Rev. E. Anderson
WINNING THE SERGEANT
Rev. Ivor Powell
Britain was facing the darkest period of World War II, for Dunkirk had temporarily destroyed the battle strength of the free nations. The armada of small craft had rescued thousands of our valiant men1 but everyone realized that the enemy stood at our gates. At any moment new ‘savagery might be unleashed against us, and our beloved nation would need to fight to the death. Yet the days passed by, and through the courageous sacrifice of the Battle of Britain pilots, the advance of the enemy was stopped. Then our weary soldiers were given a respite, and contingents were posted to various places throughout the country. Twelve of these fellows – a part of the Third Field Bakery came to an empty cottage on the outskirts of Barry, South Wales. Among the number was one Christian boy – Private Roy Wheeler. He had a difficult time.
I first made contact with him on a Sunday morning, when his heavy army shoes shattered the peaceful silence of our church service. My people looked around to, discover the cause of the noise; they smiled when they saw this awkward soldier trying to creep to a seat. He seemed as dainty as a bulldozer! After our communion service, I talked with this stranger, and my heart rejoiced as I listened to his testimony. Throughout the difficult retreat to Dunkirk, the Lord had helped him; when his life seemed to be in jeopardy, he clung tenaciously to the promises of God, and had been brought through safely. Some of my~ church members entertained him that first Sunday, and afterwards he was one of us.
About four or five weeks after his initial appearance1 he came into the church and sat in his usual seat. My people smiled their welcome, and the calm, restful atmosphere recovered from the shock of the hobnails! Then within a minute the door opened, and another four army boots invaded the sanctuary. Hearing the familiar sounds, Private Wheeler looked around and gasped; his sergeant and corporal were occupying the back seats. I found it difficult to control my mirth when I looked at the boy’s face; he was utterly bewildered, and wondered what he had done. I think he expected the N.C.O.s to take him out. However, as they continued to sit quietly he regained composure, and tried to listen to the Word of God. When the sergeant and the corporal responded to the challenge of Christ, and publicly accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, Private Wheeler seemed as a man who had been concussed: he was in a daze. And then the sergeant told his story.
“Sir,” he said to me, we all wondered why Roy was so happy. He was different from the rest of us. He never drank nor swore, nor gambled. All he desired was permission to have Sunday off. We knew he was religious, but that didn’t count for much as far as we were concerned. This chap had only one interest in life – he wanted Sunday off. The other fellows traded on this, and consequently he had to do all the dirty jobs. Yet he didn’t mind. He would work all the week, and do anything for anybody as long as someone would work for him on Sundays. We ragged him; we tried to tease him; some fellows would been delighted to make him swear, but the boy never upset. Nothing could disturb him as long as could get Sunday off. Sir, this was too much for us. The corporal and I decided to follow him. We wondered what he was doing every Sunday. We trailed him the miles into town, and saw him enter this building. We came after him, and that is how we arrived. But now we know why he was so happy. He knew Christ as his Saviour.”
During the many weeks these men remained in our district they came to our church; and before they left, nearly all had boldly witnessed for Christ. They had won by the Christ-like living of their comrade. Later, sergeant wrote from North Africa asking for a Bible, telling again of his great joy as he continued to serve.
Thirteen years later, I met Mr. Roy Wheeler in the al Baptist Church, Toowoomba, Australia. When he reminded me of that Sunday morning in Wales, I marvelled again at the influence of a boy whose Christian example won the esteem of all his fellow soldiers. The Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Barnabas Ministries UK 