In 2003 our team had to leave the Virginia coast because of an impending hurricane about to make landfall. We came to Valley Baptist church in Edinburg, VA. It is on the other side of the “Blue Ridge”. I had visited here on a Sunday morning passing through and was impressed with the church. After the hurricane, the next week was cancelled because the hurricane had knocked out the power at the next school we were scheduled to go to. As a result Valley Baptist invited us to conduct the War of Special Forces there. It was a divine appointment! I have some great memories of all the Lord did that week! (In fact one of the young men who got right with the Lord in 2003 is now a pastor in Idaho!) Since that time we have been privileged to return several times. This was our fourth visit.
This week all three teams were log jammed going into Friday. On Friday, the Army Rangers ran away with the score with a double victory on Friday evening.
The Army Ranger captain was out recruiting and almost passed by a couple of junior high teens as he was about to go back to the church. He decided to go ahead and recruit them. That contact ended up bringing five teens to the War of Special Forces on Thursday evening. All five responded to the invitation for salvation.
There was a military academy nearby the church. The leader of the academy was actually from Brazil. One of our team members, Warren, is a missionary kid from Brazil. Warren was able to talk with him and secure permission to invite some of the cadets to come. I think seven came on the last night. We were glad to have them there.
On the last night one of the students came forward because he had been doubting his salvation. He was not sure he had gotten saved at 6 years old or not. He had been wondering if Christianity was real. That night he nailed down his trust in the Lord for salvation.
One of the seniors in the school responded to the invitation about the fear of man. That night he gave this testimony.
Brother Jim was preaching this morning about the fear of man and God really dealt with me. He said, ‘It’s better to be respected than it is to be popular.’ And I thought that over and, you know, one thing that came to mind was 5-10 years from now no one’s going to remember you’re popular, but they’ll always respect you. And…um…you know, popular people can’t always rely on their popularity to get them everywhere they go. Sooner or later God’s going to break them and, you know, begin to realize they’ve got to be humble.
This senior told his team captain, “God had worked in my heart about the fear of man. I figured that my opportunity to obey was to give a testimony.”
One young man gave his testimony and then began to exhort the listeners.
What you’re doing doesn’t, you know, make you happy. You know, things you do…that’s selfish, you know, like watching things you shouldn’t be watching, or listening to music you have no business listening to. All that you do for yourself. You try to fill a hole that you can’t fill, but only God can. Just listen tonight, please.
Another young person put it this way.
I believe that this week the Lord has sent the War of Special Forces to our school to help cleanse our souls and clear our minds of the things we have been looking at, the inappropriate stuff, dirty websites and all that sort of stuff. And all the lessons that have been taught in the mornings, they have deeply touched my heart and reassured me of my salvation.
We are thankful for all the Lord did in hearts. We will look forward to 2018!
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