Over forty years ago I graduated from college. Pastor Ron Allen, the pastor of Bible Baptist Church in Matthews, was in my graduating class. It is wonderful to be able to come back and labor with him for a week of ministry. Also, we have been with the principal, Dr. Brad Parker, many times. We love being with him as well. We had a wonderful week and I trust your heart will be encouraged with all the Lord did!

There was a young man in the Christian school that was very shy and introverted. He stayed back on Monday after chapel and talked with Alex, the Ranger team captain. He made a salvation decision, but on Thursday after the war night invitation, he responded and talked with a faculty member. Eventually, Alex came and joined the conversation. This young man was struggling with deep doubts. God gave Alex wisdom as he walked this teen through truths in the Bible. The Holy Spirit tore down the barriers and after an hour, this young man went from doubting if God was real to asking God to save Him. Despite his shy nature, he stood up and testified on Friday of what God had done in his life:

“I’ve struggling with a lot of sins and I wanted to get better somehow. I didn’t really know how…my life was real miserable and I was confused…I just felt trapped. I was into pornography and I used to cut myself a lot and I got so bad, I almost tried to kill myself once and I was just so done with my life…these past days I’ve heard all these messages and I was just scared cause I thought I would go to Hell…I just found it hard to believe that Christ died for us. I didn’t understand any of that. But then someone explained to me how salvation works and…I made the choice to become a Christian last night and now I’m saved.”

A young girl stayed back on Monday after chapel and talked with Annaleese, the Seal co-captain. She had been struggling with a friend relationship in school. There had been several hurtful things said and done. In tears, she expressed how she just couldn’t forgive her. On Tuesday, she stayed back again after chapel and talked with Annaleese. She wanted to be free, but was still holding on to her hurts. On Wednesday after the bitterness message, she responded and decided to give it all to God and forgive her friend. She caught her friend later that day and apologized for anything she might have done to hurt her. They talked, wept, and hugged. This young lady couldn’t stop smiling!

The Lord put it on Alex’s heart to try to get into a lunchroom at the local public high school. It was a massive complex, but on Tuesday morning, God led the team captains to just the right lady who was able to give permission. They were able to get over 130 recruits during that time. On Friday, one of the guys Alex invited came. He enjoyed the program, but it didn’t seem like he was tracking during the testimonies. He raised his hand in the invitation, but did not respond. Alex caught him afterwards and began to give him the gospel. After a few minutes, he bowed his head and prayed, “God, whatever it is that these Christian school teens have, I want it!” It was encouraging to see how God had used his peers to bring him to the point of salvation.   

On Thursday night, a teen son of a faculty member responded to the invitation. He had been struggling with bitterness towards an authority. He got honest and told Jeremiah, the Marine team captain, that he had been wearing a mask for years pretending to be saved. That night, he settled his eternal security. On Friday, God gave him a burden for the lost. He was overwhelmed with knowing his out of state friend was unsaved. He testified that night: 

“I became a Christian…yesterday…it was such a relief because I felt this burden was off my back…I would love to see you all in heaven.”

Carissa, the Marine co-captain, was finishing up counseling on Thursday when she heard some girls crying behind her. She approached the two girls and began talking with them. One of the girls had some things she needed to tell her parents, but was terrified. Carissa was able to share her own personal testimony which encouraged her. She held out all week, but finally on Friday after the war night she texted Carissa and let her know that she had gotten fully honest with her mom. 

A young man came back in the invitation on Friday. He had confessed some hidden sin to his parents earlier, but was convicted for taking his sin lightly. Nathan, the Seal team captain, was able to encourage him to rely on God’s strength for continued victory. He was also convicted about standing up to his school friends. He took a step of faith and was the first to stand up and testify on Friday:

“The War of Special Forces came first when I was in seventh grade…it helped me to make a decision to come to my parents and tell them the things I’ve been doing… Two years later you guys came again…I had some more things that I should tell my parents…Come this year, you had a message about bitterness…I don’t take little sins seriously. I…realized that I was bitter at certain things… I was able to resolve that with other people.”

After Wednesday chapel, a young man responded and talked with Jeremiah. He had been struggling with bitterness and other Christian life issues. Jeremiah was able to lead him through steps of victory since there were similarities to his own story. He challenged him to even give the small things to the Lord. He stood up and gave his testimony on Friday:

“I would just do things on my own not realizing that…doing that placed a lot of emphasis on myself. I struggle with a lot of pride…sometimes I would think, well that’s just a little sin… Guess what? Once you start sinning, it’s a chain reaction. You want to keep doing it over and over and over again. And suddenly you realize, wait, I can’t stop….you keep going back. This year, I decided to place everything I’m struggling with over to God because only He can help me overcome my sin…I’ve now dedicated 100% of my life to Him.”

On Thursday after the war night, a young lady pulled Sydney, the Ranger co-captain, aside and began to share some personal issues she was struggling with. The next day she came back in the invitation. Sydney was able to share her story and identify with this young lady in many ways. Come to find out, this young lady had been praying that God would send someone who would understand the doubts she was encountering. She was shocked with how God had answered her prayer. She testified at the campfire service about getting freedom from the doubts:

“A few months ago…I just started…feeling this doubt…but I know I’m saved…and trying to read my Bible…I was just confused…so I just asked God…please just send somebody who had struggled with the exact same thing…who can help me…understand…During the group break out time…the co-leader…started…her…testimony. I was like…that…sounds a little familiar…that night I just pulled her aside after the message…and she just explained it to me what she went through when she was in high school and college…that just…took away all the doubt…God answered my prayer and…that was just amazing to me and it just showed me that God was there and he does love me…I just feel peace in my life.”