe growing up in a Christian home yet only truly understanding her need for Christ during her college years. Brian candidly shares his twenty-year journey as a "fake Christian" before an unexpected awakening in the church he'd attended his whole life. Joshua and Brittany, coming from non-religious backgrounds, reveal how their desire for a healthy marriage led them to church, where their lives were transformed in dramatically different ways.

Their testimonies weave together powerful common threads – the impact of hearing Scripture taught, the influence of seeing faith lived out authentically, and the mysterious ways God pursues people across vastly different circumstances. As military families, their stories highlight how faith provides foundation and purpose amid the unique challenges of service life.

Whether you're questioning faith, exploring Christianity, or simply appreciate hearing authentic stories of transformation, this episode offers both intellectual and emotional resonance. The conversation concludes with practical recommendations for anyone wanting to explore faith further, emphasizing that the gospel engages both heart and mind.

Ready to reflect on your own spiritual journey? This episode might just help you see it through fresh eyes. Join the conversation about what it means to move from being "dead in sin" to "alive in Christ."

SHOW NOTES:

1. The Bible, books to read from- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Ephesians 1 and 1st John

2. A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God's Love: Vincent, Milton: 9781885904676: Amazon.com: Books

3. Gospel Treason: Betraying the Gospel with Hidden Idols: Bigney, Brad J.: 9781596384026: Amazon.com: Books

4.Visual Theology: Seeing and Understanding the Truth About God: Challies, Tim, Byers, Josh: 9780310520436: Amazon.com: Books

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How do military families maintain unity when one spouse constantly comes and goes? This episode of the Military Wellness Collective tackles the critical topic of family readiness – preparing for and thriving through the inevitable disruptions of military service.

Our hosts Brittany, Joshua, Brian, and Kelli draw from decades of collective experience to share hard-earned wisdom about navigating deployments, frequent separations, and the complex dynamics of military family life. They don't shy away from difficult topics: the guilt service members feel about missing family milestones, the struggle of home-front spouses to handle everything alone, and the complicated emotions children experience when a parent is absent for significant portions of their young lives.

Communication emerges as the cornerstone of family readiness. The discussion covers what to communicate before separation (expectations, responsibilities, fears), during separation (maintaining connection without creating additional stress), and after reunion (navigating changing roles without conflict). Panelists share practical strategies that worked in their own marriages – from coordinating dinner routines during unpredictable work hours to reading the same books while apart to create meaningful conversation topics.

The conversation takes a deeply spiritual turn as the panel explores how faith provides the foundation for military family resilience. They describe marriage as a triangle with Christ at the top and spouses at the two bottom corners – as each person grows closer to Christ, they naturally grow closer to each other. This perspective transforms military challenges into opportunities for spiritual growth rather than merely difficulties to endure.

Whether you're a military family preparing for your first deployment or a seasoned veteran of multiple separations, this episode offers both practical advice and spiritual encouragement. Subscribe to the Military Wellness Collective for more resources on living a God-honoring life throughout military service.

SHOW NOTES:

Shepherding a Child’s Heart – Shepherd Press

You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity: Chan, Lisa, Chan, Francis: 9780830787784: Amazon.com: Books

Strengthening Your Marriage: Mack, Wayne A.: 9780875523859: Amazon.com: Books

The Bible Recap | Read, Understand & Love the Bible in 365 Days

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Spiritual readiness might be a military term, but its implications run far deeper than most official definitions suggest. What does it truly mean to be spiritually prepared for the unique challenges of military service?

In this soul-stirring episode, veterans and military spouses share raw, powerful stories from both the battlefield and the home front. We explore how spiritual battles unfold in combat zones, where mortality isn't an abstract concept but a daily reality. One combat veteran describes witnessing 19-year-olds dying alongside him while wrestling with the eternal implications for those who didn't know Christ. These moments create unique openings for spiritual conversations that rarely happen in civilian contexts.

For military spouses, the spiritual battlefield looks different but proves equally challenging. The illusion of control crumbles when your loved one deploys, forcing profound questions about God's sovereignty. Can you surrender to divine will when your spouse's life hangs in the balance? Can you trust God's goodness even if the worst happens? Our guests share how they've navigated these questions through deployments, combat injuries, and the everyday stresses of military life.

