Over the years my wife and I have had the privilege of coming to Vandalia Baptist Church and Christian School. We have appreciated Pastor Oates and the ministry there. Although Pastor Oates is still there, he has retired and Pastor Ricky Cox is now in leadership as pastor. We have enjoyed getting to know him and his family. Two years ago he was the assistant pastor. We had a great week working with him then and this year was no exception. The Lord definitely worked and encouraged our hearts as we saw Him touching lives.

On Tuesday, the Seal co-captain Julianna, had the opportunity to council a young lady through bitterness towards her divorced parents. It was not an easy situation as her father had sat her and her sister down and told them he didn’t love or want them anymore. During Dr. Jim’s message on bitterness, the young lady realized that she was bitter and slowly becoming just like her parents. She chose forgiveness that day and prayed for her parents for the first time. The freedom on her face was truly evidence of God’s grace. 

Simeon, the Marine team captain, talked with a young man who responded on Tuesday. He had been harboring bitterness towards his parents who had divorced the previous year. He released it to the Lord and felt so free. He testified on the final night:

“There’s only a few of y’all that actually know this…my dad left our family and these past years have been the 2 hardest years of my life just seeing my mom with the way she’s been. But on Tuesday, I believe, Brother Jim gave the message about…bitterness, and the bitterness in my heart towards my father was just eating me alive…I went back and I prayed. And I talked to God. And I got that settled. And this past week since Tuesday has been the best week of my life spiritually.”

Annaleese, the Ranger co-captain, counseled a young lady who responded on Wednesday. She had been convicted in most of the messages that week. When she found out her friend’s dad had passed away that night, she knew she needed to make some key decisions to live her life for Christ and to get rid of the worldly things she had been pursuing. She gave a testimony on the last night:

“Just wanted to say that last year…I wasn’t right with God and I did really bad stuff…last year…I was struggling with self harm…Some people will try to take advantage of you…don’t hang around people who just want to take stuff from you…They just wanted to take, take, take…When God compels you, you just have to set boundaries with people…I just wanted to say that, you young people who have gotten saved tonight, you have like, really lifted my spirits cause you don’t get to really see that.”

On Wednesday after the chapel invitation, Alex, the Ranger team captain, counseled a young man who was struggling with bitterness towards his parents. After they worked through forgiveness, Alex asked the young man about his salvation. He responded that he was unsure of where he would go when he died. Alex went through the gospel and the young man trusted Christ alone as his Savior.

On Wednesday evening, a young lady from the Christian school responded to the salvation invitation. Polly talked with her and was able to clarify some of her questions. The young lady made sure of her assurance. She testified at the testimony service: 

“I grew up in a Christian home. My parents are in ministry. I’ve been in this school my whole life…but I never really felt like I had an actual relationship with God…There’s that scripture that says draw close to God and He will draw close to you…also I felt not confident that I would be going to heaven because of sins that I’ve committed…but when Jesus died on the cross, He died for like the sins that you’ve committed, even in the future…just ask for forgiveness and He’ll always be there waiting for you, waiting to have a relationship with you.”

Julianna was able to talk to a young lady who was convicted about her bitterness towards her divorced parents. She was coping with her pain by turning to self-harm and attempted suicide. She chose to accept Jesus’ love for her and forgive those who had wronged her. She also made a plan to spend time with God and begin having a personal relationship with Him. She testified on the last night: 

“I grew up in a Christian home—two Christian homes—my parents were divorced. I have had a very rough home life. For the past 3 years it’s gotten worse and worse…A few years ago, I started struggling with anxiety which turned into spiraling depression. I started self-harming. I have attempted to take my life twice in the past two years, the most recent being a month ago…I’ve been hateful to people…And I had a really good talk with Lord and with the Seal co-captain and with Mr. Portillo. And they showed me I am loved by one person…the Lord. And I dedicate my life to Him because I am saved.”

There was a quiet teen guy who was secluded and enjoyed drawing. Simeon was able to develop a relationship with him throughout the week. On Tuesday, he asked the young man if he was saved, but it was clear he did not understand. A couple days later, Simeon began talking to him again about his salvation. This time, Simeon asked if he could draw in the teen’s notebook. He began by drawing the garden of Eden and drew pictures leading through the gospel. Meanwhile a group of students noticed what was taking place and began praying together for this young man’s salvation. It finally clicked and this young man prayed and trusted Christ as his Savior.

Levi, the Seal team captain, counseled a young man who responded on Thursday. He had grown up in a really tough situation being exposed to inappropriate viewing as a child. His dad went to jail, and since that time he had been in seven to eight foster homes. He settled his assurance that day and opened up about his purity. He described his life as bound and addicted. He took some key steps toward victory. At the testimony service, this young man took a major step and shared his testimony for the first time to his peers:

“I’m sure a lot of people struggle with addictions and things they should not look at. I had biological parents [who gave me] to a very bad man. At first, I didn’t know it. I lived with this man for the first eight years of my life, from 2-10. He showed me pictures I should not be seeing at that age, or ever. I had to deal with that for 10 years…2016…I remember being taken out of my house and being taken away. Turns out that very bad man was arrested. And he went to jail, and he died there a few years a later. However, God put me in some very good families. He led me here…eight  families later, I’m in a good family. And I’m with the family that I’m with now because of God, and I was saved a few years ago and the Wilds summer camp…He showed me how much people value me, and how much people care for me. He put a very bad man away so He could help me get better and I’m still recovering, but I can officially say, God is still helping me, and He’s never forsaken me.”

A young lady responded on Wednesday after the chapel service. She had been convicted the previous night when the gospel was preached. Her parents were unsaved, and she was burdened about sharing the gospel with them. Her mom grew up in Myanmar and was into Buddhism. She talked with Annaleese and decided to specifically pray for Satan’s lies to be exposed and God’s truth to be realized.

Polly, the Marine co-captain, talked with a young lady who responded on Tuesday to the bitterness message. She had quite a bit of emotional wounds with her dad being in jail. She chose to forgive and set up an accountability plan for her devotional time. She shared her story on the last night:

“I did not grow up in a Christian home…my parents came home from a trip to North Carolina, and they told me that my mom’s best friend had taken her life. [She] took a gun to her head and she shot herself. And then I came here and I came to hear about this guy who had always known me, but I never knew Him, and His name was Jesus…I started to think, why couldn’t I know Him sooner…Everyone, I just want to tell you that that person that you’re thinking about that maybe isn’t the best Christian or maybe that you think does not know Jesus that you have to tell them today. Because they say it so often, but we are not promised tomorrow, and Jesus says ‘what greater love is this than to give one’s life for his friends’. And that’s exactly what Jesus did for us on the cross.”

A young man responded on Wednesday burdened about his eternal destination. He had made a decision when he was young, but did it just to please the people around him. Levi was able to lead him through the gospel and this young man chose to trust Jesus as his Savior.

Alex talked to a young man who responded on Wednesday. He was convicted about his anger towards his friends when they provoke him. He talked to the Lord about his anger and then went to each of his friends and asked for forgiveness. The next day he responded about his purity journey. Alex helped him get a plan and become accountable with his parents. He shared his testimony:

“When I was younger my parents would argue a lot. They would have some problems, and I grew up always being mad at everything and I just had problems, and I was always angry and sad…never had anyone to talk to. But this week, I had a talk with God, and I was saved this week. And I asked for His forgiveness because I know this bitterness I had was not right, and I was not right for being mad at everyone. And I just prayed to God to forgive me and to save me. And to use me how He thinks He needs me.”