The Lingering Scars of War: How Angels of East Africa is Healing Children’s Hearts & Minds

Look around our orphanages in East Africa and you’ll see evidence of God’s love and mercy everywhere. Angels of East Africa and our fearless leader, the Machine Gun Preacher, have rescued thousands of children from the horrors of war. But even though they’ve been delivered to safety, they’ll always carry the lingering scars of war. 

These scars are both physical and emotional. Little boys who were forced by rebel militias to kill their own families. Little girls who became sex slaves to brutal soldiers. Missing limbs, burn scars, gunshot wounds. The list goes on.  

From experience, we know that in the war-ravaged regions of East Africa, the impact of conflict doesn’t end when the fighting stops. For many children in Sudan, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the scars of war will follow them for the rest of their lives. We’re not just saving lives; we’re rebuilding them. 

Our mission goes beyond offering shelter and safety — it’s about helping children heal from the horrors they’ve witnessed and experienced, restoring their hope for the future. That’s why it’s critical that supporters contribute to the Machine Gun Preacher mission by purchasing the new documentary, “Never Stop: 25 Years a Missionary or a Mercenary.”

Machine Gun Preacher Assesses the Weight of War on Innocent Shoulders

The children rescued by Machine Gun Preacher come to our care from some of the most dangerous and volatile areas of East Africa. These warzones today are charred remnants where communities of families once lived in peace, now riddled with bullet holes and explosion craters. 

Kids plucked from their houses will remember only the fire and bloodshed during midnight raids that was just the start of a hellish journey to come. 

Armed conflict and war crimes by rebel militias like Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have ravaged their home communities. Many who survived will never return – because there’s nothing left to return home to.

“Many of these children have been kidnapped from their homes, forced to fight as child soldiers, or endured unspeakable abuse as sex slaves,” says the Machine Gun Preacher, Sam Childers. “The physical scars of war may be visible in their injuries — missing limbs, burn marks and other permanent damage — but the emotional scars run much deeper.

“Imagine being a child, torn from your family, forced to commit violent acts and living every day in fear. The trauma doesn’t end when the child is rescued. It’s something they carry with them for years; sometimes for life.”

For over a quarter-century, Machine Gun Preacher has risked his life leading counterterrorist teams into rebel strongholds to rescue the children. Sam Childers has vowed justice against the evil warlords who for so long have perpetuated this violence.

The Power of Love and Support for Healing the Scars of War

The new Machine Gun Preacher documentary matters now more than ever, as a mechanism for fundraising and raising awareness for the ongoing fight. At Angels of East Africa, we understand that healing from war is a long journey. 

Our staff – many of whom are survivors of violence themselves – provide not just physical care but also emotional and psychological support. Through counseling, group therapy and one-on-one mentorship, we help these children process their trauma and rebuild their trust in others.

The scars of war often manifest as anxiety, depression, nightmares and difficulty trusting adults. But with the right care and attention, these children and teens can begin to heal. Our goal is to provide them with safe environments where they can rediscover what it means to be a child again — where laughter, learning and play replace fear and survival.

Rehabilitating Physical Scars: Restoring Bodies and Spirits

For some of the children in our care, the physical scars of war are a daily reminder of what they’ve endured. Some have lost limbs in bombings or landmine explosions, while others bear severe burns and bullet wounds from attacks on their villages. 

These injuries are not just painful. They also serve as a constant barrier to the child’s sense of normalcy.

Angels of East Africa works closely with medical professionals and rehabilitation specialists to provide the necessary treatments and surgeries to restore as much physical function as possible. We also facilitate access to prosthetic limbs and physical therapy to help children regain mobility. 

But our work doesn’t stop there. We know that physical recovery is deeply tied to emotional well-being. We ensure that each child receives the holistic care needed to overcome both visible and invisible wounds. (Which segues nicely to the next point.) 

Education & Empowerment: Building a Future Beyond War

While the scars of war may never fully fade, the children in our care are resilient. They have the strength to not only survive, but also to thrive. Through education, vocational training and life-skills programs, Machine Gun Preacher gives them the tools to build a future free from the cycle of violence.

Angels of East Africa’s schools and vocational centers provide children with opportunities to learn and grow, to imagine a life beyond conflict. Whether they aspire to become teachers, doctors, farmers or entrepreneurs, we support their dreams and help them turn their ambitions into reality.

Education is the key to breaking the chains of poverty and violence in these war-torn regions. At Angels of East Africa, we’re committed to empowering every child in our care to reach their full potential.

Your Support Makes Healing Possible in Healing the Scars of War in East Africa

The work we do at Angels of East Africa is only possible with the support of people like you. By purchasing and downloading our latest documentary, “Never Stop – 25 Years a Missionary or a Mercenary,” you are directly contributing to the care and rehabilitation of children who have survived unimaginable horrors.

Every dollar raised from the documentary goes toward providing shelter, education, medical care and emotional healing for the children in our orphanages. Your support helps us give these children the future they deserve — a future full of hope, free from the scars of war.

By supporting our mission, you are helping to restore hope and dignity to the youngest victims of war – kids who never asked to be raised in such a violent world. Together, we can build a world where no child has to suffer the devastating effects of conflict, and every child has the opportunity to live a joyful and meaningful life.