Marquette Manor Baptist Church is the birthplace of The War and therefore of Minutemen Ministries. Years ago, then youth pastor Wayne Van Gelderen Jr. and his brother Jim came up with an idea to reach teens with the gospel. 37 years later, the program has been repeated thousands of times! Furthermore, the church still has a heart to reach teens … Read More
Cola Clash — Sun Prairie, WI
In September of 2011, my wife and I traveled to Sun Prairie, WI to present our youth evangelistic ministry to Calvary Baptist Church, pastored by Rick Bloom. Last December, their new youth directors, Dan and Karen Kahlhamer, contact me about bringing the Cola Clash to Sun Prairie. They had attended one of our rallies elsewhere in 2014 and wanted their church to experience … Read More
The War — Ocala, FL
What an encouraging week in Ocala! Last time our ministry was here, the Lord taught our team key lessons in prayer and dependence. This year, God did it again! As we began the week, the Lord burdened my heart to speak in the Wednesday evening service from 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 on God’s Comfort, His divine help in distresses—not the usual … Read More
The War — Greenville, MS
Pastor Ken Burkett has pastored Greenville Bible Church for over 20 years and has hosted almost every War evangelist who has led The War—Jim Van Gelderen, Frank Bailey, Billy Ingram, and now Bobby Bosler. Though it has been a decade since The War has been to Greenville, MS, the people were no strangers to the ministry. Many of them had … Read More
The War — Pine Bluff, AR
Last week was a week full of battles, breakthroughs, and answered prayers! Four years ago, God redirected us to Liberty Baptist Church through a cancelled meeting. When we arrived, there were plenty of challenges, but God worked in ways beyond what we could have imagined. A young man named Michael was one of many who was saved that week, and … Read More
Special Forces Week #1 Land O’ Lakes, FL
I always love coming to First Baptist Church of Land O’ Lakes. They have a passion for the clarity of the Gospel. I appreciate the pastoral staff. They are a great group with which to work. DJ Willis is a former team member (he was captain of the Navy Seals in 2011) and he is now the youth pastor here. … Read More
Special Forces Week #10 Bonita Springs, FL
In April of 1989, a large youth event was cancelled in South Carolina where I was scheduled to preach. That night I was asked to preach at an evangelistic youth event at a local church. During the invitation a young man named, Marty responded to the Gospel and was saved. That Marty is the assistant pastor now at Gospel Baptist … Read More
Special Forces Week #9 Fort Walton Beach, FL
Minutemen Ministries loves Pastor Mark Stevens and Calvary Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach. The team was with Pastor Stevens years ago in Keystone Heights, FL. There are many memories of great things the Lord did there in Keystone Heights! Several times we have been at Calvary Baptist in Fort Walton Beach since Pastor Stevens has come. This is the … Read More
Special Forces Week #8 Jacksonville, FL
Several years ago the team was at Victory Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL. It was a privilege to return. I was encouraged with the good spirit in the church. Their pastor, Marty Massito, just retired and you could tell the Lord used his ministry there. He was a former Army Ranger in Viet Nam so you know which team he … Read More
Special Forces Week #7 Check, VA
A few months ago Pastor Warren Brown contacted me because of a burden he had to reach the young people in his county. As a result the team came to conduct a three night rally in Floyd County, Virginia. We held the rallies right after school on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the town of Floyd near the high school. … Read More