PMJ Spring 1996

On Sunday, October 15, 1995, my wife, Nancy, and I were concluding our stay in London after a wonderful time of fellowshipwith police officers from sixteen different countries. All of us were participating in the first world conference of the Federation of Christian Police Fellowships. On our last night in England, Nancy and I enjoyed getting to know Francis and Cathy Teissier, a couple from Paris, France. In a small, cozy living room we listened to Francis and Cathy talk of their hopes for reaching many police officers for Christ in France. Nancy and I found that we had a lot in common with the Teissiers. Francis, also a police officer, is president of L'Association Evangelique de Policiers et Gendarmes en France. Nancy and Cathy, both registered nurses,found themselves comparing notes on the nursing profession. Like Nancy and me, Francis and Cathy had two daughters. The exception was that Cathy was seven months pregnant with their third child.

On November 16, just one month after that evening together, our joyful memories turned to deep pain and sorrow. Richard Wiggins, a police sergeant from Hertfordshire, England, notified us that Cathy and her unborn daughter, Estelle, had both been killed in a tragic car accident near Paris, France. Cathy was driving her car along a winding narrow lane when, for reasons unknown, the car went onto the wrong side of the road and collided with a vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Two hours after the accident, Cathy succumbed to her injuries.

At the time of the accident, Francis was taking part in the first meeting of the National Committee on Ethics in Paris. He had been personally invited to take part by the Minister.

Obviously, Francis asked us to pray for his two young daughters, Delphine and Floreale. However, all who read this story need to hear something else that Francis told me during a telephone conversation only days after his wife's funeral. "David, please also remember to pray for the police officers of France! Pray that through our loss they might learn to trust Jesus!" As Francis spoke I was reminded of the Old Testament story of Job. Though he had lost all of his children and all of his possessions, and though he was in terrible personal pain from physical affliction, Job's response was, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." (Job 1:15)

Cathy Teissier's funeral took place on Saturday, November 18th, at her home church. Richard Wiggins who, along with his wife, June, had the privilege of attending the services, shared his observations with us.

It was a sunny, but cold, day in Montmeyran and people gathered outside the Reformed Church. A guard of honour of the local police, headed by the officer in charge of the region, escorted the coffin into the church. The large church was full to overflowing with many people standing at the back. The front was covered by many floral tributes. The service was led by Cathy's pastor who gave an evangelistic address that brought many to tears. Francis also addressed the group. He said that, as a police officer, he was a man under authority. But, more importantly, as a Christian, he was under the authority of God and he fully accepted God's will in this situation. The message throughout the service was one of triumph, knowing that Cathy and their unborn daughter were now with the Lord. Francis' two daughters, Delphine and Floreale, were being upheld by the pastor's wife. The scripture passages that were read included Psalm 145:13-16, "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing." And Revelation 21:5-7, "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son."

After the service, everyone went to the nearby cemetery for the interment. Although it was a time of great human grief, the Lord answered all our prayers and gave us a strength and peace that could only come from Him. Following the service, as people talked and looked back, they could see the hand of the Lord in everything that had happened. About a month earlier, the pastor had received a telephone call from a colleague who didn't know why he should ring, but felt that the minister should learn how to console someone. The minister, three weeks earlier, "accidentally" removed the corner from a number of pages in his diary instead of just that week. This resulted in him finding that, when people asked to see him, he did not schedule any appointments during the week of Cathy's death. He remarked to his wife that he had everything done for the week and that he had Thursday through Saturday completely free except for a meeting on Thursday lunchtime. That meeting was of all the ladies and would have included Cathy, so when the news came of her death, all were present who needed to know so they could look after the children. It also meant that the pastor could spend all day Friday and Saturday morning with Francis and the family.

On Thursday night, a Christian lady at a local conference center, unaware ofCathy's death, had a dream. In it she saw a lady laying down with a baby in her arms. The thing that struck her was that they both looked so happy. Around the lady there were growing lovely new green shoots of grass. On Thursday evening, Estelle was placed in Cathy's arms in the coffin.

When the children were told, the younger one said to Francis, "Do not cry daddy, be strong." The children, although very distressed at the service, were smiling as they came forward and were prayed for by the pastor. Francis asked in particular, "Pray for my children!"

Francis also asked me to convey his thanks for all your prayers and messages. In addition to the above, please pray for the Chief of Police and his colleagues who were moved by the service. Everyone is sure that something good will come out of this human tragedy.

When Cathy Teissier died her life did not end, it actually just began. The Bible says that, for a Christian, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." That is the reason Francis was able to triumph in the face of this tragedy. He knows that Cathy is in heaven with Jesus and that someday, he will be there too.

Are you a peace officer who is unsure of where you will spend eternity? Would you like to be sure? You can be! But you must first acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You must repent of your sin. "Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earthwho continually does good and who never sins." (Ecclesiastes 7:20) Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross so that your sins may be forgiven. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7) You must trust in Jesus alone for your salvation. Ask him to take control of your life now. It's as easy as praying this simple prayer.

"Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I have tried to live my life without you, but I no longer want to live that way. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and that He rose again on the third day, I acknowledge that Jesus is the Only Way to eternal life. Lord, forgive me of my sins. Come into my life, change my heart, and make me into the person you want me to be. Amen."

Have you been serving the Lord in some capacity and felt the leading and blessing of the Holy Spirit only to have some earnest and well-meaning Christian ask you one of the dreaded "How can you... ?" questions. Maybe it has been a Bible study and the session is over. As the group is breaking up, here comes someone with "that look," zeroing in on you like a Cruise missile homing in on its pre-designated target. "How can you be a cop and still be a Christian? How can you enforce a law that goes against God's will? How can you be prepared to take another human life as a peace officer and still be a Christian?" We have been through Romans 13, and explained the word "Kill" in Exodus 20:13 so many times that when we answer these questions it is like turning on a tape recorder.

