A Life Restored Through Unlikely Friendship
Written by Kelly Broman-Fulks
From the Current Journey Magazine: Summer 2025
Can church really change your life? In the case of Vietnam veteran and Boone-area native Neil Hartley, yes. Through friendship found in church pews, Neil experienced healing he never expected. Neil served with the Air Force in central Vietnam, beginning in September 1967, loading aircraft with bombs, artillery, and other cargo. After returning to the United States in September 1968, Neil quietly carried the burdens of his combat experiences for more than three decades,
“I guess I returned with a mild form of PTSD,” said Neil. “I was concerned about what happened to the civilians, the women, and even more so the little children who had nothing to do with what was going on. I would go fishing. Sometimes, I didn’t even throw a line in the water.”
The first week of May 2000 was a life-changing time for Emma in her new American home. Andy and Cay Harkins of Boone had just returned from northern Vietnam, their daughter Emma’s place of birth, as they finalized their adoption journey. A few days later, on Friday, May 7, Emma turned one year-old, surrounded by her loving new community and three older sisters. Just two days later, Cay woke up on Mother’s Day and dressed little Emma for her first time at Boone UMC, where she would be baptized during the church’s very first Sunday in their freshly constructed building at 471 New Market Blvd., following a move from the church’s previous downtown home on King Street.
For Neil, Emma, and the people of Boone UMC, May 9, 2000, became a day of notable firsts, memorable celebration, and — most importantly — divine transformation.
“The first Sunday that Emma was at church, the day she was baptized, I asked Cay if I could hold her,” Neil recalled. “She said, ‘You can if she will come to you. She’s been clingy since we left Vietnam.’ I held out my hands and the little child leaned toward me. I cradled her in my arm and just walked around. She looked up at me and gave me one of those baby smiles. She didn’t seem to be concerned at all that I was the one carrying her around. When I left church that day, a huge weight had lifted. I don’t know where all those thoughts ended up going, but I haven’t looked for them, and they haven’t come back.”
During the next several years, Neil and his wife Audrey kept up with Emma occasionally through dance recitals and around town. Then, when Emma was an older teenager, she and her father served communion to Neil during a church service at Boone UMC. “I found myself in line where Andy and Emma were serving,” said Neil. “When I held out my hands to receive the bread, I whispered to Andy, ‘She has no idea what this means to me.’ I dipped the bread in the juice that Emma held, and I went on.” Later, Andy encouraged Neil to share the story with Emma. “I told Andy I didn’t want to. She had no reason to dislike me, and I didn’t know how she might feel,” Neil said. But Andy was confident. Then, one Sunday Andy prompted Neil to share the story with Emma firsthand.
“I still wasn’t sure about it,” Neil admitted. “But I told her the story, and she got tears in her eyes and just hugged me. And since that time, she tells people I’m her best friend.”
Emma, who is now a young married adult, reflects, “To be told I gave someone healing — that the Lord chose me for something that powerful — it is overwhelming. So much had to happen for me to be there for Neil on that morning 25 years ago. I feel I’m just living out part of God’s plan. Sharing both our difficult and happy experiences helps me be more empathetic to my elders and encourages me to be a support system for younger generations.”
As Boone UMC celebrates its 25th anniversary at 471 New Market Blvd. this month, stories like Neil and Emma’s remind us of God’s faithfulness and the power of community. “There have been so many God moments here,” said Andy. “There is power in being together in church, giving space for those God moments to happen. But it requires us being present so that God can work.” Neil echoes Andy’s praise for how God has made possible his friendship with Emma.
“I have always felt like it was a God thing,” said Neil. “Maybe the Holy Spirit gave that little child a nudge. He said, ‘Go see him for a minute. He needs you.’ It was a big indicator to me that we do serve a God of grace. And I was extended a lot of grace.”
“TO BE TOLD I GAVE SOMEONE HEALING — THAT THE LORD CHOSE ME FOR SOMETHING THAT POWERFUL — IT IS OVERWHELMING. SO MUCH HAD TO HAPPEN FOR ME TO BE THERE FOR NEIL ON THAT MORNING 25 YEARS AGO. I FEEL I’M JUST LIVING OUT PART OF GOD’S PLAN. SHARING BOTH OUR DIFFICULT AND HAPPY EXPERIENCES HELPS ME BE MORE EMPATHETIC TO MY ELDERS AND ENCOURAGES ME TO BE A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR YOUNGER GENERATIONS.”
