Ruth Belnavis carries within her two distinct versions of herself. One is the soldier — eight years in the Army, moving from base to base, following orders, holding inside the weight of experiences too painful to share. The other is the artist — a woman who found her voice on stage, who processes her trauma through performance, who is finally learning to speak her truth.
Both women are Ruth. Both stories matter.
“I served eight years in the Army, from 1987 to 1995,” she recalls. “Germany for three and a half years, then Georgia, and Korea was good. But by the time I got to Texas, I knew it was time to transition.”
Even decades later, some memories remain too painful. “Everything else was negative,” she admits quietly. “I don’t really want to talk about that. I’d rather focus on what’s given me life now.”
Seeds of a Dream
Ruth’s love of performance began long before her military service. The spark was lit in high school, when she stepped into Shakespeare’s worlds in Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet during an English with Drama class.
“I always wanted to act, but after high school, life just… happened,” she says. College, the Army, family, and work responsibilities pushed the dream aside, though it never completely disappeared.
Years later, while adjusting to civilian life, she noticed a flyer for auditions. “I was actually thinking of my daughter auditioning,” she laughs. “But when I got there, they asked me, ‘What about you?’ That was my start.”
That first step back onto a stage changed everything.
Finding Family in Theater
Her first significant role came in 2019 in A Coat of Many Colors. On tour, Ruth found both a creative outlet and a supportive theater family who shared resilience, healing, and hope.
Now, years later, she is returning to the same play with Big Faith Productions, opening October 11, 2025. Once again, she plays Grandma Pearl.
“The role feels so natural, like a piece of who I am,” she explains.
The discipline she carried from the Army — teamwork, focus, and determination — has proven invaluable in rehearsals. “When the cast has disagreements, I just say, ‘We’ve got a job to do.’ That’s straight from my military training.”
The Hidden Wounds
The Army gave Ruth strength and structure, but it also left her with invisible wounds she didn’t yet understand.
For decades, she lived with hypervigilance, avoidance, and triggers she couldn’t name. It wasn’t until 2018 that she finally received clarity: she had PTSD.
Group therapy opened her eyes. “I listened to other veterans talk about avoiding malls, crowds not sleeping, etc. — and I thought, ‘I don’t do those things either, I thought this is just how I am.’ My daughter reminded me that for years, life was deprived of simple experiences like going to the mall. She had to admit, something wasn’t right.”
Ruth’s realization offered fresh insight into her past but also revealed deeper pain.
Breaking the Silence
During her service, Ruth experienced military sexual trauma at the hands of a soldier — a preacher she had trusted. Letters of apology came, but at the time she chose forgiveness over reporting him, a decision she has wrestled with ever since.
After the incident, her First Sergeant introduced her to another side of her training NCO, Staff Sergeant Ricky Wise, Sr. — who was also a pastor. He helped strengthen her faith and pointed her back toward God.
Still, Ruth remained silent until she met Pastor Brown while stationed in Korea. He noticed a change in her spirit and urged her to share her story. When she finally revealed the name of her assailant, he already knew — others had been hurt as well.
“I was trying to get closer to the Lord,” she reflects. “But looking back, maybe if I had spoken up, he wouldn’t have tried to take advantage of someone else.”
Decades later, Ruth reconnected with Pastor Brown. His late wife became an encourager too, motivating her to return to school and continue growing.
Acting as Medicine
When traditional therapy wasn’t enough, Ruth found another pathway to healing — acting.
“Acting keeps my mind on good things. Even when certain sounds or words trigger me, I can channel them differently on stage,” she says.
For Ruth, performance is more than art — it is medicine. Theater gives her a way to transform pain into purpose, showing audiences that love and resilience can emerge even from suffering.
“The Bible says all things work together for good. Everything I’ve been through has shaped me into who I am today.”
Beyond the Stage
Ruth’s creativity doesn’t stop with theater. At Calvary Christian Church, for 21 years, she designed bulletins, flyers, and publications for her late pastors, Bishop Edward C. Roberts and Mother Betty J. Roberts. Today, under her current Pastor, District Elder Kameron Adams and Evangelist, Lady Jordan Adams, she serves as the Evangelism Connect Group Leader.
She also sings with “Thee Voices”, Founded and directed by Royalty Priesthood-Cameron Brown, a Charlotte-based gospel choir that won the 2024 How Sweet the Sound competition in the small choir category. “It’s a blessing to know my voice, which was once silenced, is finally being heard.”
What Audiences Will See
When the curtain rises on October 11, audiences will meet Grandma Pearl. But they will also witness Ruth — a veteran, a survivor, a woman who has turned trauma into testimony.
“People can expect some laughter, some tears, but mostly to feel at home — as if you’ve lived part of it yourself.”
Every performance, she says, is another step in her healing journey.
A Message for Veterans
Ruth carries a message of hope for other veterans — especially women carrying unspoken wounds.
“People need coping mechanisms. For me, theater is one. It could help save someone’s life.”
Healing isn’t simple, she knows, but it is possible. And by sharing her story, Ruth hopes others will discover their own voices too.
At this stage in her life, she is still writing her story — choosing faith, choosing creativity, choosing life.
Resources
Immediate Help Veterans Crisis Line — 24/7 help for veterans in crisis. Call or text 988 and press 1, or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Support VA MST Program — Free, confidential counseling and treatment for veterans who experienced sexual assault or harassment during military service. Visit va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/military-sexual-trauma or call 1-800-827-1000.
VA Women Veterans Call Center — Support specifically for women veterans navigating VA services and benefits. Call 1-855-829-6636 (Monday-Friday, 8am-10pm ET, Saturday 8am-6:30pm ET).
Mental Health & PTSD Support VA PTSD Program Locator — Search for local treatment programs, support groups, and counseling specifically for PTSD. Visit ptsd.va.gov.
Vet Centers — Community-based counseling centers offering readjustment counseling, group therapy, and family support. Call 877-927-8387 or search at va.gov/find-locations.
Creative Arts Therapy VA Creative Arts Therapy — Art, music, drama, and writing therapy programs available at many VA medical centers. Contact your local VA facility to inquire about programs.
Big Faith Productions — Community theater providing healing through performance. For information about upcoming productions and involvement opportunities, visit bigfaithproductions.org.
National Endowment for the Arts Military Healing Arts Network — Resources connecting veterans with community-based creative arts programs. Visit arts.gov.
Faith-Based Support Military & Veterans Ministry Networks — Many churches offer veteran-specific support groups and counseling. Contact local congregations or veteran service organizations for referrals.
General Veteran Support Veterans Community Living Centers — Local community resources and support groups. Search through VA.gov/find-locations or contact 211 for community resources.