Wouldn't it be nice if there were someone in the Bible that we could point to; someone who had similarities in their life to ours, so that we could point to them and draw parallel teachings from them, and God's Word? Fortunately there is. His name was David and he would have understood what it is like to be a peace officer. The life of David can be found in I Samuel 16-31,11 Samuel 1-24, I Kings I & 2, and I Chronicles 10-29. These passages make excellent devotional reading and will help you answer the "How can you... ?" questions that come up in your life.

What are some of the similarities between David and the Christian Peace Officer of today? I'm glad you asked because I 'am going to list some of them for you. You may find more in your own study of the life of David, but these will get you started. David loved the Lord with all of his heart. The Apostle Paul in Acts 13:22 quoted God as saying, "I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart." David had his priorities straight, his relationship with God was number one, his responsibilities to family and nation were secondary to his service and obedience to God. Ask yourself this question, "Am I a peace officer who is a Christian, or am I a Christian who just happens to be a peace officer?" If God were to say of us today, "He is a man or she is a woman after my own heart," then we, like David, must have our priorities straight as well - God first, family second, career third.

David was a warrior - he had a cop's heart. When Goliath taunted the Hebrews and challenged any of them to personal combat it stirred David's heart. (I Samuel 17:20) Something inside him could not pass up the challenge to put this bully in his place. David had already shown his courage by protecting his father's flocks. While shepherding them, he had killed a lion and then a bear which had been raiding the flock. David knew what it was like being out there alone without a backup. (I Samuel 17:34ff) Goliath was dressed in armor and was ready for close hand to hand combat. David was out-gunned, yet he was able to think on his feet. Staying with weapons that were familiar to him, he ran to meet Goliath. The giant was armed and aching for a fight, and David ran toward him, making the giant think that he would fight him toe to toe. But David was smarter. Before closing with the giant, David took his sling and hit Goliath with a well placed shot, felling him in his tracks. Notice what David told Goliath before doing battle with him. "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." I Samuel 17:45(NIV)

David went into battle in the name of the Lord and, when victorious,gave the glory to his Heavenly Father. He was not only a great warrior, but a great strategist as well. When David was finally made king, one of his first acts was to attack the fortified city of Jebus. The inhabitants felt safe, but David and his army took it by storm. David made that city his capital, building his palace there, and it later became known as Jerusalem. Sitting on the border between the northern and the southern kingdoms, it was the perfect place for David to rule and establish a united kingdom. (Judges
19:10-11; II Samuel 5:7-9)

David had other interests in life. He played the harp, composed Psalms, and arranged worship services in the sanctuary. He was not so narrowly focused and so macho that he could not experience the sensitive part of his nature. Notice how all aspects of his life were directed toward God. (I Samuel 16:18-23; I Chronicles 6:31;Psalms)

He was a man who knew how to be patient and wait upon the Lord. David had been anointed by Samuel to be the future king. He knew this, yet he refused to wrest the kingdom from Saul, even though the opportunity presented itself more than once. Saul had tried to kill David and capture him, yet David would not lift a hand against the king. Why? While Saul was alive he was still God's anointed and appointed king, and David would not stand against what God had ordained. God had placed Saul on the throne, and God would remove him. (I Samuel 24,26)

David was a man who knew temptation and sin too. We all remember the story of Bathsheba and how David slept with her and tried to cover his sin by having her husband killed in battle. But more important than his vulnerability, David knew how to repent and return to his God. The 51st Psalm is David's prayer of repentance. As we read it, we see David displaying that same courage he displayed in battle, to confess his sin before the Lord and repent. Now that, my friend, is a man's man. Anyone can be stubborn. It takes real strength of character to say, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge." Psalm 51:4 (NIV). As a shepherd and aking, David knew the burden of responsibility. He knew what it was like to make decisions that affected the very lives, safety and well-being of his people. He ruled for 40 years, and during that time he constantly sought the counsel of his God, leaning not on his own understanding. It was for this reason that David was such a successful king. Every ruler who came after David was compared to him, for he set the standard by his obedience and worship to our Heavenly Father.

Lastly, David was a man who knew what it was like to have unfulfilled dreams. One of David's great desires was to build a permanent temple of worship for God. But God said, "No David." Why? Because David was a man with blood on his hands; he was a man of war. God told him that his son Solomon would build the temple. (II Samuel 7) Did David sulk and use God's answer as an excuse to turn his back on God? No! What David did do was accept God's decision, and instead of building the temple he collected all of the materials from which it would eventually be constructed.

Notice David did not dictate to God regarding his service. Rather, God directed him. That is why our Heavenly Father said regarding David, "I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart." Acts 13:22

Can you see now why David is such a good example for a Peace Officer? Yes, David would have understood. After all, we have so much in common.

Ed Note: Now an ordained minister, John Utterback was formerly a police officer with the City of Petaluma, California. John also has a background in VIP protection and government security.

Have you ever known you had to do something and lacked the courage to put it in motion? This was my case with witnessing to my fellow officers in the fall of 1989 when I first became a Christian. I would hang out in the patrol lounge and be the chameleon, changing my appearance to fit the situation. I was wrong in doing so, and I knew it. I did so just want to fit in without causing waves. I knew I had to change. I searched for ways to change. I looked high and low. I had no idea where to begin, but God did!

