I grew up in what I would call a "cultural Christian" church, common in our day and age, in which people went to church because it was the right thing to do on a Sunday morning. It was far more of a social gathering place than it was a place to see God in action. The preaching was shallow and the outreach was nonexistent. As a result, it had little ability to be the conduit of influence that God intended it to be. The people I knew who went to church were no different than the people I knew who didn't go to church. I was no different than the people who didn't go to church. As a result of this ineffective ministry, I left for college doubting the truths of Christianity. The god I saw in action through "his people" was an impotent deity without the ability to impact lives. This god was irreconcilable with the God of the Bible.

After graduating college and receiving a commission into the Air Force through ROTC, I began my military career. During pilot training, I fairly regularly attended a Baptist church. I can't remember what prompted me to start attending there, but the God I saw in that place was changing lives in a way I had never seen before. It was this brief period of my life that started to chip away at the calloused and distrusting view of God that I had developed as a young person. There was one thing that the pastor said during a Sunday morning message that stuck with me, though at the time I didn't understand it. "The most important thing about God is not that He died for the world, but that He died for you." I had been exposed to the Bible enough to recognize that Jesus died for the world, but my heart hadn't been touched with the Gospel so that I recognized it was me who needed salvation. I left pilot training with this thought lingering in my mind, and not understanding the important truth that it contained about my eternal condition. I flew missions over Iraq and the former Yugoslavia in the meanwhile, not recognizing the eternal danger I faced with far greater consequences than any physical danger of earthly combat.

Several years and many moves later, the Lord brought me to the deserts of southern California for USAF Test Pilot School. It was there that I joined a vibrant church that displayed God's power, love, and authenticity through a ministry that aligned with God's Word. When queried, I gave a salvation testimony based on my background in church, but the more I heard sound Biblical preaching and was involved in Bible-based ministries, the more I was convicted that I had never been saved. At this same time, however, I also began to develop a sense of pride that internally caused me to deny my lack of eternal security. The longer I was in church, the greater my conviction and the greater the counteracting pride. It was finally after a year and a half of this internal struggle that it finally came to a climax.

One Sunday, a young lady gave a humble but powerful testimony during the evening service. She was a junior in Bible College and well known to all. It was just that weekend at a ladies retreat that she had come to realize that she had never been saved and had just accepted Christ as her Savior. I was amazed at the humility of this young lady who had all the reasons to allow pride to win out over conviction in this struggle. After all, everyone knew her as a faithful Bible College student. How could she not have been previously saved? Yet, through the power of the Holy Spirit she admitted her need and grasped onto the eternal security of the Gospel. Throughout that evening and night, I wrestled with these issues and the next morning arose to admit my need for salvation and to accept its free gift through Jesus Christ. I had finally realized that Christ didn't just die for the world in some academic sense. He had come to die for my sin, because that sin demanded a sacrificial payment to reconcile me to God. Pride no longer blocked my way to salvation.

In retrospect, I cannot believe that my pride so powerfully stood in the way of salvation's eternal security. I can't believe that I could be so weak and stubborn as to let the devil stand in the way of God's perfect gift. Thank the Lord that through combat, He sustained me to give me further opportunities to overcome my pride and accept Jesus as my Savior. Thank the Lord that through my many military assignments, He finally brought me to the desert to find the living water of the Gospel. The reality is that this living water can be found anywhere that the truths of the Bible are proclaimed and where ministries are aligning themselves with God's life-changing truths. Praise God for such ministries!

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By Jessica Stemmerding

One evening we had a neighborhood boy over for dinner. This night was not a special night, just a friend of one of our boys had been over to play and he stayed to eat with us. What we didn't know is that he was a Christian boy. We all sat down for dinner and we were about to begin to eat. When the boy asked if he could pray before we ate. My husband and I said sure, no problem. "Mind you we were not religious by any means; I was raised Catholic and was not practicing and my husband, Erich, did not attend church during his childhood years. We were not against it, but didn't practice it or attend any church.

The boy's prayer was very simple, but at the end he said, "Thank you God." After he was done (in prayer) we all looked up, and I looked at my oldest son, Ethan. He had the most confused look on his face and was looking at the boy like he had two heads or something…and I asked him what was wrong? He said, "Who is God?"

At that moment, I felt my heart drop to the floor. In that instant, my husband and I locked into each other's eyes. He was feeling the exact same thing I was. We as adults have the "option" or "free-will," you might say, to believe in God. Our children, on the other hand, do not. We as parents are to make every effort to have our children knowledgeable in all things...including God. We knew who God was but chose to ignore Him.

