Peace Officers for Christ International Peacemakers Journal - Winter 2001   Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me - Psalm 23:4

For the eight or twelve hours we put in 'on the job' the risks are obvious. However, we also have a life away from work. One that involves our loved ones, neighbors, and other friends. We.need a solid rock to hold onto in order to balance it all out. I believe that Rock is Jesus Christ!

With that I want to welcome you to the Comeback Edition of the Peacemaker's journal. After a two-year break, we are so honored to be back in circulation. I think you will find both in this issue and those to come, stories and testimonies from law enforcement personnel, police-chaplains, and others, that all share a common theme- a personal relationship with God.

In His service,
Steve Ahearn

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A NEW CREATION

I once knew a young Officer who thought he had total control of his life and, for the most part, he did. The Officer had everything going for him, a wonderful wife, and two beautiful children. His career was going well considering he was relatively new to law enforcement. He had already been assigned to several special details and he seemed to be a "rising star". Unfortunately, the Officer thought he was invincible. He started spending more time with his job and partners. He began putting his family on the back burner.

One day, the Officer found himself all alone in his house. His wife could no longer put up with his behavior. She had packed up the kids and had left. You might think this would have opened up the Officer's eyes, but he only continued his life of partying and threw himself deeper into his work.

Well, reality finally hit him and he realized he had made many serious mistakes. One night the Officer was home, alone in his house which had now been converted into home for other wayward cops. He heard a pastor speaking on the radio. The pastor spoke of the responsibility husbands and fathers have and how men of God should behave. The Officer found himself on his knees, in tears, begging God to restore his life and his marriage. Fortunately, God is a God of love and compassion. He heard the cry of the Officer's heart.

Many of those who know me have probably figured out that this is my story. God did restore my relationship, first with Him, then with my marriage and family. I could not have done it without Him, believe me I tried. I have always considered myself to be 'one of the boys', and I know that some of you are thinking I use God as a crutch. You are right! God wants us to turn to Him and worship Him. He wants us to go to Him with our troubles and with our pain. I know that if God could restore my life, he could restore yours as well. All you have to do is invite Him into your life.

The harsh reality is that in our line of work everyday could be our last. This in itself should encourage us to have a relationship with God. At my department, we have lost a couple of brothers to illness in the last few years, and I can tell you that they died knowing Jesus Christ and are in His presence this very moment.

Life's everyday struggles are tough enough as it is. Why go through those struggles without the Lord?

Frank Fajardo
Investigator- Homicide Section
Santa Ana (CA) Police Department

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CHAPLAINS CORNER

Over two years ago I went on my first night time ride along. While driving with Officer Danny Armendarez on a dark street in downtown Santa Ana, I was flooded with some powerful feelings. These feelings were strangely familiar. They were feelings of excitement, anticipation, aloneness, evil and some despair. As these feelings mixed with the darkness, a subtle flow of adrenaline began as we rolled on our first call.

I suddenly realized I had been here before, not in a police car, but as an infantry soldier in the jungles of Vietnam. These were the feelings of the night.

As a young man in my twenties, I was changed forever by what I saw, what I did and by what I experienced in that year at war. As I was thinking back on that experience, I began to realize that everyday and night police officers enter into this world. It too is a world of darkness and despair, but it also includes the lower levels of a life of crime, drug abuse, child and spousal abuse, gang homicide, etc. If they remain there long enough, these officers will see death and abuse, experience hate, feel the darkness and despair- and as they are touched by these experiences, they will be changed forever.

I realize the good of this profession. That helping others and peace making far outweighs the bad experiences. That this career has its many rewards. But what will these men and women do with the memories and feelings they have experienced, things that no human being was originally meant to experience?

In March of 1975, five years after I left Vietnam, I met and received my Lord, Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ. Over the next few years and up until today, He has helped me 'detox' the memories and sort the experiences of Vietnam, memories that are inevitable in wa r- whether it's war in the jungles of Vietnam or on the streets of America. I still have the memories of holding friends that died, the screams of the wounded, the pain of my own wounds, and the part that became numb when I first took a life.

But Jesus took the despair, the hate and the poison out of the memories that revisited me many nights in my dreams for many years after. He brought back to me life, love and a soft heart-which no man, no religion or therapy (although needed and helpful), no amount of alcohol or abundance of material possessions could ever restore.

