45. Interview with Jeremy Stalnecker, USMC Retired and CEO of Mighty Oaks Foundation

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion

Thanks for joining us for today’s interview episode where we will be digging into the story of Jeremy Stalnecker. Jeremy is the CEO of the Mighty Oaks Foundation, aids America’s military and families battling combat-related wounds like PTSD. A Marine Corps veteran, he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, acquiring leadership skills. As a USMC Infantry Officer, Jeremy received a Veteran Navy Commendation Medal with “V” for Combat Valor. Transitioning to ministry after the military, he counseled at Coastline Baptist, then served as Senior Pastor at Bay Area Baptist Church. Feeling the calling, Jeremy merged his ministry and military background, leading Mighty Oaks Foundation full-time where today he strives to provide healing for veterans and their families to battle PTSD and veteran suicide. Additionally, Jeremy is often a speaker on the topic of leadership and discipleship.

Resources:

• Mighty Oaks Foundation
• OCF Crosspoint Podcast “March or die”: Turning to Christ & community in times of trauma
• The Anatomy of Courage: The Classic WWI Study of the Psychological Effects of War

Episode Notes:

• Background: Determined not to follow parents into ministry. Interested in military but parents required college.

• Testimony: Questioned if military and faith are compatible and how to walk out witness as a military member.

• Successes and failures: Peacetime training to wartime with kickoff of Iraq war. Led first marine infantry battalion into Iraq.

• Calling: Transitioned into ministry and sruggled with anger and PTSD. Sever ties to the marine corps but reunited with unit 10 years later. After hearing about post war realities, realized that he still has a mission to do serving veterans

• Leadership: Maintain team cohesion. Stay focused on the mission that is in front of us. If we don’t ask for help, it kills us. 

• Bible: Brevity, Seriousness, Constantly in God’s Word

• Fear: Resilience is the ability to bounce back. Make a decision ahead of time: Doing hard things, making good decisions, and following through determines how we will respond in critical moments.

• Transtioning out of military: Make a decision to march instead of stay where you are and die. Life is putting one faith-filled step in front of another. Looking at the eternal makes current mission clear. (Rev 4:11)

• Daily Spiritual Growth: Heb 12:1. Cut out the things that prevent. 4 Be's: Be in the word every day, Be in prayer every day, Be in fellowship, Be in contact (cornerman)

• Advice: Never fight alone. Always hope in the resurrection 

• Contact Jeremy: Mightyoaksprograms.org

Reflect:

• What does this episode reveal about God’s character?

• .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}