Sergeant John Mahon, a patrol supervisor in my department, was the start that God used in my case. Routinely, he would come into the patrol lounge, applying scripture to the conversation and witnessing where appropriate. My morale increased every time he would come into the lounge. Gradually, my confidence grew. I started leaving the room when conversations became inappropriate. I wasn't playing the game the same way anymore. People took notice. After some time of doing this, I thought I would drop a few hints to the sergeant and let him know that a fellow believer was close.

Well, God provided once again. A conversation was struck up in the patrol lounge about video games, Christian video games. This was one topic I had been comfortable with since one of my big hobbies was video games. The look on Sergeant Mahon's face was somewhat comical when I told him I had played the Nintendo game, Spiritual Warfare." Eventually, the conversation ended and we parted with the sergeant still sporting that "I wonder?" look.

The next day he pulled me aside and asked if I was born again. The weight finally came off my shoulders as I answered with a resounding "Yes!" Since then we have started a Bible study/fellowship and have begun a spiritual assault against the forces of darkness here in Warren County.

God has used us as a tag team more than once. On occasion, I will strategically place scripture around the station. For example, I will write "John 3:16" on the board and someone will go to Sergeant Mahon and ask him what it says. Or he will be talking to someone about God and they will bump into me later and ask me questions about what he said.

Our witness has improved because of Christ. Christ's light shined through Sergeant Mahon and gave me the courage to take off the shade that was hiding my light. Faith in Christ is something to be shared. Sharing your faith once through word or deed might bring another person to Jesus Christ. It might be just the vehicle God uses to help another Christian shine his or her light. As Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Ed Note: Harry Spahn is a deputy sheriff with the Warren County Sheriff's Department in Upstate New York.

REFLECTIONS
I am at the 22-year mark in my police career. At one time, I used to think of my work with anticipation, concern, or preparation. More recently, I have begun to look at my work through a rear view mirror. Perhaps this is my poor substitute for a mid-life crisis!

Most of us would agree that the patrol officer's career is limited by age; I am beginning to feel the effects of being 48 years old. The lifework and lifestyle that I have always enjoyed so much is nearly over. Was I fair? Did my presence bring relief? Was the patrol work really a "mission from God?" Should I have sought promotion instead?

Recently, I had occasion to read Job 29 during family devotions. I was deeply moved by Job's reminiscences and his longing for the days when he was just, effective, and righteous - and was recognized as such by his community.

"Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him. The man who was dying blessed me, I made the widow's heart sing. I put on righteousness as my clothing, justice was my robe and my turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy;I took up the case of the stranger. I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth." Job 29:11-17 (NIV)

Who else but cops COULD echo Job's words while they recall actual faces and places? What an adventure! "And they praised God because of me." Galatians 1:24 (NIV)

MORE "ONLY ONE SON" TRACTS"
A lady in our church picked up one of your tracts at a conference. I would like to obtain about 100 or more of the "Only One Son" tracts to distribute to Sheriff deputies and jail officers in Monroe County, New York.
Don Wood
New York

I recently attended a women's Bible conference at Grace Bible Church. One of the speakers gave me a tract, "Only One Son." She spoke very highly of your ministry, I feel very strongly about prayer for law enforcement officials. My cousin serves as a state trooper in Bourne, Massachusetts. His name is Jim Vacarri. Please pray for his salvation.

If it is possible, I would like to obtain some of your tracts in both English and Spanish. I would greatly appreciate it. I have had a burden on my heart for the men and women in law enforcement for quite some time.
Donna Perilli
Lowell, Mass.

THANKS FOR LAPEL PINS
Thank you for your prompt response to my request for lapel pins. I am proud to wear them as a testimony to my faith in Christ when on duty. I have been working with Sgt. Jim Frago in helping to get a branch of your organization established here in Missouri.
Vernon D. Covington, Chaplain
Park Hills Police Department

PMJ APPRECIATED
Thanks for all of your wonderful newsletters! I really appreciate all of the writings that you officers do as part of the POFC organization. Thanks, as always, for taking the time to read my letter. Your hard work and dedication to POFC has to be helping so many officers and their families. I certainly appreciate it.
A.J. Jaeger
St. Joseph, Missouri

Thank you so very much for sending me copies of Peacemakers ' Journal. It is a tremendous blessing to see "My Dad, A Cop" in print. I really enjoyed reading the whole journal from cover to cover. I got a kick out of "Did That Really Happen?" God bless you and keep you under the Shadow of His Wings.
Terri Ann Miller
Carlsbad, CA
Ed note: Terri Miller 's story, "My Dad,A Cop " was featured in the Fall/Winter 1995 edition of the Peacemakers 'Journal.

Thank you for the latest edition of the Peacemakers' Journal. I always enjoy reading it and keeping up with you. Just wanted to encourage you to keep up the good work. I receive so many magazines and newsletters it is difficult to read them all, but I do read your material.

It is 2:00 a.m. and you get a call of an open door at the rear of a business that has been burglarized several times. Are you too afraid to search the location for possible suspects? You have just conducted a felony traffic stop of a stolen car full of gang members. Are you too afraid to walk up to the car and clear it to make sure some dirtbag isn't waiting to blow you away as you approach? You roll to an accident scene and see that one of the cars is overturned and starting to burn. You see someone in the car, still alive, fighting to get out. Are you too afraid to crawl into the car and pull them out?

If you have been a peace officer for any length of time, each of these scenarios is familiar to you. Either you have experienced them yourself or you know a fellow officer who has. Some of you may find it insulting to even have these questions asked of you. Hopefully we all agree that there is noroom for timidity in our line of work. We've all heard the adage, "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it." This is not to say that a certain level of fear isn't a normal part of the job. Neither does it validate a "Rambo" approach to the job.

Fear, when controlled, can be utilized with positive results by peace officers. Fear causes officers to think more carefully and gives them a heightened sense of awareness. It is when fear causes officers to second guess themselves or hesitate at a
crucial moment that they become a danger to themselves and their partners.

