Dave and Laurie Eatman
Serving Those Who Serve
story by ERIN WALLACE photos by SUSAN DELOACH
During this extended season of quarantine, we have all had to adapt to a new way of living. From restaurants to coffee shops and schools to assisted living homes, we have all learned to give up individual freedoms to better protect our neighbors. One exceptional organization, Cru Military®, has learned to persevere through this time to best minister to our military community.
Cru Military started in the Vietnam era in 1965. Air Force Colonel Jack Fain served a couple of tours in Vietnam. Colonel Fain was not a spiritual man. However, through his tours, he saw never-ending destruction and devastation, and as a result, God got a hold of his heart and led him to become a follower of Christ. Colonel Fain felt burdened for the servicemen’s spiritual health when they were going out to the field—especially men and women not returning home. Around this time, Colonel Fain contacted Bill Bright, the founder of CRU, an international Christian outreach ministry, initially focused on ministering to college campuses. Colonel Fain wanted to see if he could apply what CRU was doing with college campuses around the country to the military, and Cru Military was born. Colonel Fain’s ministry was meant to engage with men and women in uniform and their families seeking to know more about Christianity. Colonel Fain’s famous quote—known around the ministry—was “A man or woman in uniform, bearing arms and subject to enemy action, deserve first priority to hear the Gospel of Christ at this time.” Fifty-five years later, this remains the heartbeat of Cru Military.
Dave and Laurie Eatman joined Cru Military because they felt God calling them to full-time ministry, and they wanted to give back to others. It was the opportunity they were looking for to engage and pour back into other people’s lives. They were living in Raleigh, NC, and felt called to move to Beaufort to serve the military community. It was a “perfect fit,” as Dave says, and so they came to Beaufort with God guiding their every step.
Dave served in the Marine Corps back in the 1990s and went through basic training at Parris Island. Presently, he is in the Navy Reserve and is working toward becoming a Reserve Chaplain. Dave and Laurie have three children, one daughter-in-law, one grandchild, and another grandchild on the way. They have made a lifelong commitment to helping others by mentoring and offering encouragement. Their heart for ministering to the community is strongest for those within military families. Paired with Cru Military, they embrace God’s calling to serve those who serve out of their own experiences.
As the Southeast Area of Operation Directors, Dave and Laurie have leadership responsibility for all of Cru Military’s ministry activities in the southeastern United States, including the teams that minister to servicemembers and their families across our three installations here in Beaufort. Cru Military made its entrance to Beaufort in the early 2000s. There are around 20,000 recruits that go through Parris Island a year, and out of those recruits, approximately 50 percent will choose to attend Protestant worship services. This could be anywhere from 1,500 to 3,000 recruits that attend on a Sunday. There is usually one chaplain there to lead the service and a few chaplain assistants. Despite the chaplain assistants, there is a great need for more support during Protestant worship services every Sunday.
Additionally, Cru Military meets a crucial need for the United States Military. Increasingly, all four military branches see value in the spiritual fitness of their Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. Most branches have this total fitness concept that involves their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual fitness. This total fitness concept is where Cru Military intersects with the military’s desire for its people and servicemembers. Cru Military provides this alongside chaplains. The most significant resource Cru Military staff and volunteers provide for servicemembers and their families are walking alongside them, introducing any who are interested in Christ and equipping them to face the challenges of military life as a Christian.
Dave and Laurie love working together, seeing themselves as a team in every sense. They believe in ministering out of not only their own health but also their brokenness. They find a variety of ways to relate to people, and most importantly, they are transparent, both inside and outside of the ministry. They are vulnerable with the people they interact with every day, thus communicating their struggles, even when they are in the midst of them. Many people think that working with your spouse can bring a fair amount of tension and difficulties, but for Dave and Laurie, they thrive together and have a great rhythm going. They complement each other very well and truly radiate togetherness and joy in the ministry they participate in.
And the joys of their job are plentiful. It is easy to get caught up in the heaviness of life, with days frequently filled with back-to-back meetings and helping to shoulder others’ burdens, but for them, they see it as an immense privilege. They aim to help others have healthy families, healthy homes, and wholesome views of themselves—to lead those they come into contact with to a healthy relationship with God. They love seeing the spiritual rejuvenation in those they serve and reciprocate that self-sacrificial, loving lifestyle in the lives of others. It is a beautiful chain reaction that keeps going down the line. Dave says, “ministry is messy,” and he’s right. The mess can’t be avoided because they are doing daily life with those they serve, and if we all know anything, it’s that this world is extremely messy. Dave said, “Just because you love Jesus doesn’t mean you naturally relate well with everybody.” Of course, there are difficulties, challenges, and heartbreaks with their job, just like any job or role that engages with people. Dave and Laurie say it’s all worth it, every tear and hardship.
One of their biggest challenges has been COVID-19. Due to Cru Military’s relational ministry, talking through a screen is not the same as being in person. It is important to note that Cru Military is a national and international ministry in over 30 countries, and their teams are made up of staff and volunteers all over the world. Cru Military ministers to bases of all branches of the military. Because of restrictions due to COVID, base access is temporarily limited in most locations. Since the pandemic began in March, they have not been able to do their typical in-person outreach. Instead, they have utilized digital media by doing virtual Bible studies, marriage conferences, and training workshops. The silver lining of these virtual meet-ups is that Cru Military can now reach more people outside of their usual reach and in different parts of the country.
Overall, Dave and Laurie’s heartbeat for Cru Military is enough to make one want to learn more about the ministry. Their total dedication is not only inspiring but also making a difference. For those wondering how they can help contribute to developing the spiritual fitness of our military, Dave and Laurie ask that people are praying for them, financially donate to the ministry if you feel led, and even volunteer your time to help on base—after this pandemic subsides and our world goes back to normal. At the very least, whenever you pass a base now, whether that is in our beloved town or anywhere else you’re traveling, think of people like Dave and Laurie and the difference they make in the lives of servicemembers and their families across the world.
Visit CruMilitary.org to learn more.
