It was December, 1941. Shocked by the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 12,000 residents of North Platte, Nebraska asked what they could do. Because they were located on a major railroad line, they took simple steps first: They began encouraging soldiers on the trains being shipped to various bases throughout the USA. Sometimes as many as 20 trains per day stopped briefly for refueling. Volunteers from North Platte were always ready. Many of the soldiers were teenagers who were lonely, hungry and tired. Many had never been away from home before. During those 10-minute refueling stops, volunteers would fill their hands with chicken-and-egg-salad sandwiches, coffee, and free magazines. Locals literally would stay up all night making thousands of sandwiches, which would all disappear the next day. They built relationships, passed out popcorn balls, handed out meals, and lots of smiles — to as many as 7,000 – 8,000 per *day*.
Today, some 70 years later, missionaries around the world are in no way involved with guns and ammo, but they are nevertheless fighting a war… a spiritual war (Eph. 6:12). I’m convinced we all need to band together in whatever ways we can to provide refueling, retooling, and recasting of their vision. Just as North Platte made a difference to some 6 million soldiers in the early forties, we need to encourage and equip global witnesses of today. Got an example of how your church or agency is seeking to emulate the North Platte Canteen? Use the “Comment” box at the end of this BackPage editorial. Or, if you prefer, send in an item to Brigada for a future edition. And, in the meantime, keep up the good work!
Note: Author Bob Greene’s little book, “Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen” became somewhat famous after radio personality Bob Edwards profiled the story in a June 6th, 2002 broadcast on National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition.” You can still go back in time and hear it by logging on at…
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2002/june/greene/
Please tell your story or give your example of how an agency or church is lifting up the global force of worldwide witnesses today. Comment or inquire about this item at …
Church of 600. Our 30 local and overseas co-workers are divided between five people whose task it is to keep monthly contact. For those serving away from the church they have a detailed month accounting of spiritual, emotional, ministry goal & accomplishment. If any inclination of need – as is happeing in a couple cases – team is in direct contact to help work through.
Every Sunday 3-5 missionaries are featured on the pre-service and announcement time media presentations.
Every Sunday bulletin has a prayer insert.
Had a large display area as enter chapel. Moving to new buyiulding so don’t know how it will be feature there.
Church of 600. Our 30 local and overseas co-workers are divided between five people whose task it is to keep monthly contact. For those serving away from the church they have a detailed month accounting of spiritual, emotional, ministry goal & accomplishment. If any inclination of need – as is happeing in a couple cases – team is in direct contact to help work through.
Also meet needs. A doctor in Asia needed consistant power, church purchased solar power system and also paid for shipping and instillation
Every Sunday 3-5 missionaries are featured on the pre-service and announcement time media presentations. And
Every Sunday bulletin has a prayer insert.
Had a large display area as enter chapel. Moving to new buyiulding so don’t know how it will be feature there.
All this builds a sense of community.