Cops can't shrink from dangerous or difficult circumstances. We cannot allow fear to take us to the point that we are hesitant to make possible life or death decisions. There is no room for timidity. So answer me this. If we are willing to crawl into burning cars, search dark buildings, and deal with a segment of society that the general public doesn't even want to read about, why are we so timid when it comes to sharing our faith? "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." II Timothy 1:7

In a previous issue, I talked about witnessing on duty. I discussed several reasons why officers either share their faith or do not share their faith with others. In addition to the before-mentioned reasons for not sharing one's faith, there are yet others which are more personal in nature. They are reasons that, from time to time, bring out the timidity in all of us. These reasons include a fear of ridicule and persecution and a lack of confidence.

The law enforcement community is one of the least forgiving, least approachable, and most critical groups of the many subcultures in today's society. Too harsh a statement about my own family? I don't think so. It is for that reason that so few civilians try to penetrate this community's tough exterior. It also helps to explain why so few Christian officers try to share their faith within the walls of their profession.

Who better to speak on ridicule and persecution than the One who endured all things, even death on the cross, to share the faith that was in Him, the faith that was Him, and the faith that is Him- now and forever? In Luke 6:22,23, Jesus said, "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you,
and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers said to treat the prophets."

Jesus instructs us to "leap for joy," not shudder and run, when we experience persecution and ridicule. Why? Despite the discomfort we may feel at the time, the rewards are eternal. Our reward will be "great in heaven." Jesus, knowing His children have a tendency to feel alone in their troubles, ends this statement by assuring us that we are not the first, nor will we be the last, to be persecuted for our faith. In reference to those who would persecute His disciples He said, "for in the same way they used to treat the prophets."

In Matthew 10:22, Jesus said, "And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved." Evangelism is worth the risk of ridicule and persecution, knowing that eternal communion with Christ awaits those who endure.

Many Christian officers do not share their faith because of a lack of self-confidence. But lack of self-confidence is a more palatable way to say they lack confidence in Christ. They are confident that Christ has saved them. Yet, they question whether or not Christ will give them the words, the
knowledge, and the wisdom to effectively share their faith. Let us not forget that the first Christian evangelists, the disciples, were neither Rhode's Scholars, nor were they seminary graduates. They were humble fishermen. None of them had the worldly position, authority or influence that we have in law enforcement. Matthew was probably the most prominent of the twelve. Yet he was really little more than an extortionist for the local government. But they understood that their authority did not come from their position and status on earth. Rather, all authority came from Christ's
position in heaven.

Paul tells us where our confidence should lie in II Corinthians 1:12. "For our proud confidence is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you."
In case you missed it, our confidence is "not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God." "For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught." Proverbs 3:26

Peter, a man all too familiar with denying his faith in the face of public persecution; a mortal like you and me, with hopes and fears - strengths and weaknesses, had this to say. "And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a
good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong." I Peter 3:13-17. Brothers and sisters, what Christ has done for you and in you is all of the confidence you need to stand firm in your faith against ridicule and persecution. As officers, we are on the front line of the world's battlefields. More importantly, as believers, we are called to be on the front line of Christ's army on the spiritual battlefields. Stand up! There's no room for timidity.

Recently a good friend had an experience in his life that I thought might benefit some police officer in a similar situation. About three years ago, James Pope and his wife Vicki lost their son, Andrew, to cancer. They watched him suffer for about two years with the illness. During this time I had opportunities to talk to Jim. I learned that he had to work while his wife and child were in another state,in a specialized hospital. As I thought about Jim's situation, I realized how difficult it would be to take. Jim told me that he often asked God why He was doing this. He told me that one of his prayers was that if God would heal his son, he would give his life to Christ. He said that there were special prayer meetings held for his son, yet God decided to call little Andrew home to heaven.

It was obvious that the loss of Andrew had taken its toll on Jim and Vicki. He told me that he was mad at God and that he couldn't understand why God would take an innocent child and make him suffer the way he did. I tried to convey hope to Jim but he was pretty upset with God. The only thing I could tell Jim that made any sense was that maybe little Andrew might not have accepted Christ as an adult and that God called him home before he reached the age of accountability. Jim thought this could be possible, but he was still obviously miserable inside. I once tried to have a deacon friend of mine, Ralph Crocker, speak to Jim. Ralph had recently come to grips with losing his baby grandson. Ralph talked to him, but it still seemed that Jim was getting no closer to accepting Christ.

As if Jim hadn't endured enough already, he was sued by a citizen for handling a property clean-up ordinance improperly; $500,000 for moving a box trailer. After several months of waiting for the lawsuit to come, Jim sat for two days as ajury took in all of the information. When the jury came back, Jim was ready to hear a not guilty verdict. Instead, he had $20,000 in punitive damages levied against him. That is more than he makes in a whole year!

The day after Jim's court appearance, I had an opportunity to ride the shift with him. As we got into the patrol car that morning, Jim looked at me and reminded me of his son and the lawsuit. He asked, "Do you think God is punishing me for something?" For the next eight hours we talked about the problems he was having in these two difficult situations. I explained to him that God didn't want Jim on certain conditions. He wanted him unconditionally. I also explained to him that sometimes we have to hit bottom before we'll turn to God.

Jim still had problems with asking Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Savior. He said that anyone could have written the Bible. He wanted something he could put his hands on to really believe. I said, "Jim, who was the first president of the United States?" "George Washington!" He replied. I asked,
"How do you know that?" He said, "Because the history books tell us that." I said, "Jim. I've got one of the oldest books of history right here and it says the way to heaven is Jesus Christ." He replied, "You've got me this time."