At that moment, with embarrassment and a burden in our hearts, we decided that we would begin to go to church so that our children could have the opportunity to know God and then make their own decisions about God.

Moving from Ft. Leonard Wood to SHAPE, Belgium, was our next journey. A couple of nights there at the hotel, a church, Calvary Baptist Church, had a hotel ministry. They provided home-cooked meals for the in-bound and out-bound personnel and their families and would invite them (us) to come to church.

That same night I was asked to go to a Ladies Meeting coming up and then invited to go to church the following Sunday. At this point we were hungry for the Gospel and I knew God put these people in our path for our Salvation. We are truly blessed to know these people of God. I thank God for them.

We arrived in Belgium in October 2006, got Saved in November '06, and Baptized in December '06. Due to military transitioning, we stayed in Belgium for one year and then moved to Grafenwhoer, Germany. There we found another church, Grace Baptist Church, pastored by BIMI missionary Chuck Sligh. This church helped us grow even more as Christians. And then again, my husband's Battalion was to be moved to Schweinfurt, Germany, from Grafenwhoer. We lived in Graf for about 7 months and then moved to Schweinfurt and became members of Liberty Baptist Church immediately.

We have been in Schweinfurt for over a year now. We have been so blessed since coming overseas. Here in Schweinfurt our 11 year old and now our 7 year old have been Saved and baptized as well. God has truly blessed our family.

I wanted to mention that I am truly THANKFUL for being able to know Christ through the Military Missionaries that are overseas. If they were not here, we would still be an unsaved family. Thank God for the missionaries who sacrifice luxuries and being away also from their extended families to minister to military families. What a blessing to have had churches located wherever and whenever we have moved. Our family has moved 3 times in less than 2 years. It has been a true blessing to be able to grow as a new Christian, even being stationed overseas. Being in small military churches has been an experience as well...nowhere else can we use our spiritual gifts and really participate in our local church. And just recently my husband has moved forward and committed his life to Christ. Thank you, Lord, for providing for our family and thank you for your Military Missionaries!

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Brett, Patricia, Brett II, Ariana Skillen

Brett is a retired Army First Sergeant of 20 years and a veteren of both Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Brett graduated from Crown College in Powell, Tennessee, with a Master of Ministry degree.

Patricia served as an Army Captain and is a veteren of many deployments and homecomings as an Army wife.

Partnering with BIMI, they have a goal to be on the field by Summer 2011. Our service personnel need to be reached before it is too late.

Their ministry objectives are Evangelism, Discipleship, and Church Planting.

www.theskillenfamily.com

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By Nathanael J. Olsen

"Nathan! Time to load the car!"

At these words, I would begin packing our suitcases into the back of our old slate grey Dodge Caravan. It only took a few minutes; as many times as I had done this I knew just how each suitcase had to be placed in order to take advantage of the small space and still fit everything. Twenty minutes later, we were halfway to our destination, a church somewhere in Virginia.

Yo ho for the life of an MK!

I practically grew up on the road. Until I was fourteen, I had never lived in one house more than three years. I was born into a military family, moving from my birthplace of Sacramento, California, just two weeks after my birth for Jacksonville, Florida. After that, we flew to Misawa, Japan. It was there in Faith Baptist Church that my dad, Matt Olsen, signed on for full-time missions. It was there that my life took a major turn. We returned to Jacksonville and headed up to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where my dad would attend Tennessee Temple Seminary.

The transition from being a military kid to being a missionary kid was fairly simple. Traveling around the country in a cramped minivan was not much different than flying halfway around the world in a cramped airplane. At least I got along better with my fellow passengers, my kid brother and two younger sisters. We traveled the good ol' U.S.A for two and a half years. In 2000, we headed for Aviano Air Force Base in Aviano, Italy, where I believe I lived the best years of my teenage life.

Being an MK has had a permanent effect on my life. I have seen God work in ways many people only imagine, building within me a simplistic faith and trust in God to meet my every need. I can remember times when we were short of funds, and the church there in Aviano was unable to pay my parents. Not by chance did I get jobs mowing lawns for the American military families in a nearby government housing complex. The money I made was enough to cover our losses until the money came in.

Not only do I have increased faith, but, I lived in Europe for crying out loud! I've traveled and seen more than most Americans ever dream of! Austria, Switzerland, Germany, England, Denmark, and Czech Republic are just some of the countries that I've visited in my time living abroad. I've seen the Leaning Tower of Piza, Rome, works of the greatest Renaissance artists, and I've even ridden a gondola in Venice. These experiences are not something that I will soon forget.

