Bobby Henline has survived war, an IED explosion, devastating burns and dozens of surgeries.
On Sunday (Sept. 20), the wounded Army veteran began a new chapter when he was baptized in the Green River near Greensburg.
Henline, the sole survivor of a Humvee explosion during his fourth combat tour, has become a popular stand-up comedian and motivational speaker with a particularly strong following among military veterans.
New beginning
Kenny Craig, pastor of Greensburg Baptist Church, is praying Henline’s baptism is only the beginning of what God will do through his story.
“Same as a lot of soldiers, he had PTSD and didn’t understand why he survived,” Craig said. “God blessed him with Max Lucado’s church (while he was in recovery). They told him he was important and God has a plan for his life. God has been working on him through those years.”
Henline joined the U.S. Army in 1989 at age 17 and served during the Gulf War before being honorably discharged in 1992. Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he reenlisted and eventually served four combat tours.
During his fourth tour, Henline was traveling in a convoy transporting soldiers and supplies when his Humvee struck an improvised explosive device. The four soldiers with him were killed.
Henline survived but was engulfed in flames, suffering burns over 40% of his body. His head and face were severely burned.
Pain and recovery
He spent six months undergoing treatment and has endured 48 surgeries, including multiple skin grafts and reconstructive procedures.
Through the pain and recovery, Henline discovered humor was one way to cope. An occupational therapist found him so funny that she encouraged him to perform at an open-mic night at the Comedy Store.
Henline made his comedy debut in August 2009, eventually becoming part of the Showtime documentary “Comedy Warriors: Healing Through Humor.”
But Craig said some of Henline’s comedy included profanity and material that would need to change if he was going to use his platform for Christ.
Henline also became a motivational speaker, sharing his story with wounded veterans, burn victims and others facing difficult circumstances.
After living in Texas for many years, Henline moved to Greensburg. Craig invited him to participate in the church’s Man to Man outreach, where Henline performed a clean comedy routine.
The featured speaker that night was Clay Dyer, a professional fisherman born without lower limbs and with only a partial arm. Despite his physical limitations, Dyer became a successful professional angler with 20 tournament victories.
Henline thought he might pick up some new comedy material from Dyer.
Pointing to Christ
Instead, he heard the gospel.
“He (Henline) came forward and gave his heart to Jesus,” the pastor said. “I got to pray with him. I talked to him about how he had to change how he uses his platform.”
Craig told Henline that as a disabled American veteran with a large following, particularly among fellow veterans, he had an opportunity to continue making people laugh while also using his story to point them toward Christ.
“Me and him hit if off,” he said. “I have a law enforcement background, so we had a lot of commonalities. He wanted to get baptized so I began discipling him.”
Henline wanted that baptism to be public.
It took place Sunday afternoon in the Green River, with Greensburg Baptist evangelism pastor Greg Eastes joining Henline in the water. Because of Henline’s physical condition and extensive skin grafts, three others assisted with the baptism.
Henline also made another request for Craig.
He wanted his pastor to preach the gospel before the baptism because he expected about 50 friends who did not know Christ to attend.
For Craig, it was an opportunity he welcomed.
The baptism came during a busy weekend in Greensburg, where the annual Cow Days festival brings visitors and added excitement to the small community.
Another man, Lee Rouse, was encouraged by Henline and asked to be baptized. He was saved at the age of 15 but never got baptized. He drove down from Indiana to be baptized with Henline.
Craig and his wife, Paula, came to Greensburg Baptist Church two years ago. He has been in ministry for 33 years, much of it serving smaller churches, including congregations struggling to survive.
“I’ve turned down larger churches to go to smaller churches,” he said. “We’re in a community of 1,500 people here and we feel blessed.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Mark Maynard and originally published by Kentucky Today.
