Since the year 2007, the team has had the privilege of visiting Hudson View Baptist Church in Yonkers, NY every other year. This year the church has a new pastor and it was a blessing to labor with him and the people of HVBC. Pastor James Flowers was an assistant in Charleston, SC. I had met him once before. Although 31 years old, he leads with maturity beyond his years.
We did several area young people get saved. One young lady came that didn’t seem to want get involved much in the games. After the message that night, she responded to the invitation. When she sat down with Leanna, one of the co-captains, she began to cry. Leanna asked, “Why did you come back?” She immediately responded, “Almost everything that preacher is talking about I’ve done.” Leanna proceeded to give her the Gospel. She was nodding her head fervently as the presentation was given. Leanna followed with this question, “Do you want to do that?” She not only responded affirmatively, but was soon confident she had trusted the Lord. She told Leanna, “I have gone to church a couple of times, but it has never made sense, but it made sense tonight.”
The youth pastor was driving John, the Recon captain, around the area near Saunders HS. They passed a park with manicured football field and a team practicing. Guys were standing on the sideline and the coach was busily coaching guys on the field. John went up to the guys on the sideline and began to recruit them. One of the young men had already recruited and said, “Yeah, you recruited me in front of my house.” He then began to encourage other guys to sign up. Later the coach let him talk to the guys. Because of that opportunity, an athletic young man came every night of the War of Special Forces. The first night he came, he enthusiastically played the games. After the message during the invitation, he stood up indicating he wanted to get saved. He had not raised his hand, but his team captain was praying for him. He was led to the Lord by the youth pastor!
Several students in the school dealt with sin issues in their lives. Several dealt with bitterness. One young lady got honest with her mom about watching movies that her mother would not have approved. After message on hidden sin, another young lady who had cheated in 5th and 7th grades, went downstairs and talked to her teacher and got right. Another young lady dealt with music issues in her life. On Friday another young lady who had dealt with bitterness said, “I felt God’s presence more than I ever have before.” Another student dealt with her need for assurance of her salvation.
After the message on forgiveness, a young lady responded to the invitation. Julie, the Seals co-captain, asked, “Are you bitter?” “No,” she replied. Julie then asked, “Are you saved?” Again she answered, “No.” Julie then (to make sure it was not an assurance situation) followed with the question, “Have you ever been saved before?” When she answered, “No”, Julie was able to lead her to the Lord.
One of our team members, John, felt led of the Lord to stay an extra week since it was our last week. He got involved in the follow up. There was a young man, who had been saved before but had gotten away from the Lord, that John was able to disciple some. This young man was in church on Sunday. John also helped with a follow up activity the following Wednesday and about 14 teens from the War of Special Forces came. After the message a young man was saved! He had attended the War of Special Forces, but had not gotten saved then. It was a blessing to hear of his responding to the Gospel. John had been burdened for him and was disappointed he did not get to talk to him during the rally nights. He was glad he came to the follow up and got saved! We are thankful for all the Lord did in Yonkers. May the Gospel seed continue to be watered and yield harvest!
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