"God Stories"


June 2012 - Former Enemies

 

About twenty years ago, we were on the staff of a Christian Camp and Conference Center in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania that was operated by another military ministry.  One of the groups which used the center was the Association for Christian Conferences, Teaching and Service (ACCTS), the ministry with which we now serve .

One of ACCTS' many ministries is called Interaction, a program that brings Christian Military leaders from around the world to the United States for two weeks of training in such skills as Conversational Prayer and Inductive Bible Study, and interaction with US Military Christians.  The training sessions were held during the first week at the conference center, with the second week devoted to visits at military bases and academies along the East Coast.

During one of these Interactions, I was privileged to witness a God Story which originated during the cold war years.  One of the Interaction delegates was a former Soviet submarine commander who had found the Lord in retirement, and became the proprietor of an art gallery in St. Petersburg.  Another guest at the center was an active duty Royal Navy Captain who had come with his family for the weekend from their assignment at the NATO HQ in Norfolk, VA.

The evening routine at the 110 year old hotel which served as the conference center was to prepare a large bowl of popcorn and put it out in the dining room with other snacks and fresh coffee for guests after the evening program.  As the duty staff member, it was my turn to take care of the snacks and clean up afterwards.

Around 2030, the guests began filtering into the dining room.  The Royal Navy Captain's family had turned in early, so he decided to observe the time honored tradition of Navies around the world, a cup of coffee before bed.  The former Soviet submarine commander observed the same tradition, so he was also after coffee.  The two men got to talking, and were soon deep in discussion about their adventures at one of the tables.  

I was about to offer them a refill, and couldn't help but overhear as they compared dates and times and places, and simultaneously realized that at one point they had actually tracked one another with live weapons in the North Sea!  In the amazing mercy and grace of God, however, they were now enjoying a cup of coffee as brothers in Christ.  The former enemies had not only been reconciled to God, but also to one another through the unfathomable love of Christ.

Prayers for June

                                    www.accts.org 

 

- Heavenly Father, you know the hearts of those who serve in the military, and you guard and guide them as they perform their duties.  We thank you for the grace and mercy you shower upon us, so that former enemies may be reconciled through your Son Jesus.

- Lord of All, you have instituted the government authorities of men and allow them to struggle against one another, yet you call us individually to your kingdom.  Blessed be your name for loving us so much that you sent your only son to reconcile us to you.

- God of Grace and Mercy, we pray that you will continue to reconcile nations that oppose one another, and bring peace to countries torn by internal strife between people groups.

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