Years ago in the early 2000s our team stopped by Faith Baptist Church in Deltona, FL to visit. Since that time, the team has had the privilege of coming every two years to Deltona Christian School to conduct the War of Special Forces. As a result, we have come to know and appreciate Pastor Herchenroder, his wife and his son Phil, who is the principal of the school as well as many of the good people there.
This year the Lord gave us a harvest of souls. There were at least 30 salvation decisions. Janna, the Ranger co-captain, recruited a young man at the middle school. David, the Army Ranger team captain, recruited another young man in the neighborhood. These two brought about six or seven the first night. After the Gospel was given, the whole row responded to the Gospel invitation. One of them was a young man who claimed to be an atheist. The pastor talked with him and watched as he wept his way to Jesus.
There were a couple of young ladies and their younger brothers that came to the first night of the War of Special Forces, but they did not stay. On Thursday one of the young ladies and her brother were walking by church and David, the team captain invited them. They came on Thursday and did not get saved. They came again on Friday. When the invitation was given, one of the young ladies was crying when she responded. Leanna, one of our co-captains, talked to her and went through the Gospel. “Would you like to put your trust in the Lord?” Leanna asked. This young lady smiled and nodded, “Yes”. In the midst of the conversation, she received a phone call from her mom. She said to Leanna, “That will have to wait. I’m getting Jesus.”
Jonathan, the Navy Seals captain, recruited a young lady at a sports complex a couple of miles away. Jonathan immediately had a burden for her. She came on Wednesday and raised her hand that she needed to be saved, but did not respond to the invitation. She had to leave right away and the Army Ranger co-captain briefly talked to her about coming again on Thursday. She came again the next night, but before she could leave, Julie, the Navy Seals co-captain talked to her in parking lot and asked her a couple of questions. “What did you think of the message? Have you ever made a decision like that before?” “No, she replied, “but I believe in Jesus.” Julie countered, “The Bible says that the devils believe and tremble. Believing in Jesus is casting your dependence on him alone to save you. It is not enough to be a good person.” Julie then asked, “Can we go inside and can I show you what the Bible says about this?” It was not long before she was wondrously saved. Her sister got saved first night. She claimed to be an atheist. When one of our co-captains was talking to her friend, this friend was surprised that she came to a church event and that she had responded to the Gospel invitation.
We did have some decisions in the school. One young lady responded to the invitation on Friday. She was broken about rebellion to parents and her music. She admitted that she had tried to get victory before, but she keeps going back. She also admitted that she had bad friends. Leanna asked her a couple of questions, “Well, how is your time with the Lord? Did you have a time with the Lord?” “I used to,” she answered. Leanna asked, “Did that help you?” She immediately replied, “Oh, yes!”
The team was in Deltona for almost two weeks. On Saturday, the team went out and invited all those who had gotten saved to come to the Easter service the next morning. One mother I talked to was glad her son had gotten saved. We did have three who came to Sunday School and church and another family that came to church.
The thrilling thing was the following Wednesday. Although we did make any official counts, there were about 25 young people who came to the youth night who were from the War of Special Forces. I had a wonderful time challenging them to walk by faith and follow Jesus. When I finished the message that night, I gave an invitation and invited them to get on their knees and tell Jesus that they want to follow him. It was a joy to watch most of the teens from the War get on their knees. I trust many of them will begin a life of following Jesus!
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