Having been to all these countries has had a second effect on me in my love for missions and the ministry. I was an MK, I know what missionaries must go through on the field better than anyone. I watched as my parents struggled through hard times, and I struggled along with them. I served in our church in a variety of positions, from song leader to youth pastor. I have gained a lasting knowledge and respect for those that serve in the ministry, and a lasting desire to serve Him in whatever capacity he calls me.

I no longer live in Italy, but the mission field has left its imprint upon my heart and life. I have gained so much that has already helped to aid me in my own walk with God. Though He has not called me to the foreign field, I will forever remain open to His calling. The life of an MK has started me on the road of life with a dozen spiritual and physical skills, from increased faith to a greater ability to read road maps. And I can pack a car in under ten minutes.

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"The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them.

The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore to resolve to conquer or die."

General George Washington - July 2, 1776, an order issued to his troops from his Headquarters in New York

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A Nation Needs Heroes by Mark Pfiefer One of the "Band of Brothers" soldiers died on June 17, 2009.

We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services. Michael got his, where is Shifty's? I would love to have seen a BIG nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers. Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

Roberto tells the following story worthy to be repeated.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle," the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.

Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said, "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945". . . at which point my heart skipped.

At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy...do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.

I told him, "Yes, I know exactly where Normandy is, and I know what D-Day was. "At that point he said, "I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem." I was standing with a genuine war hero...and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.

I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach.

He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.

– There was no parade, – No big event in Staples Center, – No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage, – No weeping fans on television.

And that's not right. Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service in our own quiet way. Especially to the veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

"A nation without heroes is nothing."

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The Warren Allhause Family, Okinawa. These folks are true servants of God, faithfully working in the ministry of Maranatha Baptist Church in Okinawa.

Dr. Jeff Alverson, Assistant Director. He is praising God for the 100% attendance (excluding those on furlough) of BIMI European Military Missionaries at the annual field conference held this year at Schweinfurt, Germany. Pray for a soldier from Afghanistan who is tying to hold services and witness to other soldiers. Also, pray for more young men to get a burden to minister to our military.

The Doug Cook Family, Germany. Doug & Michelle are now in Ansbach working with the Berean Baptist Church. They recently transferred to the military ministry from Slovakia.

The Gary Craft Family, Germany. Gary & Karen are faithfully serving the Heritage Baptist Church in the Sembach/Ramstein military community.

The Rick Bonds Family, USA. Pray for their ministry in Del Rio, TX, as they seek to reach the military at Del Rio Air Base.

The Kevin Byers Family, Germany. They recently arrived in Germany to begin their field ministry to the military in the Ansbach/Illesheim community. Stacey is expecting their sixth child.

The Danny Corprew Family, Japan. He is praising the Lord for the 3,500 tracts that were passed out by his church people at a mall the Saturday before Easter and for an awesome Easter service with 211 in attendance; 2 saved and baptized.

The Pete Heath Family, USA. Pete is serving as the Education Coordinator helping our military personnel with Bible courses.

The Heneise Family, California. He is praising the Lord that the church was able to purchase a bus. Pray about land the church has made an offer on which is located on a highly traveled road that the Lord will open this door if it is His will. Also for a Spanish convert who is growing in the Lord that he will be a tool in starting a Spanish ministry there at China Lake.

The Hornbeck Family, Germany, considers it a joy to work with new believers in their Basic Training class for new believers. Bro. Hornbeck led a soldier to Christ while on church visitation. His wife met a couple who had attended Sunday School and were leaving. She encouraged them to stay for the morning worship service. They did and the wife accepted Christ during the invitation. They request prayer for souls to continue to be saved and lives changed.

The Ingram Family, Georgia. At one of our Bible studies, we had seven soldiers to accept Christ. These young men were in week seven of their basic training when they trusted Christ. Pray they will continue to come to Bible study and grow in Christ.

Dr. Jim Kennard, Director, Military Missions. Candidate school this summer was a success with 2 new couples coming to join military missions. Continue to pray for more military missionaries.

The Kissling Family, Germany, is praising the Lord for the privilege of leading two couples to Christ and for allowing them to rent a nice home and purchase a reliable van. Pray for Grace Baptist Church to grow and continue to be a blessing to the army families stationed there. Also, for more support to raise their support level from 70% to 100%.

The Mark Lancaster Family, Germany. Mark has been very busy in the new work at Bamberg as well as filling the pulpit at Rhein River Baptist in the absence of his dad.

