The first time I saw Dave Roever, a seasoned international Minister of the Gospel, was on a program on Trinity Broadcasting Network. More than any thing, his humor arrested my attention while his testimony left me seriously meditating on the phrase "when there is life there is really hope." After eight months tour of duty in Vietnam, in 1969, Roever was burnt beyond recognition when a phosphorous grenade he was ready to throw exploded in his hand six inches from his face. Through divine intervention and a strong will to fulfill his purpose on earth, he survived fifteen major surgeries and a grueling fourteen months stay in the hospital. Dealing with loneliness, peep pressure, disfigurement, as well as overcoming the shock and pain of this accident he received at the hands of fate eventually lit the fire of courage that has been burning ever since in his life.
I was captivated as I heard Roever's unique way of intertwining his physical, spiritual, mental and psychological experiences in his message in order to transform the lives of his audience. 
Today, the scars he sustained have turned him to a star in the kingdom of God. After his release from hospital, he officially began his public ministry of hope, love, and encouragement. In 1974 and 1975, he returned to Vietnam to proclaim the good news and ever since he has been speaking to military personnel all over the world. This is the way God works: he uses the unexpected to bless us. Roever ministers to different categories of people. Topics he speaks on range from drug and alcohol abuse, drinking and driving, teen pregnancy, suicide and low self esteem. He has a convincing power because he has experienced most of what he preaches about. Aside from his task of reaching people all over, he takes time out to train people to become effective speakers in order to keep spreading the blanket of hope across the world. 
Roever is notably among the list of the popular personnel called upon to encourage troops on domestic military bases and deployed units overseas. His for soldiers causes his constant search for ways to make life easier for them. Whenever he goes to minister to the troops, he is armed with years of experience and most importantly the gospel of Christ. In November 2003, he was awarded the Purple Heart along with other service medals by the U. S. Navy.
Many years of working with the troops birth the need to ensure wounded troops got more attention and care when they returned from service. According to Roever, "Hundreds of our treasured defenders of freedom are left wounded and in despair. Medical intervention puts them back on their feet with artificial limbs but it cannot place them back on their feet spiritually." With emerging needs and mounting requests for an environment where wounded soldiers can come to for spiritual and emotional healing along side mentoring, Roever came up with an impressive project called Eagle Summit Ranch with Camp David Lodge for catering to severely injured military chaplains and line officers.
Eagles Summit is located in the pristine mountains of Westcliffe, Colorado and it provides programs suitable for military personnel interested in becoming Evangelists or motivational speakers.It is an environment of solitude to foster interruption free and focused training for the wounded soldiers. Like the military has expressed in many meetings "young troops returning home wounded must have emotional intervention. We must not repeat the mistakes made in the Vietnam era by non intervention."
If you are interested in contributing to the Dave Roever's ministry and projects, contact Dave Roever by phone at (817) 238-2000 or visit his website: www.daveroever.org.