My hope and prayer is that every officer in our department and beyond would have a friendship with Jesus Christ. That He would be with them in this honored but difficult profession of being a police officer- keeping them filled with the light and hope as they touch the darkness and protect society from the pending evil.

*** Note: Dale Temple is a Chaplain with the Santa Ana (CA) Police Department and Pastor of Coastview Christian Fellowship in Huntington Beach, CA. Dale is also a highly decorated combat veteran.

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A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH DEATH

On November 6, 1997, I wasn't feeling well so I stopped by the clinic on my way to work thinking I would get a prescription for some antibiotics and be on my way. Eight hours later and after enduring several blood tests, x-rays, a CT scan, and bone marrow being drawn from both sides of my body, my worst nightmare became reality. I was diagnosed with third stage cancer of the lymph system involving lymph nodes in my groin, abdomen, chest and neck. In addition, they found that I was suffering from Hepatitis C. It's no wonder I was feeling bad because I was dying. I was 49 years old and had been in law enforcement for twenty years, sixteen of those years as an ATF agent having worked in LA, Kansas City, Washington DC, and now in San Diego. Before my employment with ATF, I had spent twelve years in Alaska having survived several close calls with death including two airplane crashes, fending off a charging grizzly, and being caught in a large snow avalanche while skiing. I considered myself a pretty tough guy having experienced a lot in life and was looking forward to retirement in a couple of years. thought I had everything: a beautiful home nearly paid for, a boat, vehicles, investments, and a savings account. I was wrong. All of a sudden, none of this mattered.

Although I had attended church and was baptized as a youngster, and attended and graduated from a small Baptist college, I had not given the Lord much thought over the years. I had not gone to church nor prayed as an adult to any extent. I was living for myself, wrapped up in this materialistic world. Looking at my situation, I became very depressed and scared, realizing that I had really blown it.

I did not know a minister, except a Reverend I had met while investigating a church arson fire in Oceanside. I called him and he immediately came to me, assuring me that it was not too late to find and put faith in our Lord. We prayed and I realized that the Reverend was right, that all that mattered was rediscovering Jesus and having faith in the Lord. In fact, I soon found that the only thing that mattered to me in this world was my relationship with God and the Lord Jesus.

With the support from my family and loved ones, prayers from the prayer team at church, prayers and support from the Reverend and our ATF chaplain, I was able to continue the fight against cancer. I also had incredible support from my ATF supervisor, prayers from my colleagues, good doctors, and above all, my faith in the Lord. The result was that I survived six high dose chemotherapy treatments and a very close encounter with death. I must admit that from time to time I had terrible thoughts of ending everything, but my rediscovered faith in the Lord pulled me through.

I know it may seem strange, but in many ways I am thankful that I became sick, because now I feel that when I die I will do so in faith and be rewarded accordingly. Again, the only thing that matters to me now in this world is my relationship with God. I only wish that this had been my priority all my life.

I am happy to report that my cancer is in complete remission. I consider it a miracle from God and thank Him every day. If I can help anyone reading my story, please don't hesitate to contact me. All I can say is pray, have faith, and know that with the Lord in your life, all things will work together for good!

Tom S. Miller
ATF -San Diego (Retired)
tommiller23@home.com
(760) 757-6823
Tom has experienced one remission since writing this article, and once more through the grace of almighty God has beaten this disease. Tom is currently cancer free!

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THE ABC's of SALVATION

Knowing your sins are forgiven and you are ready for heaven is as simple as following these steps:

Admit you have sinned.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Believe in Jesus.
"For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Confess and leave your sin.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

If you would like someone to pray for you concerning your decision to follow Jesus Christ, please contact Peace Officers for Christ International - (714) 426-7632 or email us at info@pofci.org

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BOLO - Be On the LookOut

I think it is safe to say that in every police briefing or roll call around the world a BOLO of one kind or another is issued daily. Police officers are always on the lockout for robbers, thieves, con men, murderers, runaways, missing children, stolen cars, parole violators, mental patients who've wandered off, etc...

We are given a description (hopefully, the best and latest info), and with that we go out onto the streets and begin the search. With much skill and some luck thrown in, many of the people wanted in these BOLO's are quickly located.