Praise God! After seven hours of talking and answering calls, Jim Pope accepted Christ. A few weeks later, Jim and Vicki were both baptized in a river. I know that Jim doesn't understand everything that has happened in his life. But now he's got someone to lean on through those valleys. Jim's lawsuit was overturned by the judge and is now in appeal. Pray for him in the lawsuit and in his spiritual life. "We will understand it better by and
by...."

Ed Note: Jim recently left his position as a sergeant with the Park Hills, Missouri Police Department. He is now working as a deputy with the Saint Francois County Sheriff's Department serving as their Public Relations Officer. Just before this printing, the POFC National Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve Jim Frago as our Regional Representative in Missouri. Congratulations Jim and Jewellie!

Regional Reports

When I awoke on the morning of February 2, 1996, I spent my usual time with the Lord. I really felt His presence and power in an unusual way that morning. I thought to myself, "The Lord is probably preparing me to minister in some special way today. There must be people interceding for me in a special way."

Later in the morning I went to the bank to cash a check. I was getting 160,000 bolivares in cash which is about $450 in U.S. currency. Venezuela has 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 bolivares bills. The teller told me that the bank had only 500 bills and nothing larger. I told him I needed 5000 bills so it would not be obvious to everyone how much cash I was carrying. He referred me to the bank manager, but she also told me they only had 500 bolivare bills. This was Venezuela's largest bank and I was a little upset that the largest bill they had was a 500, equivalent to $1.36. There was nothing I could do so they gave me my 320 bills in 500s. The teller had to put it into a large envelope and hand it over the cashier window since it wouldn't fit through the normal slot. I walked out of the bank knowing that it was probably obvious that I was carrying a lot of money.

I got in my car and drove 6 miles away to where our boys attend school. I stopped at a bakery near the school for some bread. I parked my car, set the alarm and walked toward the bakery. About 25 feet from the bakery two men ran up behind me and, grabbing me, pushed me down to the ground. One of them showed me a gun tucked in his waistband and said, "Give me your car keys and the alarm remote control." When he pulled the cellular phone off of my belt I began doing what is normal for preachers. I began preaching, "In the name of Jesus I rebuke you, Satan, and I bind you." I then told the man, "I am a Christian pastor and everything I have belongs to the Lord." I said, "In Jesus's name, you will not take my car." The robber was shaking. They both ran toward my car. (There were about 30 people standing around watching this happen.) They got in the car, searched it and found the envelope of money under the seat. Then they tried to start the car, but it wouldn't start. They got out of the car and ran up to a Jeep that was just pulling into the parking lot. They pulled their guns and made the driver get out and took off in his Jeep.

The owner of the bakery called the police for me. Response time - 35 minutes. The Metropolitan Police responded because the Baruta Police are shut down while the new chief reorganizes the department. The Baruta police have a sub-station one block from the bakery. When the police arrived no one volunteered to give any information except me. Out of about 30 witnesses I was the only one who gave a report. Why? Fear. Most Venezuelans, in one of the most dangerous cities in the world, are afraid of reprisals. After the police left, I talked to a number of the witnesses. A car with three men had apparently followed me from the bank. When I stopped at the bakery, two men got out of the car and went after me while the driver drove off. Criminals here hang out at banks, and since so many transactions in this country have to be done in cash, they watch and see who has a lot of money on them and follow them.

I had a tremendous sense of peace during the whole ordeal. I really felt the presence of the Lord. All the time the robbers were near me I was speaking to them. God gave me the words to say. I remember saying, "You are not stealing from me. You are stealing from God." Because Marlene and I have given everything we have to the Lord, there was a real sense of God being in control. The car did not start because God would not let Satan take the vehicle. It would be very difficult for us to live here without a car. I take it as an attack by Satan against us, but Marlene and I are not afraid. If anything, we are encouraged that we are coming under attack because our presence here is a threat to the enemy.

God gave me the opportunity to preach the gospel to the police that arrived and several bystanders. Even though this was a difficult time to lose the money, I am very grateful to God for protecting me from harm and letting me keep the car.

As I talked to Marlene later on, she told me that she also had sensed God's presence in a special way that morning. Thank you again for your prayers on our behalf and for our ministry among these needy people.
Randy
Psalm 46

"Don't leave home without it!" In the business ad world, that statement has different meanings. In the world that involves our law enforcement "family," it has to do with the words, "adventure" (noun: "an exciting, often hazardous undertaking"), and, "excitement" (noun: "intensity of feeling or reaction") . . . an "unknown," or "unprecedented," excursion into an extraordinary, life-stretching, non-routine venture! Proverbs 27:1 tells us: "Boast not thyself to tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." In other words, you just never know what is going to happen! It seems that whenever we "leave home," wherever we go, there's always fresh "adventure" and "excitement!" We really "don't leave home without it!"

Some weeks ago, I left home intending on visiting a police chief in a distant city and also spending some time with a pastor whose teenage daughter had recently died of heart complications. As I was visiting with the chief for the first time, I learned that his pastor just happened to be the one whose daughter had died.

Two hours later, arriving at the church, I found that the pastor, whom I had not met before, was preparing to leave. Inviting me into his office, he told me of his daughter and how her death had brought him and his wife to the point where they were now both going through the incredibly intense process of grieving. Having gone through the loss of our own son, this is something that Barb and I know firsthand. It is a grief that reaches unbelievable heights and depths, something that Bible college and seminary never prepared us for. However, because of my own loss, I was able to minister to this father and to comfort him in his affliction.

On another day, I visited a police department where two officers had been involved in a shooting that resulted in the death of a subject. I was able to minister to one of the officers who had been in the shooting.

