This was the first time our team has ever had the privilege of going to Eastland Baptist Church and Christian School! It was great to work with Cheston Hurley and his wife. They did a great job preparing for us and working with us all week long! We hit some tough weather for Florida, but the Lord worked in spite of it. I think it was in the ’40s and the ’50s the whole week long with some precipitation. We are thankful for all the Lord did in the Christian school and also in the evening rallies. There were several who were saved from the community.

On Monday, Simeon, the Marine team captain, recruited a young man in a parking lot. By accident, Simeon wrote down the wrong number and was unable to get in contact with him later that week. However, on Friday, the young man showed up for the evening rally. He enjoyed the competitions and listened intently to the testimonies and gospel message presented. He raised his hand indicating his need for salvation, but did not respond. Simeon tapped him and he ended up going back. That night he was gloriously saved!

There was a senior in the school who was on the Seal team. He got burdened for his public school friend and invited him to come to the evening War nights. His friend got saved on Wednesday night and attended all three war nights.

Matthew, the Ranger team captain, counseled a young man who had been struggling with cheating in school. He helped him set up a time to confess to his teacher. Later that day, Matt went with the young man as he got clean with his teacher.

Levi, the Seal team captain, talked to a young man in the school on Thursday. As they began talking, Levi realized the young man was not saved. He confronted him and the young man was saved that day.

On Monday, Annaleese, the Ranger co-captain, went into a Goodwill looking for teenagers to recruit. She recruited a young lady who was shopping with a friend. On Thursday, she texted Annaleese and said she’d be there, but would be coming a little late. Sure enough, she showed up, enjoyed the competition, and listened to the gospel message. She had some church background and had been searching for a good Baptist church. The youth pastor’s wife was able to connect with her and set a time to go out with her. She promised to be in church on Sunday.

While recruiting on Monday, Simeon came across a trailer park and recruited several teens. On Wednesday night, three of them attended the rally. They got involved in the competition despite the cold weather. After the gospel message, all three young men responded and were saved!

During the invitation on Wednesday evening, a young girl from the school responded. Julianna, the Seal co-captain, led her to the Lord that night. The next day, this girl’s sister responded after the chapel invitation. Annaleese had the privilege to lead her to the Lord and gave her steps for victory with some sin issues. 

A young man was deeply convicted with his problem with viewing. He went to his parents on his own and confessed his sin. The next day, he came and talked with the youth pastor and Matthew. He was hungry for victory. Matthew was able to give him practical steps for sustained victory.

Only one girl responded to the chapel invitation on Wednesday. She talked with Polly, the Marine co-captain, about her bitterness towards her mom and sister. She had also gotten into quite a bit of inappropriate activity online. She got clean and confessed to the appropriate authorities. 

Here are some testimonies from Friday:

“Today I liked…the part where he said I should lean all my life towards God and be humble to Him….Before this week I’ve seen myself struggling with doubt…I just didn’t see myself with a purpose anymore…if you open up your heart and you just surrender…today I tried to do that…it was just a feeling that was just liberating and it just feels amazing and I just don’t know how to explain it…I just want to say that now I’m going to live my life as a Christian to the fullest.”

“My testimony is about my bitterness towards people who have mothers and fathers. When I was young, I never had a father and I lost my mother to her own reckless…. She ended up…doing it to herself and after that I grew really bitter and jealous of people who had mothers and fathers…hearing the testimonies of people this week and his preaching, it opened up my eyes to see that I needed help…[to] stop this bitterness.”

“For a very long time my heart was…postured towards the Lord a little bit, but I never really acted on it….I want to…minister or talk to people or something…saving lives…[God] can change your life and give you the true desires of your heart from Him…So recently…I’ve…fully embraced Him and do what He wants for my life and in doing that I want to…fully commit myself to spreading the gospel and telling other people…Jesus Christ is Lord….He loves you. It’s not a religion; it’s a relationship with Him as your Father.”