SAGU Admissions
The Time, It is Changing
By Robert Harden, D.Min.
Dean of Harrison School of Graduate Studies
rharden@sagu.edu
“The time it is a changing.” Many of us remember the lyrics of this song written by Bob Dylan in 1964. Those were the words that were passing through my mind when I witnessed a retired Colonel from the United States Army and a retired Four Star General from the Army of the former Soviet Union as they were agreeing that their new weapon was The Bible. The occasion was the ordination of my friend and student David Pointer JD Colonel, Judge Advocate General Corp, U.S. Retired. I believe that David was as pleased with this new title of “Reverend” as he was with any promotion that he ever received in the military.
Before me were two men who at one time were enemies with a common mission, to protect their homeland. Now they were both in the same Army, with the same commanding officer, with the same mission, using the same weapon, the Word of God.
My wife and I sat amazed as we heard the testimony of Deputy Chief Commander of the Soviet Union’s 100,000 combat troops in Russia’s war with Afghanistan, General Vycheslav Borisov, who was a feared military strong-man and communist leader. He was the one given the code name “General War.” A $1,500,000 reward was offered for his execution. But as his helicopter was hit by enemy fire, he cried out to God for mercy. Crashing into the mountains, the General miraculously emerged as the only survivor. He then became the first Soviet Commander to turn his back on Communism and boldly announce his faith in Jesus Christ.
During his sermon at Mountain Creek Church, General Borisov told of how God miraculously saved him from a certain death in a helicopter crash, and how, in what he believed to be his last moment, he remembered the words of Christian soldiers in his Army who, when they were persecuted by him, told him that his only hope was Jesus Christ. He told of how he cried out to Jesus and was spared. He has now given out over 4 million Bibles to Russian soldiers and actively preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ.
At the end of the service we watched a video of the RedGuard sing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Not a dry eye remained in the church. We were all praising God for the miracle we had witnessed. Pastor Robert Summers and his church have been praying for the former Soviet Union since the early 1970’s and are now reaping the benefit of that harvest.
The times are changing. Are you ready? Has God been leading you to continue your education so that you can be ready for the change? Please let us help you be all that you can be for the Army of the Lord.