by Doug Dalzell, USMC E-4 Corporal, Land Mine Warfare & Demolition
Epilogue by Ray Heck
Testimony of Doug Dalzell Fall 2021
I grew up with a very challenging life involving sexual and physical abuse, surrounded by family dragged down by drugs, alcohol, and other sin. At the age of seventeen after graduating from high school, I joined the Marine Corps.
I left for boot camp feeling that nobody could ever hurt me again as they had when I was a child. When I was twenty years old, I was sent off to war. My job in the Corps was landmine warfare and demolition.
Combat changed my life in such a negative and devastating way. It destroyed my life, both directly and indirectly. During the next several years, I lashed out at everything and everyone who loved and cared for me.
I became an alcoholic to mask my pain, and suicidal thoughts went through my mind every day. I was sent to the VA psychologists and hospitals and the Road Home program in Chicago.
These three programs did nothing for me. I went back to passing time and trying to kill myself with drinking. My first marriage fell apart.
Then a friend I met at one of the VA facilities called and said he had found another program, which was faith based, called Mighty Oaks.
This program scared me because I felt I was not worthy of God. I finally mustered up the courage to go to Texas to see what it was all about. This is where my walk with Christ began. In June 2020, I surrendered my life to Jesus and was baptized in the Llano River at Mighty Oaks.
I finally figured out why the other three programs had not helped me. They had not taught me about Christ.
Through Mighty Oaks, I was set up with an awesome church near my home, and I built my corner men up. I started reading my Bible and devotionals every day.
Robert Cale got me involved with Fallen Soldiers Ministries, which was offered by Mighty Oaks Legacy Program Aftercare to Legacy Graduates. Fallen Soldiers Ministries assigned Ray Heck, an ACBC Certified Biblical Counselor, to me.
He provided biblical counseling and mentoring to advance my biblical soul care. Ray taught me what a true Christian man is and how he lives. He taught me ways to present the gospel to others and that true change comes from heart change. He showed me the importance of memorizing weekly scripture verses (daggers - Ephesians 6:17) and starting each day in prayer and Bible reading. He taught me how to battle temptation and my flesh using God’s word (daggers). He also explained the necessity of good fellowship with Christian brothers.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, my best friend. He comes before anything and anyone in my life. I share Jesus every opportunity I get. There is a saying I like to use: "It’s cool to be a Christian!"
I am a warrior for Christ, with my armor, daggers, sword!! My goal in life is to be pleasing to the Lord (2 Corinthians 5: 9).
In Christ’s love,
Doug Dalzell
Epilogue for Doug Dalzell, by Ray Heck
When I first met Doug Dalzell on Zoom via Fallen Soldiers Ministries, I could tell he was an excited new believer but also had a lot of baggage to deal with. Although he doesn’t talk about it anymore, he had a horrific childhood and joined the Marines just to get away from his present circumstances. His thoughts were, "If I become a Marine, no one will ever be able to hurt me again." But the nightmares continued; he used the military to take out his anger and frustrations on the enemy; his marriage fell apart and alcohol became his only means of relief. Suicide was considered many times, but for some reason, he held off.
A military buddy recommended he look into Mighty Oaks Legacy Program, where he surrendered his life to Jesus. As I started to counsel Doug through the Fallen Soldiers Ministries Certified Biblical Counseling Network, we did not spend an inordinate amount of time on his past but rather talked about who he is in Christ and what God’s grace and forgiveness mean. He was (and is) an enthusiastic, thankful, humble, excited believer who soaked in his homework assignments like a sponge.
I could see Doug changing and growing each week. He was making some changes concerning certain sins before I could counsel him to do so. His life verse is 2 Corinthians 5:9: "Therefore, we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him" 2 Cor 5: 9, NASB." And he is living exactly that. At first, he told me he probably could not memorize verses (because of the drugs he had taken over the years), but over the next three months, he memorized a verse a week, sharing them with his family, friends, and men’s group.
Doug is as full of joy and happiness as anyone I’ve ever counseled.
When he recently was confronted by a tough guy on the street, pushing for a fight with clenched fists, Doug’s response was, "Do you know Jesus? I cannot fight you because my aim in life is to be pleasing to the Lord!" The guy was so dumbfounded, he just walked away. Doug is a blessing to all who know him and continues to grow in the likeness of his Savior, Jesus.
I was very blessed to be able to help him in his new life in Christ.
- Ray Heck
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