Yet, many of the same officers who are so skilled in persistently tracking down even the cleverest of crooks, have never found the one person who has been out in the open all the time. He has never hidden Himself from anyone who looked for Him. In fact, He has given us a detailed written book that clearly describes how to find Him. Yes, the man is Jesus and His book is the Bible. If you have never known Him, or even if you did once but turned away, perhaps the following BOLO will help you look in the right place:

WANTED:        JESUS of NAZARETH (Matthew 1:21)

AKA's:         Emmanuel - which means "God with us" (Matthew 1:23)
                     Joshua - which means "the Lord saves" (Matthew 1:24)
                     King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16)
                     The Christ - Savior of the world (1 John 2:2)

DESCRIPTION: No beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire him (Isaiah 53:2)

ODDITIES:  Face battered, beard torn, back shredded from being scourged, hand and feet pierced, side stabbed,    (tortured and crucified for all of us)

MO:  Heals broken bodies and broken marriages, replaces stress and depression with joy and hope, always speaks the truth, knows your most intimate thoughts and secrets and loves you anyway, is constantly knocking at your door (the door to your heart), and is perfect in both compassion and judgment.

Have you seen Him? If you are reading this right now, He is there beside you. You have the choice to accept or deny Him. If you are truly and sincerely searching for Him, then wherever you are, ask Him to come into your life and reveal Himself to you. Jesus is forever faithful and will do what He says. He says He is coming soon, so be on the lockout!

In His Name,
Steve Ahearn

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BAPTIZED BY GUNFIRE

On Sunday, August 30, 1998, I had an experience that will forever remain in my memory. It was a very quiet summer evening in the beach community of San Clemente, California. I was on a ride-a-long with a deputy, and we had just cleared a call when another deputy called for back-up. He was handling a call involving a possible gun shot victim. We were heading to his location when the dispatcher interrupted with a transmission signifying "417- man with a gun," and then seconds later with another call indicating a residential fire. Suddenly we heard another deputy's voice over the air: "Shots fired. Man down!" All available units were requested Code 3 (lights and sirens, expedite immediately). In those brief minutes enroute to the call, I rehearsed in my mind all the training I had received these last seven years as a police chaplain. It would be time to implement all my experience and training.

As our car's siren wailed, I prayed, "Lord Jesus, please protect us and watch over us and all those who are at this call. Please give us your wisdom and allow us to bring your justice and peace to this situation." As we rolled up to the vicinity of the address, I could hear the sound of shots being fired, "pop - pop - pop," and the frantic yet controlled voice of another deputy saying "Shots fired - man down." Immediately my partner ran toward the location of the sound of gunfire, and I told him I would hang back at the car, which would be the appropriate behavior for an unarmed chaplain.

For what seemed like eternity, the chaotic scene of a nightmare came to an end when the clear voice of an unknown deputy called out, "Subject down, Code 4 (situation under control)." The fire department was finally allowed to come in, and the blazing apartment was quickly put out.

I have tried my best to explain, to capture the emotion, and to paint a picture of that memorable summer night. Yet words cannot embrace the remaining tragedy that we were yet to discover. To everyone's shock and dismay, it was determined that the man who had been shot and killed was the husband of one of our dispatchers.

Later I escorted our Captain and a fellow chaplain to Laguna Beach to give the news to our dispatcher. She was working an evening shift at their police department. Then Thursday of that week I participated in the funeral. Lastly, my responsibilities included coordinating and leading a debriefing for the three agencies who were involved in this traumatic incident.

After the excitement had died down, I had time to reflect on how a chaplain's work with law enforcement compares to our lives in Christ. Real ministry to law enforcement means being immersed into the world of the cop. It is a kind of a baptism experience; you become "one with them." You experience the stresses and strains, the excitement and the pain, the highs and the lows of this unique occupation. You experience how being involved in such a traumatic incident strengthens the bonds among all those involved, creating a real sense of camaraderie.

