Hunting with Heroes
Michael Grasso exudes compassion for wounded military veterans. Turning his concern into action, he formed Men of Courage (MOC), a nonprofit ministry of Batavia Assembly of God (BAG) in New York.
Grasso, a licensed AG minister, local businessman, and BAG deacon, birthed MOC in 2014 as a gospel witness to wounded military veterans through a common interest in the outdoors and hunting.
"I wanted the men in our church and myself to share our faith in a new creative way that encourages those who have served our country but are still hurting," he says.
As a former U.S. Army veteran injured during his service in the 1990s, Grasso came upon the hunting ministry idea from Chappy's Outdoors in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Chappy's is a national organization that shares the gospel by sponsoring free hunting and fishing trips for wounded and disabled veterans.
Grasso experienced many answers to prayer launching MOC. Every need was met, including finances as well as the selfless support of BAG members.
Three wounded vets from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York joined the first five-day hunting event in December 2014. An 81 year-old man opened his home to the vets providing genuine Christian hospitality. Several MOC members revealed their covert hunting spots, a rare move. Each day began with breakfast and a devotional. MOC hosts bonded with their guests driving to the hunting spots.
"We ministered in our vehicles and during the evening meals and devotions," Grasso reports.
At last year's event, BAG Pastor Dan Schmidt huddled together with one of the vets in a hunting hut overlooking open fields. Schmidt chokes up, recalling the vet with one leg and shattered hips fastened with wires, climbing the 15-foot ladder into the hut.
"We sat for several hours, which gave me and other MOC guys time to share testimonies of Christ's love to help bring him hope and encouragement," he says.
David Lewis, an army veteran from Newark, Ohio, still suffers from a life-changing improvised explosive device injury while serving in Iraq in 2004. An outdoor enthusiast, he enjoyed the camaraderie of the December hunt and the quietness of the woods. He bagged a deer that he donated to a church family. Since that time, Lewis and Grasso have molded a real friendship.
"I talk to Mike regularly," Lewis says. "He always prays for me and now I'm seeking God's help and strength."
The first hunt ended with a special Sunday service that impacted those throughout the congregation. Schmidt preached about honoring the sacrifice of wounded warriors, but also stressed the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. Before Schmidt delivered the message, members of the congregation rose spontaneously to applaud the veterans for several minutes.
MOC sponsored a wild-game dinner outreach in April attracting 149 men. In May eight veterans joined a four-day turkey hunt where one of them gave his life to Christ. A goose hunt and bow hunt for deer are scheduled for this fall.
Grasso and the men of Batavia AG have raised the bar showing the compassion of Christ to wounded veterans.
"We need to break down walls and make a difference, demonstrating that we really care," Grasso says.