What a delight to return to the blog with the latest interview I’m honored to provide, featuring Susanne Stalnecker Director of Women’s Programs at The Mighty Oaks Foundation. The Mighty Oaks Foundation is a Christian nonprofit dedicated to serving military veterans battling various traumatic experiences and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following their time in service. Their goal is to support our nation’s warriors and families to receive restoration, provide hope, and find purpose through authentic faith in Christ.
My Interview with Susanne Stalnecker
To start, can you tell me a bit about your personal experience as a military wife?
I honestly didn’t know much about being a military wife, having not grown up around any military families or really knowing anyone in the military. I learned quickly that it could get very lonely, especially since my husband’s job required him to be away a lot of the time. I gave birth to one of our sons while my husband was deployed, and they met for the first time when our son was two months old. We experienced multiple short and long deployments, including a combat deployment, as well as several moves, which every military family is familiar with!
How did you take care of yourself when your husband was deployed and you were raising your children?
I took care of myself by spending time with others whose husbands were deployed. I had a great support system in our families, and we went to a church with a large military community. All of those things combined kept me encouraged and from feeling alone in my situation. I tried to be intentional about taking care of myself spiritually by consistently attending church and staying connected with my small group. Being surrounded by others who were going through similar situations and emotions helped me mentally and emotionally.
Shifting gears, you spent over fifteen years working in church and women’s ministry before joining the team at Mighty Oaks. What led you down this career path?
We were connected with Mighty Oaks in the fall of 2012. Shortly after that, my husband started helping with the development of the men’s program. Within the next couple of years, conversations began about starting a program for women. I was part of the initial team, and in 2014, we had our first program.
I wouldn’t look at joining the team at Mighty Oaks as a career path but rather as a calling from God. He clearly showed me the direction to go! As a former military spouse with time spent in church ministry, I truly believe God was preparing me to be a part of the Mighty Oaks team.
What does your role as Director of Women’s Programs at The Mighty Oaks Foundation entail?
My role as the Women’s Program Director at Mighty Oaks means that I oversee everything on the women’s side of our organization. Mainly, I provide oversight to our women’s legacy program – planning the sessions, teaching in the program, training for current and upcoming leaders, and ensuring that each program session runs according to plan. I also have the opportunity to speak at churches and women’s groups in this capacity.
Is there an event or moment that really resonates with you and makes you think, “This is why I do what I do”?
Hearing the testimonies of women who have received hope in their seemingly hopeless life situations is so encouraging and a motivation to continue in the work. Having the opportunity to see our team members grow in areas that they may not see as strengths is also one of the most joyful things.
I’d love to talk about your devotional too! What inspired you to write Shield of Faith: 365 Daily Devotions for Military Families?
There are not very many resources like this available for military spouses and families, so I wanted to bring some encouragement to others based on experiences that I personally have had.
Do you have a favorite devotional or section from the book?
It’s hard to pick a favorite! I decided to break the devotional up into themes – one for each month with every devotional for that month being centered around that theme. The themes include faith, family, acceptance, anxiety, contentment, identity, and others that speak to what I believe to be areas of struggle for most military families.
To close, many of Anna’s readers are women currently facing the uncertainties of military life. What advice do you have for them?
One of the most important things to realize and understand when facing the uncertainty of military life is that you are not alone! Surround yourself with others who are experiencing similar struggles, especially those who can encourage you along the way and are a positive influence in your life. Spend time taking care of yourself spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically so that you can be all that you need to be for those in your life!
In Conclusion
I extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Susanne for her gracious contribution to this quarter's column! In addition, I’m very pleased to present my guest feature with Mighty Oaks, regarding strategies to strengthen your military marriage.
Moving forward, my blog will be on hold while I prioritize finalizing the memoir before passing it along to an agent and publishers. In the meantime, you can keep up with my work via my newsletter and on my social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Before I close, I’d like to make a request to those of you who know us personally. Would you consider contributing a 300-word or more excerpt that I can place into my upcoming memoir, Valley of the Shadow? If this opportunity interests you, please reach out to me directly to learn more.
As always, thank you for the support and prayers.
Love and hugs!
~ Anna Morgan
If you’d like to receive a free copy of my memoir in exchange for a promotional review, check out this link: Launch Team | Anna Morgan - Author
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