The Apostle Paul says in Romans 6:3-11, "We as believers, have been baptized (immersed) into Christ's death and just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also can walk in newness of life. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He now lives, He lives to God. Likewise, you also, (get immersed) reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

As a minister and follower of Christ I have opportunity, through association, to touch and reach many folks with the influence of the Holy Spirit. Through our association with Jesus Christ we also have the great opportunity of being influenced by His finished work and His continuing renewal. In Christian jargon, we call this process "sanctification." I challenge each of you to realize your own immersion into Christ and to associate with people who need Christ. Serve them as Christ served you. Take a chance, and maybe God will use you to work a miracle in someone's life.
Yours in Christ,
Rick Yeomans
Director of Chaplaincy, POFCI

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A BITTERSWEET MOMENT

It was a bittersweet moment I had dreaded all week. A week full of activity. A week full of the sights, sounds and customs of a foreign country. A week full of official police tours and traditional Russian meals. Every day ending with walks along the Pokrovka, the pedestrian street. Along the Pokrovka we met and talked and shared with the people of Nizhniy Novgorod. Just as the Volga and Oka Rivers come together in Nizhniy, we had met, mixed, and were now moving on... never to be the same.

All the team luggage had been loaded on our train to Moscow. We said good bye, with hugs and tears, to the interpreters and staff of Calvary Chapel Nizhniy. They had been the manifestation of God's provision and protection for us all week. We boarded the train, a sauna on wheels, and dreamed of air conditioning and home. We sat on the hard seats, our bunk beds for the night's travel to Moscow, and longed for our own beds and home. I looked across the aisle to the window for a last glance and waved to new friends. Three palms appeared on the glass, pressing hard as the train whistle blew. I stood up and saw three Russian men: Ivan, Vladimir, and Sasha.

Ivan was the Communist police captain assigned as our liaison officer for the entire week. He had endured the onslaught of a week in close quarters with eight Christian cops who had each made him a personal evangelism project. He came to the train station to tell us good bye, in his street clothes, on his own time. We had formed two ranks and saluted him. He returned our salute, from the brim of his new Sheriff's campaign hat, as he passed between us. He resisted making a decision for Christ in our presence, but his parting remark was revealing: "For forty years I've been lied to."

Vladimir was the ex-con who had survived ten years in Russian prison. Like Ivan, he was in his street clothes. His wallet was twice as long as his hip pocket, secured to his belt by a drooping chrome chain. His biker boots and tattoos were evidence of the road he had turned from to receive Christ as his Savior. He had taken time from his prison ministry to tell his friends, the cops, good bye.

Sasha was a veteran of Chechniya, currently assigned to the OMOH. He and his wife left a party with friends to come and see us off. She was in an evening dress. He stood by her side in a tuxedo with the Hero of Russia medal displayed above his heart. During the week, in response to one of his deliberate questions, the Gospel was presented to twelve of his fellow officers. He expressed his gratitude by presenting the speaker with his beret, the one he had worn in Chechniya.

Now, all three of their palms pressed hard against the window as the train began to move. "Thank you" came from their lips, sadness rolled down their cheeks, and hope sparkled in their eyes. Eight cops stood in the aisle, checking their boots for shine, with renewed understanding...

"And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."' Acts 20:35

By HIS grace,
Rob
Rob DePartee, his wife, Terry, and sons, Paul and Nick, participated on this last trip to Russia. Rob is an officer and helicopter pilot for the Anaheim Police Department in Southern California. Rob's e-mail address is; helicop1@juno.com

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OPERATION LAW ENFORCEMENT OUTREACH

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. " Matthew 19:26

This was a very good year for Peace Officers for Christ International in regards to the police tactics training and ministering to police officers: we had four trips to Central America and one trip to Russia. Law Enforcement Outreach teams including Huntington Beach Police Sergeant Craig Bryant, New York Conservation Officer Bill Pitcher, Carterville Georgia Major Tommy Culpepper, New York harbor patrol Chief Jim Cathcart, Torrance PD Sergeant Devin Chase, and I trained over 1,000 Guatemalan and Honduras police officers in basic handcuffing, defensive tactics, handgun take-aways, rifle take- aways and basic building searches. One day we trained about 75 officers from one police department, then we returned the next day to that same police department to teach another 45 officers. A police lieutenant told POFCI Missionary Randy Green that the handcuffing technique we had taught and practiced with his officers yesterday was used that night by an officer and the technique worked great. The lieutenant was glad that his officer had gained confidence and knowledge to complete his job, by training with the Law Enforcement Outreach team. We were able to share our testimonies and beliefs in "Ethics and Morals" discussions we had with the officers during training, and we gave all the Central American officers Spanish Bibles. We had the officers read out loud from Romans 12: 1-7 from Spanish Bibles that we gave to them. This scripture explains that police officers get their authority from God. It is so inspiring to see twenty, fifty, or seventy police officers reading from God's Word at their police department or on the police academy grounds. I could not do this at my police academy here in California.

