my mother remarried into an Army family. I was
fascinated by all that the Army was, soon wanting
nothing more than to be a part of it. But my enthusi-
asm rose to new heights after going to my local
library and checking out Sallie Chesham's book,
Born to Battle. Reading the history of The Salvation
Army fired my imagination. The personalities leaped
off the page, filled my thoughts and inspired me
my heroes of the Faith.
heroes who stood tall for the Lord where they were. I cherish the
memory of Ms. Julia and Mrs. Reynolds and still am warmed by Buddy
and Jack and so many others.
They lived lives of consistent love and faith so that when the day of test-
ing came, they could step forward boldly. They knew that the God they
had met in secret would be with them in the day of open conflict. Not
a one of them knew the outcome of their day to day action, whether
it would ever be noticed or ultimately make a difference. That was
never their concern. Their only concern was to be faithful. To live
for Christ or to die in Him. Never seeking to be heroes, they were
determined to be true.
month's War Cry is on heroes of another kind, those
who are not seeking to be worshipped. In fact, many
times their goal is not to be noticed, and when they are
they experience personal discomfort--their lives are
"only" lived-out expressions of their faith in God. As we
read about them, we are encouraged and give thanks
to God for them.
Christ's love in quiet ways, whose names we never know. The world is the
better for them being in it, nameless though they may be. They go about
doing good. By their goodness they witness to their faith and their
relationship to God. He is honored, and others are led to consider the
possibility that perhaps there is beauty in life.
their names. But God does. They are among that company of whom the
writer to the Hebrews says, "the world was not worthy of them" (11:38).
witnessed the event criticized this extravagance, Jesus decreed that this
story would be a memorial to her (26:6-13).
are we, for having been the recipients, the witnesses, of their acts of love,
their deeds of faithfulness.
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"The War Cry" is in its 133rd year of publication
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