| Greetings from ALERT,
As we rapidly approach the end of this semester I wanted to remind everyone that our next Basic Training unit begins March 24, 2017. We are rapidly approaching that start date. It is not too late to register so encourage any young man 17-years and older to join up and experience a life changing challenge. Through the gifts of generous donors, we do have scholarship funds available to defray some of the costs if that would be helpful.
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| With more than 45 men here in the battalion since January, our Fire Academy, Leadership Class, Mobile Response Team (MRT), and Emergency Response Training have all been in full swing and continue to serve and train in a variety of ways. Our Leadership Class just finished their Washington D.C tour visiting our nation’s capital touring historic sites as well as opportunities to meet others and share their faith in Christ.
The Mobile Response Team provides an excellent opportunity for young men to travel around the country, serving others in a variety of ways. The Team’s assignments so far this year have included such things as sawyer work on deployments, house repairs, recruiting, assisting with a widow’s ministry and other such experiences. Please pray for them as their travels continue. It’s an exhausting ten week tour but well worth the effort and fruits that come out of it.
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| After the tornadoes and storms from February hit the southern states, we sent about 40 men to the Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Albany, Georgia areas to join with Samaritan’s Purse ministries performing disaster relief work. Each night we invite the homeowners where we served in the daytime to dinner with our team. At dinner we have a time of sharing each night.
In Mississippi, one homeowner who was a Christian, but was not walking with the Lord, related how he knew the tornado was approaching. He and his wife got on their knees and prayed for God’s deliverance. Their neighborhood was destroyed, with only their house remaining intact. He gave glory that night to God, as did one homeowner after another. Most of our men and Samaritan’s Purse workers were in tears as we listened to story after story of God’s protection and provision in the midst of their frightful experiences.
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Another local deployment was helping a disabled veteran on a day-long project raking his yard and cleaning up leaves because he could not get outside to do it himself. He came outdoors as we wrapped up that afternoon, and he was evidently in pain and weak from his cancer treatment. We sang a hymn and encouraged him, while one of our men found a small flag in his bushes, and restored it on his house. The veteran said, “Thank you for raising the flag here at my house again.” We felt honored and prayed with this man as we left his home.
Please continue to pray for us as we seek to reestablish our Paramedic program. We are in need of someone to be the primary instructor of that program and coordinate the on-site aspect of the training. Pray that the Lord would direct His servant to assist us in this important aspect of our training. Any interested person may contact me at 903-714-3481 to discuss the details as to the specific job description and what serving in this role would entail.
Pray as well that God would give our staff the strength to maintain the course as we continue to “Forge extraordinary men who will influence their world for Christ.” It’s a daunting task but well worth the calling.
In Him,
Marv Behr
Director, IAA
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