by Cheryl DePaolo
Under Fire. The response to the call for workers is tremendous. 6000 volunteers are added to the ranks of
Salvation Army officers and paid workers. They come from around the country and around the world.
Representing a myriad of denominations, they are united by faith in Christ and living out the Salvation Army
slogan "Heart to God, Hand to Man".
They come for a short tour or sign up for the long haul. Like most missionaries, they often pay their own way and
travel long distances to a strange and dangerous area, an urban war zone. For some time now Christian churches
in other lands have considered America a mission field, and so it is.
The work is often as tedious and uncomfortable as working in a remote foreign land. A young man slept on the
floor of the Beacon NY Corps canteen truck night after night in order to serve the police and firefighters at Pier
94 24 hours a day. Trucks are unloaded, and box after box of donations are sorted. Toes become numb as
volunteers stand on the pavement serving hot food in the cold night air.
They are immersed in a strange culture, sometimes having to learn an entirely different dialect and finding
themselves misunderstood by the natives. A burly construction worker offered some rice by a strapping teen with
a Georgian drawl is baffled at what he thinks he hears the young man asking: "Do you want to race"? "No! I?m
tired. Sheesh, kids these days". The teen has no idea how he has offended. Understanding just a bit of drawl, I
step in to interpret. They both have a good laugh, the worker accepts a heaping spoonful of rice, and the story
spreads through the tent like wildfire, igniting ripples of wild laughter.
They serve up country ribs, pork chops, macaroni and cheese and more, all doled out with huge spoons to
ravenous workers. The food is delicious, but more than food is served! The Salvation Army has the words of
Jesus in mind: "I have food to eat that you know nothing about" (John 4:32). Bibles and devotional books are
laid out on the table next to granola bars and socks. Books are displayed, some donated by other Christian
ministries: God's Promises for Your Every Need, from Word Publishing. How to Find God: Living Water for
Those Who Thirst, donated by Harvest Ministries. Hope for the Trouble Hearted, by Billy Graham.
The volunteers look for an opening to share the hope that lies within them. Some are bold, others more timid. A
young Salvationist from Newfoundland consults with a Corps officer: "How do I ask someone if I can pray for
them?" The seasoned officer encourages the young man to pray with the worker, not just for him.
Another unsuspecting people group hears the gospel; those who volunteered to help who are not saved. As they
work side by side with those who are, they hear the gospel message, and often slip a Bible or a book into their
bag to read later. At the end of our shift at Ground Zero, the shift supervisor prays with the group as they
depart. His prayer includes the message of the gospel, thanking God not only for the opportunity to serve Him,
but also for giving His only Son, Jesus Christ, so that through Him we might be saved.
The work goes forward. At Pier 94, an Envoy from Illinois led a New York City police officer to Christ in the
coffee tent. I prayed with a young woman who cried out to God while fleeing for her life. Debris crashed down
around her as she fled her office building on September 11. Weeks later, she is attending church and witnessing
to her friends. I'm sure there are countless others, and we will rejoice with the angels as we hear of each one.
Only God will know how many lives will be won for the Kingdom of God through Operation Compassion Under
Fire.
Over 2 million meals have been served as I write this, and the Bread of Life continues to be served as well. In
John 6:51 Jesus tells us "If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give
for the life of the world".
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