On the way home from that meeting, I stopped at a convenience store to get a much-desired cup of coffee. Inside, I noticed a police officer seated at a booth with his wife, (or girifriend), - AN "OPPORTUNITY!!!" So, I went back to the car to get some tracts to share with him. Back inside, I walked up to the officer and said, "I hope I'm not interrupting" (not really minding if I was because there was an eternal purpose for my being there). I left the officer with the ONLY ONE SON tract and other materials which he graciously accepted. Although I don't know where he is with God at this time, I know that I can trust in Him for the results. Scripturally, we know that "... neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase!" (I Corinthians 3:7)

More recently, we recieved a call from a police lieutenant wanting to know if the group of officers that he was meeting together with in Georgia could possibly become involved with Peace Officers For Christ! Isn't that neat? I can envision (a verb that means "to form a mental image of," and also, "to know in advance!") officers meeting all over the world - encouraging one another to "keep up the good fight" . . . and to "finish the course," . . . and to, "keep the faith" (II Timothy 4:7) -just like Paul!

We have been in contact with several Christian camps and are working toward setting up "retreats" for law enforcement couples and families in the east.

It is wonderful to see the Lord's leading and all the coincidences that we become invovied in. This truly is His ministry and we are blessed that He has permitted us to have a small part in seeing what He is doing within the "family!"

Please pray with us that the Lord would lead us to those who He would have involved in a steering committee for the work we are doing on the east coast.

We would also appreciate any contacts for churches and meetings that you folks in the east might suggest!

We are blessed that about one third of our support is in, but would like to be able to be out totally unhindered in our daily contacts. With over 277,000 actual miles on it, our "chariot" is still chugging! It's amazing how the Lord has "used" that vehicle to keep people praying for us! The "car fund," started by a retired deputy chief from NYPD, has now grown to over twenty-three hundred dollars! Thanks, for your prayers in that regard too!

Barb and I are exhausted, physically, but excited, spiritually, as we see what God is doing - even through weak, frail vessels! However, the Holy Spirit gives us the strength we need and we are seeing the "doors" continue to open, for His glory!

Let us know how we can be of encouragement to you? We'd delight in hearing from you!

Whether you want a place to share prayer requests, tell us about the challenges of your assignment, share war stories or just read about what's going on in other officers' lives, the Peacemakers Forum is for you! Join officers from around the world on our new Internet Conference Center.

To join the Peacemakers Forum, send E-mail to the following address: joinPM@pofci.org The body of your message is simply, Subscribe Peacemakers

When you subscribe your e-mail address is added to an electronic mailing list solely for the use of this forum. All e-mail that you send is routed to all who have subscribed to the Peacemakers Forum. You will also receive any messages sent by others. This creates an electronic round table discussion. Join the Peacemakers Forum today! We look forward to fellowship with officers and their families around the globe!

In all three places, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, men and women are patrolling streets and dark alleys, upholding their commitment to protect and serve their communities. It is rewarding to be part of an outreach that is focused on sharing with officers and their families that Jesus Christ can be with them 24 hours a day to encourage and protect them!

As the Lord expands the ministry of POFC, I am amazed at how much smaller the world is becoming. This past November, while traveling in Kenya and England, Nancy and I had the privilege of meeting with police officers from all over the world. Working in partnership with the Christian Police Association (CPA) from Britain, we assisted in launching the first Christian Police Association in the history of Kenya.

Our trip to Kenya was particulary meaningful to Nancy and me. With nearly fifteen years in law enforcement, and working now as a patrol sergeant, this trip was an answer to prayer in two specific ways. First, it was the result of many of you who prayed and financially supported an effort to participate in bringing the gospel to police officers in that nation. You will someday have the privilege of meeting those officers as we rejoice together in heaven. Do you realize that we are now networking with a growing number of Christian officers from around the world? The sun actually never sets anywhere in the world without the possibility of other officers praying each day for our safety and our efforts to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Second, the Lord allowed us to return to a country and people that we love and have been praying for since we left there eight
years ago. In 1986, I left my career in law enforcement and traveled to Kenya with Nancy and our two daughters. At that time Kristina was only six months old and Erika was only four. I thought we had left law enforcement forever and was looking forward to working as a missionary in the city of Mombasa on the coast of Kenya. Almost two years later, we decided to return to the United States because I sensed a need for further education. I wanted to complete a masters degree in counseling as a result of a growing burden to help missionaries on the field who were often working under very stressful conditions.

Upon our return we were amazed at how quickly the Lord opened doors for me to be rehired by the Westminster Police Department. We quickly realized that the training and experience we had gained in Kenya would soon be the seed needed to begin the growth of a vision to reach police officers for Christ from the perspective of a missionary outreach.

In 1978, as I graduated from BIOLA University (Bible Institute of Los Angeles), many friends asked, "Why does someone with a bachelor's degree in Social Science Missions want to become a police officer?" In 1978 I did not know how to answer the question of what missions has to do with law enforcement. Now, in 1996, I do not hesitate to point out the great work that the Lord is expanding to reach a pioneer mission field, a major worldwide people group; those employed in the honorable profession of law enforcement.

When our plane landed at the Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Nancy and I were greeted by Mike Harries, a reserve police officer with the Kenya Police Department. Mike was our main contact in Kenya. A British-born Kenyan citizen , Mike, owns a farming estate in Thika,just outside of Nairobi. Nancy and I were able to relive some of Kenya's history as we rested from our many hours of traveling at Mike and Pauline Harries' home. The estate was once 37,000 acres belonging to Mike's parents who were one of the First major land settlers from Britain.

