First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.     – I Timothy 2:1-4

I went to Clearwater, Florida, last week to visit retired Colonel Myrl Allinder. It had been almost four decades since I had seen the man we used to call “Major” during our Saturday night meetings at the log cabin in Oakton, Virginia.

Myrl Allinder made quite an impact on me when I was young. Next to my wife, he stands out as the person God used most to turn me around. Myrl would lead us in worship, share a funny, personal story or two, and then tell us something he had learned about the Lord. One moment he would have us laughing out loud, and a minute later we would be convicted to our core by his message. His leadership was truly life changing for many of us.

I wasn’t aware of the Major’s accomplishments during the 1960s. I didn’t know how he had risked his life in Vietnam or that he had rescued hundreds of orphans in 1969…

…with a couple of C-47 Chinook helicopters…

Myrl never boasted about those things. He simply demonstrated his love for Jesus, and shared what Jesus had done for us (and him). And he never minced words when he told us what the Lord expected from His followers.

Over the years I’ve thought about Myrl at least once a week, but it didn’t occur that I should pray for him. Oh, I pray general prayers for those serving in the military, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. But because Myrl and I didn’t stay in touch, I had no idea how much he needed prayer.

While we were apart and Myrl was serving in the Marine Corps, he worked with a handful of other leaders to prepare a global strategic war plan for the Chief of Naval Operations. He taught at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He commanded several outfits and worked for the Secretary of Defense. He briefed admirals, generals and congressional leaders, and was awarded the second highest award in peace time.

But none of these things mattered to an Air Force general at MacDill Air Force Base. The general didn’t like the fact that Myrl regularly read the Bible early in the morning, before work, with some other men. So one Monday morning in May, 1986, the general told Myrl, “You’re through,” and claimed Myrl broke the law when he brought a Bible into a federal building, held unauthorized meetings in his office, showed favoritism to fellow believers, and “persecuted” those who held different beliefs.

These events forced Myrl to retire. After serving the Marine Corps for so many years, all of his accomplishments were forgotten because he believed in God and demonstrated it – on his own time, before work — with others.

But God works everything out for good, and after Myrl retired, he went on missions trips around the world sharing his faith. And he continues to serve the Lord by ministering to prisoners at the Pinellis County Jail and through the Suncoast Haven of Rest Rescue Mission.

Myrl shared some things with me that I’d like to tell you about. As always, he didn’t mince words, so sit down…

…to be continued…