The parallels between physical and spiritual preparation emerge as we discuss practical readiness. Just as service members train their bodies before deployment, spiritual readiness requires consistent discipline: developing a genuine relationship with God through Christ, immersing yourself in Scripture, maintaining a vibrant prayer life, and plugging into a supportive church community. Most importantly, this preparation must happen before crisis hits—not during it.

What makes this conversation particularly hopeful is hearing how military hardships, rather than destroying faith and families, can actually strengthen them. Through vulnerability and authenticity, our guests demonstrate how spiritual readiness transforms the military experience from merely surviving to genuinely thriving.

Whether you're currently serving, supporting someone who is, or simply interested in the intersection of faith and military life, this episode offers wisdom for navigating life's toughest battles with your spirit intact and your faith strengthened.

SHOW NOTES:

Local to NC, Join Brittany in November for a mom's and Military Wives Camp (two camps in one)- Register here Mom Camp | Woman's Missionary Union of North Carolina

Read the Bible for Yourself – Brian O'Day

The Bible Recap | Read, Understand & Love the Bible in 365 Days

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Military life demands resilience across all dimensions—physical, mental, and spiritual. Yet finding a church home amid constant relocations can leave even the most devout service members feeling adrift. How do you establish spiritual roots when your life is defined by transition?

This candid conversation tackles the often-overlooked challenge of finding a church community in military life. Our panel of military spouses and veterans shares hard-won wisdom from their collective decades of experience relocating between duty stations. They cut through surface-level advice to address the real struggles: evaluating churches from a distance, knowing what truly matters in a church beyond flashy programs, and making wise decisions that prioritize spiritual health for your entire family.

You'll discover practical strategies for church searching that go beyond Google, including specialized resources for finding doctrinally sound congregations near military installations. The group unpacks why attending church isn't optional—even during deployments—and how spiritual community serves as an anchor during military life's constant changes.

Whether you're a young service member leaving your family church for the first time or a seasoned military family preparing for your next PCS, this episode provides the roadmap you need for finding not just any church, but the right church for your spiritual growth. The relationships you'll build there might just be what sustains you through your toughest military challenges.

Ready to find your spiritual home in your military community? Listen now and take the first step toward building the support system you and your family need to thrive.

SHOW NOTES:

Our Churches - Praetorian Project

Church Search - 9Marks

CHURCH FINDER - The Gospel Coalition

What Is a Healthy Church? (Volume 9Marks): Dever, Mark: 9781433588327: Amazon.com: Books

How do I Find a Church in my Military Community? - Praetorian Project

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Ever find yourself just counting down the days until the next deployment ends, the next PCS is over, or this whole season of military life is behind you? You're not alone.

The Military Wellness Collective podcast launches with hosts Joshua and Brittany Brown alongside Brian and Kelly O'Day - two couples with over 40 years of combined military experience between them. Together they unpack what true wellness looks like amid the unique challenges of military life.

Drawing from their experiences as both active duty service members and military spouses, the hosts address the dangerous "just get through it" mentality that leaves many military members and families merely surviving rather than thriving. Joshua warns against becoming "crusty" - that bitter, entitled person who emerges after years of resenting military life rather than embracing its purpose. Kelly vulnerably shares how she battled intense loneliness during early deployments, while Brian reflects on how neglecting spiritual disciplines made his first deployment far more difficult than later ones.

The conversation weaves through biblical wisdom, particularly focusing on Jeremiah 29, where God instructed exiled Israelites to build meaningful lives even while living in foreign territory under foreign rule. This powerful parallel challenges listeners to stop putting life on pause during difficult military seasons.

From work-life balance struggles to finding authentic community, the hosts offer practical insights for maintaining spiritual, emotional, and relational health through military challenges. They emphasize the importance of local church involvement and finding trusted mentors who can speak truth when needed.

Whether you're active duty, a military spouse, or someone who loves a service member from afar, this podcast offers wisdom for transforming your military journey from survival mode to purposeful living. Subscribe now and join us as we explore what it means to experience true wellness in every aspect of military life.

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