Have you ever seen the movie “Hacksaw Ridge”? It is the true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Doss was drafted and ostracized by fellow soldiers for his pacifist stance but went on to earn respect and adoration for his bravery, selflessness and compassion after
he risked his life -- without firing a shot -- to save 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa.
Although the movie doesn’t go into too many specifics of Doss’ beliefs that caused him to refuse to battle, I think he must have known that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 6:12) Here at The Refuge Center, our client advocates have a lot in common with Private Doss. These men and women climb a hill every day with the prayer of “Please Lord, help me get one more” on their lips and in their hearts.
There is a battle raging around us. We know that you see it. The Refuge Center is positioned right in the middle of this war against an enemy that seeks to devour and destroy us. But we do not take up arms, we hit our knees! Our staff and volunteers are definitely more like medics in God’s army than like infantry soldiers. Daily we wonder the battlefield looking for the wounded. One by one we pull them out, bind up their emotional wounds and point them in the direction of the “Great Physician” that can make them whole again.
Just a couple weeks ago one of our client advocates, Alexandra, had a divine appointment with a young woman. This young lady came to Refuge scared, confused, and feeling hopeless as so many do. She had several symptoms that led her to think she was pregnant. She had taken two home tests. One was positive and the other was negative.
She knew that the unprotected sex she had, could certainly make pregnancy possible. She decided to take the Plan B pill. But the symptoms did not subside. When she came to Refuge for a test, she was relieved when it came back negative. But she was still hurting and scared.
As Alexandra spoke with her, she discovered that this client was exhausted. This young woman had been living a life of bad decisions. She was on a path that took her from one bad relationship to another and on and on. She cried with Alexandra and told her how recently through this episode of a pregnancy scare she had called out to God and asked Him to speak to her. She wanted out of the life she was living but did not know how to get out. Alexandra shared the gospel through the parable of the prodigal son. Alexandra explained to the young, frightened girl, that if she only takes a few steps toward God, He will come running to embrace her. She told her client that what God truly desires from her is a relationship instead of religion. They both were blessed that day. God provided a way for that young girl to get out. He spoke to her through a sweet volunteer at Refuge. When recounting her experience here at Refuge, this client told me, “Alexandra was so warming and compassionate. She just spoke life back into me.”
The Refuge Center is truly blessed to have people like you. People who are willing to sacrifice and go up the hill each day like Alexandra and many others. We desire every day to help one more. And over the past 36 years, we have helped tens of thousands. Just like Pfc. Doss, we believe “with the world so set on tearing itself apart, it don’t seem like such a bad thing to [us] to wanna put a little bit of it back together.”
If you have ever considered, or felt called to support Refuge, either with your time or your financial resources please follow through on that. Please visit our website to find out more details about how you can help at RefugeConyers.org/support and remember the words of Pfc. Doss…”While everybody else is taking life, I’m gonna be saving it. And that’s gonna be my way to serve!”
Comments