Missionary Randy Green would then share the Gospel, and in each training session about half of the officers would accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. We gave all the officers business cards with the local Christian Radio station call signs, a pamphlet with information about our Central American Peace Officers For Christ International office and we encouraged them to get involved in a local church.

After a training session for 95 officers in a police substation of Guatemala City, a 35-year-old policewoman stood up and thanked the Peace Officers for Christ International team for the police defense tactics and for the Bibles. She said that she could never afford a Bible, but now she has a Bible and she will cherish it. Missionary Randy Green later explained to the team that the normal pay for a Guatemalan is about the United States equivalent of $75.00. The regular Guatemalan patrol officer makes about $150.00. I understood that the officers could not pay for a Bible because they would not be able to afford the Bible and rent. I am pleased that God is allowing us to serve the Central American officers by teaching them tactics to keep them alive and giving them Bibles and information so they can get closer to God.

Every Law Enforcement Outreach team member shared during our debriefing on the last night of our trip that God is in the life changing business and it first starts with us. I have found that this is so true, I will never be the same after yielding to God and going overseas and seeing God work in these Law Enforcement Outreaches. I have found with what I have learned about God in Central America, that I am bolder in sharing my faith here at home in the United States.

God also magnified Himself in the Russia Outreach with Chaplain / Pastor Gary Malcus and Calvary Chapel Church Planning. This last year twenty-two men and women went to Russia and visited police departments and police academies. These officers shared the Gospel openly and many Russian police officers accepted the Lord as their Savior. You will read about what God has done in Russia with these teams in upcoming issues of the Peacemakers Journal.

We have four Law Enforcement Outreaches planned for 2001, please pray for God's continued blessing on these missionary outreaches as we prepare for the Coming year. If you have a desire to serve on one of these outreaches, either foreign or domestic, please write or e-mail me at Peace Officers for Christ International.
Terry Hart
POFCI Outreach Director

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DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL MUSCLES

by Randy Green

As of August 1999, the Green family's field assignment moved to Guatemala. Pray for the children as they begin a new school year and for the many opportunities for Randy working among the police and military. Short-term missionary teams continue to be sent to Guatemala, Venezuela, and Russia. Geographically, Guatemala will be an excellent base of operation for the Greens providing easy access for travel throughout Central America.

Why is prayer emphasized so much in Scripture? Why was it so important for Jesus to pray? Luke 6:12 says he spent a whole night in prayer. He may have done this often. We are commanded to pray without ceasing, to bring our request before God. Why is it so difficult for people to pray? We struggle against the flesh, the world and the devil. We all understand this as Christians. But I believe the biggest reason that we struggle to spend time in prayer is unbelief. Have you noticed that in our society a great emphasis is put on sports, physical conditioning and appearance? People will train diligently to get in shape, sometimes getting up early and facing cold weather, snow, rain or other obstacles. They will put in many hours and suffer pain and hard-ship in order to get their bodies in shape or to excel in some sport. Why? Because they see the importance of being in good shape, and they see the results of their training.

What if a group of people got together to begin a physical training program. They decided to meet once a week to study the training manual and diligently looked into understanding all the techniques and exercises. Some people even committed portions of the manual to memory. Then after months of this diligent study a friend of one of the men in the physical training program asks how it is going. The man responds, "It is going great. We are learning a great deal from this wonderful manual on physical training." The friend responds, "But I haven't noticed any difference in your physique, and you are still overweight.

"Are you doing the exercises?" "No," he replies, "we haven't started the exercise yet." Can you imagine how ludicrous this would be? Yet the same thing is taking place with Christians all over the world. They know the manual, but they haven't done the exercise yet. The Scripture tells us that bodily exercise is of some profit, but spiritual exercise is of great profit. Do we believe this? You will never know the incredible profit of spiritual exercise until you do the exercises.

