Raise a Fighting Force

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Raise a Fighting Force ✩

Eleanor Finney

Military Missionary

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Give today ⁎

Eleanor Finney, founder of Defenders of Resilience Military Ministry 501c3 Nonprofit and the Operation Resilient app, is deeply committed to serving the military community. As a military spouse and mother, Eleanor’s mission is rooted in personal experience and a God-driven passion to address the unique challenges faced by military families. Her collaboration with her husband, Austin—a Navy sailor and chaplain-in-training—illustrates their shared dedication to bringing hope and healing through Christ to service members and their families. Together, they aim to provide vital support, resources, and connection to a community often overlooked, ensuring that no military family feels alone in their struggles.

About the Mission

The Crisis at Hand

The mental health crisis within the military community is both urgent and deeply troubling. According to a 2023 Department of Defense report, 523 service members lost their lives to suicide, an increase from the previous year. Tragically, the crisis extends to military families, where 146 lives were lost, including 93 spouses and 53 children. These numbers highlight the devastating impact of isolation, mental health struggles, and the unique pressures of military life. Frequent relocations, separations, and the stigma surrounding mental health create significant barriers to support, leaving service members and their families vulnerable to loneliness, anxiety, and despair.

The Call to Action

Eleanor envisions raising a “fighting force within a fighting force,” empowering military families and service members to carry the hope of Christ globally. By equipping military personnel with the gospel, they can bring light to some of the darkest and most dangerous places on earth, transforming lives in ways few others can. Eleanor and Austin’s mission invites individuals, churches, and communities to join this effort through prayer, financial support, and digital ministry. Together, they seek to break the isolation, build meaningful connections, and share the life-saving message of Christ with those who serve and sacrifice for freedom.

How You Can Partner

  • Partner in Prayer: Pray for service members and families.

  • Partner Financially: Support programs and resources.

  • Partner Digitally: Engage and share social media content.

Support Now

FAQs & Getting To Know Eleanor

  • Eleanor Finney is a military spouse, mother of four special needs children, and founder of Defenders of Resilience, an organization supporting military families. She has a degree in Christian Counseling with focuses on Military Resiliency and Crisis Counseling from Liberty University.

  • Eleanor believes the Bible is fully inspired by God and inerrant in its original manuscripts. She holds that it serves as the authoritative guide for faith and practice.

  • She believes in one God existing eternally as three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

  • She believes salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the only mediator between God and humanity.

  • Defenders of Resilience is an organization and ministry Eleanor founded to provide mental health resources, lay counseling, and community support for military families.

  • Eleanor practices initiative evangelism, engaging individuals where they are to share the gospel through meaningful relationships and digital platforms.

  • Eleanor encountered God’s love as a teenager, transforming her perspective and leading her to surrender her life to Christ.

  • She prioritizes daily prayer, Scripture study, worship, and involvement in a community of believers. She also values mentorship and views life’s challenges as opportunities to deepen her faith.

  • Eleanor integrates her personal experiences as a military spouse into her ministry, offering tailored support to military families while navigating the demands of her own family life.

  • Eleanor’s husband, Austin, is actively involved, and they view their marriage as a partnership in serving the military community.

  • Eleanor provides lay counseling with a focus on military families, emphasizing immediate support through faith-based principles.

  • Eleanor sees mental health challenges as opportunities to experience God’s grace and healing, emphasizing that they do not define one’s worth.

  • Eleanor approaches theological differences with respect and humility, focusing on unity in Christ while maintaining biblical truths.

  • To equip and empower military families to live resilient, Christ-centered lives while addressing their mental health and spiritual needs.