The Tom Lancaster Family, Germany. They were in the States for 6 weeks in March & April on a threefold purpose: First to service their monthly support; secondly, to promote military missions in churches; Thirdly, to try to raise needed monies to finish the project of building 2 missionary apartments in their present facility so that missionaries could come aside, free of charge, and just rest and rejuvenate.

The Stan Lane Family, USA. Pray for them as they continue to serve in Mayport, FL. The past 3 months they have had 46 visitors and 12 people saved at their military church there.

The Monteith Family, Okinawa. They are praising the Lord for many years of service to Christ made possible by missions-minded and missions-giving churches. "We are grateful to have been saved in a missions church in northern Japan and trained under the Bible preaching of missionaries." Bob is now the pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church.

The Navato Family, Japan. Fourteen of their church people are flying to Okinawa to attend Bible Youth Cam this summer. Pray that many will surrender to be full time missionaries. Also pray for an additional larger parking lot at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Sasebo. It is also a blessing to see our first Japanese convert, Minori Kida. Pray for her discipleship.

The Nutt Family, Military Missions Worldwide, is now settled in the Bethany House at BIMI. They did a wonderful job in Okinawa. Pray for them as they begin this new endeavor of recruiting new missionaries, preaching mission conferences and researching new areas to start churches near military bases. They will also be doing fill-in work where needed.

The Olsen Family, Italy. Their VBS this year is called "Camp Calvary." It is like a two week day camp held three days a week in July and August. Their desire is for many children to attend, for souls to be saved, and for families to join the church. They will be on furlough the last week of August through November.

The Leo Osborne Family, Guam. Leo & Rosie are serving the Freedom Baptist Church and doing a wonderful job of reaching the military in Guam near their base.

The Parker Family, Japan. They are enjoying the ministry at Faith Baptist Church in Iwakuni and are very thankful to be a part of what God is doing there. Pray they will find doctors in the area for Junior's needs.

The Jessie Pilalas Family, Deputation. They have finished the first phase of Candidate School and have begun their deputation ministry to go to Japan and work with the military.

The Rusty Pilalas Family, Germany. Several have been saved and joined the church in their ministry at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Heidelberg.

The Ron Parrott Family, Japan. Brother Parrott has been working renovating the building. He and Barbara have been faithful serving the Yakota Baptist Church.

The Passaro Family, Germany. Their end of deputation is drawing near; they are close to 78%. Pray they will be able to leave in September. Also, pray that a building will come through; there is one available for rent. Pray all will go well for them to get it if it is God's will.

The Pierce Family, Germany, is praising the Lord for a couple who recently became a part of the church family. The wife accepted Christ as Savior and both of them followed the Lord in believers' baptism. Pray that they can find a more permanent meeting place to worship and the finances to do so.

The Sammy Popwell Family, Japan. They are very happy to be able to minister to the military in Misawa, Japan. They recently had to make an emergency trip back home to bury his mom.

The Sage Family, Japan, is presently on a furlough. Pray that all of their financial needs will be met. Before their furlough, they had a great ladies conference. Pray for the church ladies to be victorious in their walk with Christ.

The Simensen Family, Germany, is on furlough and will be returning to Germany on August 11.

The Sligh Family, Germany. "Praise the Lord for 5 adults who were saved in the church services and several rededications to Christ. Pray for our church as we go through the annual military turnover and for the new folks coming in to get involved in the work. Also, pray for Susan's health."

The Roy Smith Family, Germany. Roy and Ellen hosted the recent European field conference and did an outstanding job. They have faithfully served in Schweinfurt some 20 years.

The Chuck Truitt Family, Germany. These faithful servants of God have been military missionaries for more than 25 years, the past 3 they have faithfully served in Ansbach.

The War Family, Florida. "Praise the Lord for several who have been saved on church visitation. Pray for Nicole, who will be doing missionary work in Peru July through November. She will be working with deaf children in the orphanage and school as well as helping in the church. Continue to pray for our troops and their families here in Florida."

The Ben Wharton Family, USA. Ben & Anita are working hard trying to get a church established near Dover AFB, Delaware. Please pray for this endeavor.

The Williamson Family, Construction. Dave has been busy in Germany and Florida working on churches. Please pray for Mary's mother who is now 88 years old and very ill with arthritis.

The Van Dynes Family, Relief Missionaries. Pray for them as they will be relieving Matt Olsen in Aviano, Italy, from August 17 through the middle of November. They praise God that their tickets are purchased and paid for.

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Scot C & Katie Daku -  AMERICAN SAMOA
Paul J & Wendy Daku Jr -  FIJI ISLANDS
James & Dawn Daley -  INDONESIA