This was the team’s first visit to New Testament Christian School in Madison, FL. The school principal, Shannon Kinsey, had heard about our ministry from someone in their church who had attended one of our meetings a few years back when they were in school at another place in Florida. From the time we arrived, we knew it was a divine appointment. We appreciated the burden of the faculty and staff and enjoyed laboring with them. When all was said and done, there were forty-nine young people who had either gotten saved or gotten assurance of their salvation. It really was a week of harvest!

The team captains went to local schools, farm co-ops, and 4-H groups to recruit teens. The principal of New Testament Christian School also reached out to many churches in the surrounding areas. One youth group leader brought his group of teens Wednesday night. Some of those teens came back the other War nights. 

The only senior guy in the Christian school was on the Marine team. He went out recruiting both Monday and Tuesday with his team captain, Titus. The young man knew almost everyone in the small town of Madison. He led Titus to all the spots where teens hang out. Many of the teens they recruited came to at least one of the War nights. The senior guy from the Christian school got saved on Wednesday night. He stood up on Friday, in front of all his peers, and gave a testimony:

“This week God put it on my heart to get saved…about a year ago I lost one of my good buddies, and I just started thinking about where I was going, and I got saved…I just thank God for letting me do that…”

One of the guys that Titus and the Christian school senior recruited came the first night and was mocking during the message. Miraculously, he came back on Thursday, but this time he was glued in during the preaching. He indicated his need to get saved but did not respond. Titus talked to him afterward in the parking lot, and he got saved there that night. He also gave a powerful testimony on Friday (below). Since we left, he has been in contact with Titus—sharing things he’s learning in his devotions and his decision to get baptized. 

“This week I got some reassurance…I doubted God a lot and for a little while, I’ve lived thinking I would go to Heaven but with a little bit of doubt that I would go to hell. I lived with that for awhile which is not a good thing to do because we are never promised tomorrow; we are not promised the next day after that or the next week…I had my leader Titus come out to the parking lot and talk to me because I raised my hand…I really nailed things down and I feel a lot better and am [now] assured that I am going to Heaven and [will] spend eternity with God…I hope to see you all there.”

Esther, the Seal co-captain, went to a farm co-op on Monday. There were not many people there but there was one teen who was very excited to hear about the War of Special Forces. He came the first night and got plugged into the program. He raised his hand during the invitation, indicating he needed to be saved, but he did not go back to get counseled. Esther talked to him in the parking lot after the War night was over. He was gloriously saved that night. 

One of the young men in the Christian school got saved on Wednesday night. As I was following up with him, an antagonistic Christian school kid was laughing and mocking at the boy who got saved. I turned to the boy who just got saved and said, “Hey, tell this guy what happened tonight.” With a big smile on his face, he said to his mocking friend, “I got saved tonight.” It was exciting to see the joy of the Lord in a new believer. 

Many responded to the invitation on Wednesday night. One of those who responded was the pastor’s daughter. She had heard the gospel before but never trusted Jesus alone to save her. That night, Abi, the Marine co-captain, counseled her. That night she got saved. Here is the testimony she gave Friday night: 

“I’ve always been a Pastor’s daughter and…I’ve always felt like I have to be perfect and do everything right, and even though I’m not perfect and don’t do everything, and still do bad things…I’m not perfect at all. This week I felt the burden that I need to go straighten things out and I did and I got saved, and I feel great.”

One of the older teens from the Christian school really connected well with our team. He helped us set up the War room and went out recruiting with us every day. God worked in his heart all week. He got his assurance settled, he forgave people that have wronged him, and he got some hidden sin out of his life. He gave this testimony:

“In my past, I’ve had a lot of family wounds. My brother, after the divorce of my parents when I was 4 years old, kind of went south.  He was really loving to me at first, and it took a turn for the worse…I got saved and then I started reverting back to my past because I started doing things the way I wanted to. And this week I got reassurance and I forgave my family for everything they’ve done.”