To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Staff Report : Oct 23, 2012  Samaritans Purse

People came to faith in Jesus and marriages were strengthened at the first season of a new Samaritan's Purse outreach to wounded and injured service members and their spouses.

Alarm bells were going off in the minds of Samaritan Lodge Alaska staff almost immediately.

Brandie Collins had just arrived with her husband, Austin, in Port Alsworth. She was 8 months pregnant and looked like she could have the baby at any minute.

The small town has a nursing station, but no hospital. The only way in and out is by small plane. What was going to happen if the baby decided to come a wee bit early?

Brandi and Austin had been invited to Samaritan Lodge to take the spot of another couple that had to cancel. Was it a mistake to ask them?

Absolutely not.

"They were the exact couple that needed to be here at the time," said Mark Lang program manager and also an excursion guide and pilot at the facility.

The couple was there because of God's perfect timing. Brandi was already a believer, but Austin, though a churchgoer, did not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. That changed by week's end.

"Being up here, he realized something was missing in his life," said camp chaplain Jim Fisher. "He committed his life to Christ and was baptized that day here in Lake Clark."

Samaritan Lodge Alaska has truly become a center of renewal, healing, and rebirth. It is a place where veterans accepted Jesus as their Savior, were baptized in the waters of Lake Clark, and made decisions to serve in full-time ministry. Many marriages were strengthened. Two couples even rededicated their union in brief ceremonies at Tanalian Falls and by the lake.

The facility is the foundation of Operation Heal Our Patriots, the Samaritan's Purse ministry that provides spiritual refreshment, physical renewal, and marriage enrichment to wounded and injured U.S. military service members and their spouses.

From its opening in early June until the close of the season in mid-September, close to 80 injured military veterans and their spouses enjoyed amazing periods of rest, adventure, marriage enrichment, and spiritual encouragement.

During their week at the lodge on Lake Clark's Hardenburg Bay, the couples soaked in the unforgettable grandeur of Alaska's wilderness through fishing and bear watching excursions, floatplane trips, kayaking, hiking, and other activities. Gourmet food, comfortable cabins, saunas, and incredible views of the lake and surrounding mountains added to the experience.

For many it's either the honeymoon they never got to take or a much-needed and extremely rare vacation, since finances, deployment, or other circumstances prevented them from getting away earlier. For every couple it's a refreshing time to focus on each other and get away from dishes, laundry, children, and other day-to-day responsibilities.

Read more at the link provided.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'Unsung Hero', Go See This Movie If You Get a Chance; a Beautiful Story of a Wonderful and Famous Christian Music Family

Nolte: Exclusive—71 Percent Want Disney to End LGBTQ Agenda, Brand in Freefall

Chick-fil-A Set to Convert Strip Club, Site of Recent Murder into a New Restaurant

Wow! Man Points Gun at Pastor Delivering Sermon, What Happened Next Is a 'Miracle'

US Service Members Waiting for Congress and Department of Defense to Acknowledge COVID Shot Mandate Was Unlawful and Harmful

No Deal with Hamas as Israel Marks Holocaust Remembrance Day

Trump Hit With 10th Gag Order Violation, Judge Weighs Jail Time

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Bans Woke Indoctrination in Teacher Training Programs

Arizona Dem Governor Katie Hobbs Repeals State's Near-Total Abortion Ban

'Darkness Doesn't Stand a Chance': A Great Multitude Takes Part in 2024 National Day of Prayer

City of Muenster in Texas Becomes 69th 'Safe Haven' City for the Unborn in the US

Clues: US Anti-Israel Protests Fueled by Major Foreign Funding; Backed by Iran, Hamas

Top Biden DOJ Official Busted for Lying About Past Arrest

Victory for Election Integrity: Court Blocks Undated Ballots

Trump Visits FDNY Station after Court, Buys Them Pizza. Their Response: 'Save Us, Please!'

EDUCATE Act Would Ban DEI Indoctrination in Medical Schools

DeSantis Declares Florida 'Will Not Comply' With Biden Rule Forcing 'Gender Identity' On Schools

House Bill, 'Passed With Overwhelming Support,' Would Criminalize Parts of the Bible, and Violate the Constitution

'We're Going to Light Up This World': National Day of Prayer to Lift God's Word to Combat Darkness

Trump's TIME Interview: Leftist Media is Triggered, But 'Liberty-Minded Americans' Give a Thumbs-Up

Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner

Aimee Herd, Editor