After attending Oxford University in England, Mike heard the testimony of a famous soccer player which caused him to place his trust in Jesus Christ. It changed his life and set the course for how he would conduct business in later years in Kenya. Mike's farm now employs more than 300 workers, but has decreased in size over the years to just under 400 acres.

Mike is known in Kenya as "The Windmill Man" due to his invention of an efficient water-pumping windmill designed for missionaries and nationals to use in remote areas. Due to the production of this windmill design, Mike would be a very wealthy man today if it were not for his integrity and commitment to Jesus Christ. Over the years, Mike and Pauline have refused bribes from government officials which would have assured numerous windmill orders and opened doors for exports. The Harries have persevered and their farm is beginning to increase its production. The limited orders for the windmills continue to keep the project in business.

A few years ago, Mike became aware of a man who had climbed the ranks of the Kenyan police force. Mike was intrigued by this man who publicly proclaimed that he was a believer in Jesus Christ. This officer was eventually promoted to the top law enforcement position among the 32,000 member Kenya Police Department. Mr. Shedrack Kiruki began his duties as Police Commissioner of Kenya in 1991. Mr. Kiruki had been quoted in a magazine as saying that he saw no conflict in being a Christian and a police officer. In fact, he felt that the two complimented each other. Soon after his appointment, Mike Harries wrote the commisioner a letter encouraging him in his faith and to let him know that he believed that God had called him to be an agent of change for the Kenyan police force.

After several personal meetings and the development of a close friendship, Mike found himself enrolled as a "rookie" in the police academy. Mike became a reserve officer and climbed the ranks to Chief Inspector in charge of reserve training.

Mike Harries and Commissioner Kiruki prayed and worked together for several months to develop the first Christian Police Association in the history of their country. Two hundred and fifty officers responded to a "signal" sent by the Commissioner to all of the provinces of Kenya. Commissioner Kiruki was looking for Christian officers who would like to participate in the launching of the Christian Police Association in Nairobi. The officers who were finally selected to represent the various provinces of Kenya traveled to the University of Nairobi for a weekend-long conference.

I was honored to be asked to give the keynote address on Sunday, October 8th at the official launching. The Attorney General of Kenya was present along with several denominational leaders and more than two hundred guests. A greeting from the Christian Police Association of Britain was also given by Sergeant Dave Howell.

What Nancy and I will remember most from the conference were the "faces." Faces that reflected the excitement of knowing that the Holy Spirit was moving among police officers throughout Kenya. Nancy and I joined these men and women as they enthusiastically sang praises to God (You must visit Kenya to experience it!). We will never forget the three female university students who walked into one of our meetings and almost ran when they realized they were in a room full of police officers. We watched the Lord work and soon three "representative" university students believed that not all police officers were corrupt and officers were reminded that not all university students throw rocks and cause riots.

When we first entered the conference room at the university, one face stood out from all the others. Almost nine years earlier I'd had the privilege of leading Andrew Temesi to the Lord. Andrew was from Western Kenya, not far from Lake Victoria, and had traveled to the coast with his family for work. When we left Kenya in 1988, we sponsored Andrew through the Pwani Bible Institute where I had taught. Andrew's dream was to become a pastor and go back home to Western Kenya to begin a church. There, standing proudly before us, was Pastor Andrew Temesi who we had loved as a brother during our time living in Kenya. At our request, Commissioner Kiruki had allowed Andrew to participate in the law enforcement conference. Andrew had recently led a police officer near his home to Jesus Christ. After the conference, Andrew was already making plans to visit the several police posts in Western Kenya to establish a ministry among the police officers.

Much of our time in Kenya was also spent with Phil and Phyllis Turley who are missionaries in that great country. The Turleys were our very close friends during our time as missionaries in Kenya. Phil is an instructor at Moffat Bible College high up on the Great Rift of Kenya at 7000'.

Nancy and I, along with Mike Harries, spoke at the college. Nancy, who leads bible studies for wives of officers, spoke of her experiences working with the officers' wives through the ministry of Peace Officers For Christ. She told the students how pastors could reach out to police families in their communities. The local church would have an important role in that many families of Kenyan police officers were rejected socially because of their
spouses' profession. Mike and I presented the concept of pastors working alongside police officers as volunteer police chaplains. The principal and the students were excited about the possibility of networking with Mike and Phil to take the gospel to officers throughout the country. We believe the primary role of Peace Officers For Christ will be in this area as we continue our relationship with Mike and Commissioner Kiruki. All too quickly we had to say goodbye to these brothers and sisters who we had grown very close to in a short time.

On October 12th, we departed Kenya for England via Amsterdam. Mike Harries and Commissioner Kiruki had departed on another flight a few hours earlier and were on their way to join us in England. As a result of the work of the Christian Police Association of Britain, the first world conference of the Federation of Christian Police Fellowships was about to begin. The keynote speakers were retired Assistant Chief Robert Vernon from the Los Angeles Police Department, and Chief Robin Oake from the Isle of Man off the coast of England.

What a joy it was for Nancy and me to meet and fellowship with police officers and their spouses from sixteen different countries. Sergeant Richard Wiggins with many others from CPA of Britain, did an outstanding job of planning and offered extraordinary hospitality. Both Chief Vernon and Chief Oake spoke of the need for integrity in our work. They also spoke of the primary goals of Christian outreaches to law enforcement. Those goals were to include evangelism, fellowship, and discipleship. I feel a tremendous need for bringing together the concept of integrity and discipleship. Have you ever heard the saying, "Excuse me, I could not hear what you were saying, your actions were speaking to loudly?" If we are going to be a witness in the work place, we must be known as men and women of integrity. We must be an example of excellent police work.

