Called to the Frontlines:

A Military Missionary's Heartbeat

As a military spouse and founder of Defenders of Resilience Military Ministry 501(c)(3), my heart beats for serving the military community. I created this nonprofit to provide much-needed mental health support, spiritual encouragement, and community connection for service members and their families. I know firsthand the unique challenges we face—relocation, deployments, and isolation—and I’m determined to ensure no one navigates this journey alone.

Through this ministry, we offer lay and pastoral counseling, life coaching, support groups, and resources to empower military families to find hope and resilience. This is more than a mission—it’s my calling.

Why a Missionary?

Because military life is a battlefield—not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Military families move constantly. Deployments stretch marriages. Parenting becomes a solo mission. Depression, anxiety, and isolation grow in silence. And many feel forgotten or overwhelmed by a system that often treats their pain like a paperwork problem.

I know, because I’ve lived it. I’ve raised kids with special needs while my husband deployed. I’ve miscarried alone. I’ve battled life-threatening health issues. I’ve cried in closets and prayed through panic attacks. And through it all, God whispered:

"This pain will not be wasted—this is your mission field."

From Mission to Ministry: Defenders of Resilience

Out of that calling, Defenders of Resilience Military Ministry was born.

Why I Need Your Help

As a missionary to the military, I don’t draw a salary from the nonprofit I founded. I depend on monthly supporters and one-time gifts to stay in this fight.

Your giving fuels:

  • Counseling sessions for hurting families

  • Group programs that prevent burnout, divorce, and suicide

  • The growth of a digital lifeline for thousands of families who feel unseen

  • The ability for me to say “yes” to this mission full time

How You Can Partner

Pray
Cover our military families in prayer. This battle is spiritual before anything else.

Give
Make a one-time gift or become a monthly partner. Every dollar funds free, faith-based support.

Share
Tell someone about the work we’re doing. Social media, word of mouth, church networks—it all matters.

“Perhaps you were created for such a time as this.” — Esther 4:14

I believe I was. And maybe you were too.

Let's Stand in the Gap Together

If you've ever said, “I wish I could do more to support military families,” this is your moment.

You may not be stationed on a base—but your generosity can bring hope to someone who is.

Thank you for standing with me,

Eleanor Haack‑Finney
Founder & Military Missionary
Defenders of Resilience

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.