In law enforcement it is very important to be in good shape physically. Your life or the life of someone else could depend upon it. When I was in the Los Angeles County Sheriff Academy, we saw a training film of a deputy who got in a foot pursuit, and in the ensuing struggle the suspect took the deputy's gun away from him and killed him with it. When the coroner gave his report on the condition of the deputy's body, it was discovered that the deputy simply had very little strength because his muscles had not been conditioned through exercise.

How much more important is this conditioning in our struggle against the enemy. Paul writes, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12a)." It is no wonder that many Christians are getting beat up by these "unseen criminals" because their spiritual muscles have not developed through prayer. Many Christians may spend a few minutes in prayer each day, but how far can you go in getting in shape spiritually with only a few minutes a day? In these days of great opportunity to serve the Lord, as well as days of great evil, we need men and women who are not flabby spiritually, but who have their spiritual muscles toned through prayer.

Today I meet many Christians who are in Bible studies several hours a week or who listen to Bible teachers on the radio. This is good, but if we don't do the exercises we will just become flabby and vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. These exercises do not only include prayer, but witnessing, worshipping and praising the Lord throughout the day. We are commanded to deny ourselves those pleasures that are carnal and to take up our cross and follow Christ. We have plenty of Bible knowledge here in America, but we desperately need men and women who will obey the knowledge they have and will spiritually exercise each day.

"Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered. And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; and he saith unto it, "Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever." And immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree immediately wither away?" And Jesus answered and said unto them, "Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, ' it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Matthew 21:18-22

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FULLY VESTED?

By Rob DePartee

You've faced the same temptation repeatedly, haven't you? It is worse during the summer, isn't it? You open your locker and look at that dark blue uniform, while sweat drips from your face. You hoist your gun belt from the door and brush against your department issued ballistic vest. It is still damp from yesterday's shift. And you're tempted...to not put it on today. Just today, just for one shift. Really, what are the chances you'll need it? There is no doubt in your mind that it works. But it is so hot, and so obvious. Is it really worth it? Is it really that critical?

So you suit up, without your vest, and take your seat in briefing. The Sergeant walks in and scans the room full of blue suits. Maybe it's your contented smile, or loose fitting uniform shirt, but his scan stops on you. Radar lock - target analysis - fire, "Where's your vest?" You scramble like a cockroach when the lights come on. You're working harder at getting out than speaking up. So you go down in smoke, without a word. You didn't even make it to the street, and you've already been taken out by friendly fire.

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. " Matthew 22:11,12

So how was this guy supposed to get a wedding garment? He didn't even know he was going to a wedding! He was simply passing through, waiting for the light to change, and he was handed a wedding invitation (Matthew 22:9,10). The invitation looked good, every one around him was getting the same invitation, and they were headed for the party. Why not? Beats sitting in traffic!

When he got to the wedding hall, there was probably a line at the door. He was certainly willing to wait, because he could smell the Bar B Q. While he waited, he must have noticed the assortment of guests. They were "both good and bad" (Matthew 22:10). The "good" included people you would be willing to die for. And the "bad"? The "bad" included the mischievous, the diseased, the vicious, the evil, and the guilty. Yet they all had one thing in common, they were all guests of the king. Where did they get their wedding garment? They received their wedding garment the same way they received their wedding invitation. It was a gift from the king.

"Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, 'Take away the filthy garments from him. ' And to him He said, 'See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes. '... Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, ' Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here. ' " Zechariah 3:1-7

The guests who accepted the invitation to the king's wedding had more in common than their title. They were all willing. They all put their willingness into action and went to the wedding hall. They were all willing and all, but one, were obedient. When the king provided a garment, all but one put it on. The king was gracious. All but one put their trust in him, and found themselves seated in the midst of all he had prepared.

Why would anyone turn down a free suit, especially if it came with a free meal? The reasons we turn down invitations are universal; we don't care, or we are not willing, or we despise the host (Matthew 22:3,5,6). Our reasons may vary, but the conclusion is simple. We don't accept invitations because we choose not to accept.

"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Romans 13:11-14

" '...for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.' And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. " Revelation 19:7-9

Are you fully vested? It's your choice. Dinner's on!

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PEACE OFFICERS FOR CHRIST INTERNATIONAL's PURPOSE

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.

2. Talk to God throughout the day.
Tell him your cares, worries and needs.

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.

5. Stand up for what is right.
Be courageous and compassionate!

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

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Page last updated 08 May 2002

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