Torch, Spring 1991

A Chaplain Equipping The Troops S unday , February 24, 1991. The 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment was poised on the southern border of Iraq. Fear and apprehension gripped the hearts of the 1,000 soldiers as they waited for the order to move out. Chaplain Ted Nichols recalls, "I had prepared a great go-to-war sermon for the men in my unit that Sunday. I was slightly miffed," he continues, tongue– in-cheek, "that I did not get to preach it because our attack orders were moved up. "So I drove my Humvee scout vehicle out to each of the subordinate tank units waiting on the forward line. With the permission of each com– mander, I got on the internal radio frequency of each unit and said a few words of encouragement. Then I prayed for them and claimed the promise God gave to Moses in Exodus 23:20, 'Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way , and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. ' " Nichols told the men that this was their special battle verse, and then he informed each commander that an angel had been assigned to his unit. Shortly afterwards the order was given and all units burst across the Iraqi border. Nichols followed the tanks in his Humvee, lacking the protection afforded by armor plating, but having prayed on the armor of God. The assault was successful beyond anyone 's dreams. They fought 200 miles into Iraqi territory and suffered only light casualties. "Even the men hardest to the Gospel admitted that Someone must have helped them that day," says Nichols. "I saw miracle after miracle of God 's mighty hand of power and protection." The war was over in four days, and the chaplain conducted thanksgiving and praise services for huge crowds of grateful men. "The whole Persian Gulf War was a bittersweet experience for me," explains Nichols. "I hated it. I was away from family and friends for six months in a hostile desert. I hope I never have to go back there. Yet, it was also the greatest experience of my life as a chaplain. I felt privileged to be there when so many of the guys recognized their need for a personal relationship with God. "Like the three principles of real estate-location, location, location– evangelism 's three principles are timing, timing, timing. "Back in the States, soldiers were not as receptive to the Gospel," he remem– bers . "Military life as a subculture is a very difficult lifestyle for young people, particularly the single guys. They come straight from home, many for the first time. They get moved around a lot and never establish roots in one place, much less in a church. Then they have to contend with their peers who like to party when not at work. The soldiers who come from Christian homes very often give up their convictions. Married guys and gals also have it tough, espe– cially when the family is transferred or left behind. This is why I entered the chaplaincy , so that I could be in a position to positively influence these people at their point of need." Nichols relates that a chaplain' s work in peacetime involves counseling, teaching Bible studies, and providing worship services on Sundays. For him, the witnessing aspect is one of lifestyle evangelism. "My goal is to bring Christ to soldiers and soldiers to Christ." "I establish credibility in the workplace," he tells. "I work with them every day, helping them with their struggles with military life and interper– sonal relationships. I spend a great deal of time dealing with marriage and family issues. "Then when our regiment was deployed on October 1, I went with them. This solidified credibility. It wasn ' t, ' See ya later, men . I'll be praying for you.' " Nichols relates that during the nearly four months in the desert waiting to go to war, the troops fought boredom and apprehension . "The time was right. They were ready to consider spiritual things ," he says. "I made the rounds, just sitting down and talking to indi– viduals." The reality of the Gospel was brought into perspective as soldiers became reflective about life and its brevity. " I told them that God had a plan for their lives but that without Christ they would be off track and never know the peace and joy of God ' s perfect will. I am convinced that God establishes divine appointments for each individual to come face to face with his need of salvation. As the only chaplain to the 1,000 soldiers in the unit, I wanted to be there for those divine appointments." Nichols' regiment returned from the Gulf in March. While there, he saw nearly 50 soldiers pray to receive Christ as personal Savior. Some of those new believers reproduced themselves by leading their buddies to Christ. Two of his men feel the Lord is calling them into full-time Christian service. Timing, timing, timing. Chaplain Nichols was ready at the right time with a credible life, witness, and message. He now has a new appreciation for the power of God as addressed in Ephesians 3:20 and concludes, "God worked, as He always does, using an unremarkable servant to accomplish remarkable things. " A 1975 graduate of Cedarville College, Major Ted Nichols is a chaplain in the U.S. Army, presently stationed in El Paso, Texas.