Secret Weapon

Strength for Service – Intro:

Hello, I’m Reed Galin and this is another UMTV Web Brief.

U.S. troops fighting in Iraq today are using tools and technology that soldiers in past wars might have only imagined. But there are still some old-fashioned needs for those in combat, not the least of which is spiritual sustenance. A young man in California has ideas about helping in that regard – helping by the book.

Strength for Service – Story:

A million soldiers carried this daily devotional during World War II, and Evan Hunsberger would like to see it used by a million more.

Evan Hunsberger: “What I’m asking is maybe everybody raise enough money to buy a single book.”

The California teen wants every U.S. service person to have a copy of Strength for Service to God and Country. The United Methodist Church, which originally published the text, has committed to raising a total of $3 million to make that happen.

Larry Coppock / United Methodist Men: “This is a resource that has the potential to impact so many people in a spiritual way.”

Evan: “It can be presented to the servicemen, firefighters or policemen or somebody like that.”

Evan chose to update the text as part of an Eagle Scout project and to honor a family member.

Evan: “Originally, my grandfather carried this book during World War II and the Korean conflict.”

Evan’s grandfather, Eugene, was a Navy corpsman who often read from the pocket-sized prayer book to console dying soldiers.

Evan: “…and give them some comfort in their last hours.”

The book went out of print soon after World War II, but not out of his grandfather’s life.

Evan: “He pretty much carried it his entire life.”

Evan spent three years gathering 40 additional passages from women, people of color and non-Christian faiths—none of which were included in the original version. The Department of Defense has OK’d the distribution of the books, once funds are raised to print the many copies needed in these unsettling times.

Evan: “My only regret about this is it’s going to people that are in harm’s way. But this is something that the people who are in harm’s way need to have.”

Strength for Service – Tag:

Evan’s grandfather thought it was a great idea that Evan was working on the updated book— although Eugene Hunsberger did not live to see the project completed.

Soldiers in Vietnam did not have access to the devotional since it had gone out of print by then. Now, it’ll take $3 million to print enough books for troops around the world today.

Cross Connections – Intro:

It’s Christianity’s most common symbol, a reminder of the crucifixion of Jesus. One man in Alabama has decided to pass that reminder on, in the form of homemade crosses.

He’s a former commercial airline pilot, now spending a lot of time sawing logs.

Cross Connections – Story:

Bill Erkes: “This is cedar I’ve sawed up over a period of years.”

Since retirement, Bill Erkes’ wood shop has been humming.

Bill Erkes: “I work by myself here, and I can make about a 1,000 a month.”

His days are spent building sturdy cedar crosses, and then giving them away.

Bill Erkes: “It’s my way of spreading God’s word.”

This millwork ministry began years ago when Bill made a few crosses for his grandchildren. Others in his United Methodist church took notice and demand for the homemade crosses grew.

Bill Erkes: “In the 12 years I’ve been making them, I’ve gone over 20,000 of this particular size.”

Two hands and a dozen machines come together to magically alter the cedar. There’s no devil in these details.

Bill Erkes: “Anything I do for the Lord, I don’t want to do amateurish.”

It’s just two pieces of wood expertly joined together, yet Erkes says there’s power in this symbol of Christian faith.

Bill Erkes: “I have had one young lady tell me of her personal incident where, in a desperate moment of depression, the cross on the mantel was the one thing that kept her going.”

From this rural Alabama workshop, the crosses are shipped free of charge to anyone who asks. Missionaries have carried them from New Zealand to Mozambique. Yet, nowhere will you find the craftsman’s name.

Bill Erkes: “I don’t want people to look at that cross and think of Bill Erkes. I want them to think of the fellow that made the tree.”

Cross Connections – Tag:

Bill Erkes is used to working with his hands. He once steered 747s for a living.

On the next UMTV Web Brief, celebrating Easter morning with music and movement.

“People just say how much that it’s touched them, how much it adds to the meaning of the words.”

Thanks for watching. Make it a good week.