The challenge was clear and the enthusiasm was high as we accepted the responsibility to develop these contacts with fellow Christian officers from all over the world. We all laughed as we informed Sergeant Wiggins that he could begin planning for next year's conference. At present we are hopeful that the conference might be held every two years.

For Nancy and me, the highlight of the England conference was the opportunity to break bread together in the Sunday morning service. This was the first time in history that an international group such as this had come together with the single purpose of mind to reach police officers for Christ! To join in a communion service with ninety brothers and sisters from around the world was exciting enough. However, to have Mike Harries ask that we all sing in our native tongue during the passing of the elements...well, I am sure that was a glimpse of heaven!

The countries represented at the first meeting of the Federation of Christian Police Fellowships were Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, South Wales, Switzerland, and the United States. Please remember to pray for these countries and the tremendous potential of reaching police officers for Jesus Christ.

As summer approaches, Nancy and I are planning to visit POFC's Regional Representatives in the U.S. and Venezuela. Our next goal in Venezuela is to establish Peace Officers For Christ International as an official missionary organization recognized by the Venezuelan government. We will also be contacting potential new Regional Representatives as we travel in the U.S. Feel free to contact us if you would like to set up some meetings in your area. We believe that no place is "too far" and no group is "too small." We would remind you that your responsibility is only to be the messenger. The Lord will be responsible for those who will respond and listen. Pray with us that the Lord will go before us as POFC expands into new areas.

Did That Really Happen?

GO FIGURE
Hong Kong High Court Judge Raymond Sears ruled on a petition from a drug trafficker that a prison's practice of removing horse-racing results from the daily newspapers before distributing them to the inmates violated the prisoners' human rights! (Say what?)

WILL THE REAL TURKEY PLEASE STAND UP
Last October in Missouri, a man showing off a turkey he thought he killed was shot in the leg when the wounded bird thrashed around in his car trunk and triggered his shotgun. "The turkeys are fighting back," the County Sheriff said. To make matters worse, it turns out the man, in his early 40's, and his son, Junior, 16, were hunting a week before the start of turkey season and will probably be fined.

LET THERE BE PEACE!
Apparently angered that a truck was moving too slowly for her tastes, a young woman in Tustin, California pulled alongside in her car, held an aluminum baseball bat out the window, and took several futile swipes at the truck as the two vehicles were moving down the freeway. The Tustin officer arresting her commented about the personalized license plates ("PEACE 95") on her car. She replied that she had gotten the plates because she thought there was too much violence going on in today's society.

IS THERE A LOCKSMITH IN THE HOUSE?
After collecting $170.00 in a grocery store holdup in Cadiz, Kentucky, a robber found that he couldn't get into his getaway car. It seems he had locked the keys inside. The delay caused by his having to kick out the back window of his car allowed officers time to respond to the scene. Although the robber did try to flee, officers were able to get him pulled over some 21 miles down the road.

WHAT'S SO FUNNY?
Two would-be robbers settled on "Z's Sports Tap," a downtown Chicago bar for their holdup. Much to the chagrin of the two stick-up artists, noted a police spokesman, there were over a hundred off-duty officers from Chicago P.D. attending a retirement party inside the crowded bar.

NOW BOYS!
In Seat Pleasant, Md., eight firefighters were suspended after they brawled over who should get to carry the big hose into a burning house.

CAN YOU SPELL C-R-I-M-I-N-A-L?
Travis Helms, an inmate in the Sullivan County Jail in Tennessee wrote to the editor of the Kingsport Times-News expressing his concerns about local jail conditions. "We the inmates here at the Sulivan County Jail [are] concerned that here we all [are] treated as criminals." (Duh, Earth to Travis.)

Dear friend:
Many people ask, "What does POFCI do?' Well, I thought about that and basically the ad that we have placed in a number of police magazines says it all.

The ad reads, "POFCI is an international organization of peer support and we offer free police training to police departments: domestic and foreign." That's it. Now, of course there is a little more involved. Upon request, we offer the Peacemakers Journal, our POFCI magazine, which is written by peace officers for peace officers. We ask officers to look through our WEB page for current information about our ministry and to look for other Christian police organizations and dates of different Christian meetings.

We are an information-clearing house where peace officers can read about other Christian officers in our magazine, WEB page, and newsletter. We encourage Christian peace officers to meet other officers at breakfasts, retreats, and finally for coffee over the hood of a police unit. Here they can share their frustrations about the job, the media, the joys of the chase and joys of their family.

It is our desire to show the world and the law enforcement community that a peace officer can do the job and still be a Christian the Bible teaches. The basic principle that "Jesus loves me this I know," is a start of a growing relation with the living God, not a one-time membership. This is a growing, living relationship that continues to grow daily. Graduating from the academy did not make you a police officer. That was just the start. Everyday you are becoming a better cop: there are bad days; there are good days, and sometimes even marvelous days. The Christian officer realizes that each day, good or bad, in another day to serve the Lord.

So what is a Christian law enforcement officer to do? I will give you a few simple basic nuts and bolts principles on how to serve God:

1. Read or hear the Bible daily.
The closer to God you get, the more Christ-like you become.

3. Worship God for who He is the giver of your every breath.
Thank him for giving you life.

4. Talk about Him with others.
Pick your battles, but standup for Moral and Ethical issues in conversations with co-workers at your department.

The POFCI board and I want to thank you for your interest in Peace Officers for Christ International. Please feel free to contact us with comments, questions, and inquiries.
In His Service,
Terry Hart
POFCI Outreach Director

Page last updated 23 May 2002

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*Nancy and Dave McDowell at the University of Nairobi*	*Nancy and Dave McDowell with Chief Inspector Mike Harries*

Peace Officers for Christ International

Peacemakers Journal - Spring 1996

Regional Reports

Did That Really Happen?