An incredible Week Four of Operation Heal Our Patriots 2014 included a meaningful fireside ceremony with a reading from Micah 7:18-20.
Week Four of the Operation Heal Our Patriots summer season in Port Alsworth, Alaska, came to a close last week with five participants accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Help Bring Healing to Wounded PatriotsAmong those trusting Christ for salvation was retired Army National Guard Sergeant Major Chad Hightower. Chad suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from combat experiences during two deployments in Iraq. He traveled from Campobello, South Carolina, to Alaska alongside his wife, Anna, who is already a believer.
Retired Army National Guard Sergeant Major Chad Hightower accepted Christ during his time at camp. He’s pictured here with his wife and Harold Bennett, a camp volunteer.
“I’m done with all this guilt and sin; you fellas can have it,” Chad said as he threw a log in the camp’s fire pit during a Thursday night ceremony led by Chaplain Jim Fisher and open to all couples.
Chaplain Fisher began by reading from Micah 7:18–20 (“You will cast all our sins into the depths” 20a, NKJV). He then explained the ceremony in which participants could write down on a 3-by-5 card anything they felt burdened by, attach it to a log, and then throw it in the fire. Chaplain Fisher went on to share the Gospel by relating how Christ takes away our sins on a piece of wood, the Cross.
“It was a pretty incredible week,” Chaplain Fisher said.
In addition to the five salvations, five individuals were baptized, and two couples participated in marriage rededication ceremonies. One couple, retired Army Sergeant Ivan Garcia and his wife, Paula, received Christ as individuals, were baptized in Lake Clark, and renewed their marriage vows.
Retired Army Sergeant Ivan Garcia and his wife, Paula, both accepted Christ and both received baptism. As a symbol of refreshed life, they also renewed their marriage vows.
Operation Heal Our Patriots, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, shares God’s healing love and strengthens the marriages of military couples affected by combat injuries suffered after September 11, 2001. Each week for 15 weeks this summer, a different group of 10 couples will fly to Port Alsworth for a time of marriage enrichment, physical refreshment, and the spiritual encouragement that comes only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Once they return home, our aftercare program follows up with couples for long-term ministry.
Please continue to pray for participating couples this summer and for Operation Heal Our Patriots staff in Alaska and at Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina.
