The World at War

Earlier this summer I started reading Jeff Shaara’s historical novel on World War II. The Rising Tide tells of the battle for North Africa, and is told in the compelling style backed by the thorough research that has marked Shaara’s work. You may have seen the movie Gods and Generals about the US Civil War. That was based on Jeff Sherra’s novel by the same name.

I learned that The Rising Tide was the first of a trilogy written by Shaara on World War II, and I am now halfway through the second book, The Steel Wave.  The third book in the series lies next to my chair, ready to pick up where the second book left off.

Shaara’s style is compelling, and it is highly acclaimed for capturing the reality of war and putting you alongside the men who fought so valiantly during that major conflict. As one critic said of Shaara’s accurate novels, “All that’s missing is the smell of gunpowder.”

OK…so you are probably asking, “What does that have to do with NRB’s international work through Strategic Partnerships?” I could probably stretch some things and talk about the Balkans, an area of particular interest to me right now. I could expound on the Allied forces and relate that to partnerships, and their value in this ministry work.

But what has really captured me is what makes Jeff Shaara’s books so compelling…the role of individuals in a harrowing war. You ride alongside men in tanks in North Africa, and experience the horrors of a battle gone wrong. You jump alongside young…very young… paratroopers in Sicily and at D-Day, experiencing the fear that grips them as they realize the enemy is real and is surrounding them.

Yet it is not the fear that stands out, it is the bravery of these soldiers. It is their training that has prepared them for such a battle, yet they still have to execute what they have learned. Some do so with valor. Others…only a few…shrink back, frozen by fear and overcome by the enemy.

And the connection? You are probably already making it. We are in a war today…one that grows more challenging every day. It is not a battle for property, people, or power. It is a spiritual battle for souls.

As I travel various places around the world, I am acutely aware of the battle Christians are in. In many of the countries evangelical Christians are few…0.02% of the population. That means that in a city of 500,000, there would be only about 100 evangelicals! Surrounded by the enemies of Christ. Even where the number of believers in Christ “soars” to 2%, the soldiers of Christ remain small.

Yet in spite of these overwhelming odds, the Christians I come in contact with are strong, dedicated, even heroic. They battle government attitudes that marginalize Christians and often list evangelicals as a cult. Or…maybe worse…they battle abject apathy, a culture that cares little for God or His Gospel.

Our goal through NRB’s Strategic Partnership is to put the best tools (weapons) we can find into the hands of the soldiers of the Lord. We want to get the best training and information that will help them in their battle against Satan’s forces. And we want to encourage them as they share the Good News…the joy and hope found in Jesus.

It is interesting that one of the key areas for our work these days is in the Balkans. These countries in Eastern Europe…Romania, Albania, Serbia, Bulgaria, and others…were under Communist rule for decades. They were not untouched by that war about which Jeff Shaara so movingly and graphically writes. Yet the greater battle, even greater than World War II, is for the souls of those who live in these countries.

This November NRB will assist Christian broadcasters in the Balkans with four days of targeted media training. A dozen or more Christian media professionals from the US and Europe will come together to teach, network, and mentor. Some 20 topics will cover everything from production work, editing, news writing and producing, to budgeting, funding for ministry, and follow-up with listeners and viewers for spiritual growth.

Wrapped around this time will be fellowship and worship, an opportunity for Christians from different countries and cultures to grow deeper with God, and develop a relationship with one another…to bond…for more effective service to Christ.

NRB is helping to cover a good bit of the cost for those attending from the Balkan countries. Our original estimate of possibly 100 attending the training event has just about doubled, as has the cost…from $18,000 to almost $35,000. With the help of NRB members and generous individuals and ministries, we have commitments for all but $10,000 for the budget.

If you or your organization would like to share in this effort, it would be greatly appreciated. You can send a check to National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) and put on the memo line “Balkans Training”. That can be mailed to:

NRB
9510 Technology Drive
Manassas, VA 20110

If you would like to know more, feel free to contact me, rharris@nrb.org or at 817-446-1094.

The battle rages. Let’s be sure the troops are well prepared for the war they face in their world, with the best tools and the best training…all for the cause of Christ.

Ronald L. Harris, DD
Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnership
National Religious Broadcasters
 
817-446-1094 (Direct)
703-330-7000 ext. 400 (NRB HQ)
rharris@nrb.org