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The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
Newsletter & Bible Study
Fellow officers, sheepdogs, warriors, spouses and all who support us:

CENTURION/FCPO-Metro Denver is Moving!
Let me start off by sharing some exciting news for our Colorado Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers chapter (FCPO Chapter 217): While our "cop church" fellowship has been meeting in our home for the last three years, God has long put it on my heart that we need to be under the covering of our home church (as we were with the fellowships I planted at Calvary South Denver and Calvary Aurora). Now with our move to Calvary Chapel Castle Rock (CCR), this is finally once again coming to fruition! CCR is strongly pro-police, Pastor Dave Love is a fellow police chaplain and there are quite a few officers who already attend there. Accordingly, starting at this coming month, we will begin meeting in the 4th and 5th grade classroom (modular building just to the right of the main church entrance) staring October 6th (we will continue to meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month) from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. Now this is going to be a kind of "re-boot" for our fellowship but I can't wait for what God will have for us here. If you're in the Denver metro area, join us (spouses are encouraged to attend with their officer, and we're open to all current, past or future officers and military personnel as well). If you want more info, just reach out.

Miss our last newsletter and Bible study? It purposely serves as an introduction to this one! Here again is Samson -- A Cop's Story. As always, I re-share these newsletters on my social media feeds (Facebook and Twitter) and eventually on our website as well. I also strongly encourage you to share these newsletters with others (with a "Code 3" sense of urgency, mind you) as part of our Great Commission "call for service."

Finally, we covet your prayers as we descend upon Elkhart, Indiana in the coming days for this year's much-anticipated Breaching the Barricade Law Enforcement Conference and Officer Appreciation Day events. I'll be sharing updates on my Facebook page.

Especially in these difficult days for us as a profession, let's be sure to watch each other's "6" while staying "front sight focused" on our Lord and King.

MC

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RESOURCE


Police officer and author Jonathan Hickory (Break Every Chain) is having a film made about his story that we believe will be a tremendous blessing and resource for officers and their spouses/families. Here is how you can help and be a part of this film founded on faith: Break Every Chain -- the Movie.



PRAYER REQUESTS

(1) Continue to pray for our nation and our God-ordained profession in light of the Last Days issues we're dealing with. Friends, we are facing what is perhaps the most important election in our nation's history -- literally a choice between keeping our Constitutional Republic or the end of this miracle of a nation through godless socialism and communism (and perhaps even the possibility of civil war). Accordingly, be sure you vote biblically and PRAY (including but not limited to national repentance, and for God to save and restore our land).

(2) Please pray for Jim Bontrager and his team (Diana and I included) as we serve at the 2020 Breaching the Barricade Law Enforcement Conference and Officer Appreciation Day events in Indiana this week.

(3) Pray for Marine turned cop and chaplain, Ray "Gunner" (as in Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt.) Fairman, who is scheduled for surgery this morning (Monday. September 28).

(4) Please pray for a former officer (Doug) who has been laid off and is having great difficulty finding employment He and his wife are struggling mentally, physically and financially.

(5) EPD K-9 Officer Frank Hurst covets your prayers for his K-9 partner Radar who is having surgery to remove a mass tomorrow.


How can I pray for YOU? Just reach out and I'll share your requests here (or not -- just let me know what and how much you want me to share).



UPCOMING EVENTS


(1) As I shared above, starting thus coming October (as in next week, October 6th) our FCPO-Metro Denver (Chapter #217) "cop church" fellowship will begin meeting every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at Calvary Chapel Castle Rock from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (same days, same time, new location). Stay tuned for more and feel free to contact me for more info.

(2) The GlobalOne 12th Annual NM Place of Worship Security Conference is set for October 17th, 2020 in Albuquerque, NM. Jimmy Meeks from Sheepdog Training will be the guest speaker.    



*Have a prayer request, event or announcement you would like included here? Need help/prayer? Email me and I'll include them here.  




God is Our Strength & Power!

"God is my strength and power. He makes my way perfect."

2 Samuel 22:33


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One of my signature verses is 2 Samuel 22:33 -- "God is my strength and power, and He maketh my way perfect." Especially given what we're dealing with today, it is more important than ever to understand "The Source" of our strength and power.

As most of you know, I am constantly encouraging us to TRAIN (meaning physically dragging our tired behinds to the gym, dojo, etc. Being physically fit is vital to our physical and emotional survival in law enforcement and, frankly, life in general. That said, there is also an even more important spiritual side to this concept (one that King David understood well). Let's break it down:

How do you react to situations when you suddenly discover you do not have any power? By "power," I am referring to the power or strength necessary to accomplish something that must be done. Imagine this scenario: you are suddenly in a deadly force encounter and must respond in kind. You pull the trigger and there is no "bang;" "Rack, tap..." but still no "bang!" Strip your mag, rack your slide a couple times, insert a new mag (still under fire, mind you) and still no "bang?" Now what? Back up weapon? Maybe, maybe not. Or perhaps you're beginning your watch and you get an "Officer Needs Assistance!" call call only to find that that you got "nothin" when you turn the key in the ignition. In short, even if you've been trained to think outside the box and never surrender, you're all but powerless (at least for the moment). What then? What NOW? What do you do when you lack the power to perform the task?
 
2 Samuel 22 is a psalm of praise in which David gives thanks, honor, and credit to God for delivering him from his many enemies. It is NOT a false "name it and claim it" passage but rather an acknowledgement that God directed David's path and gave him success in impossible situations and against superior foes because David was obedient and sought God's will first and foremost. 
 
The Bible offers a unique perspective on this concept of God's power. God promises His people (this is important...I'll come back to it in a minute) that along with our own "power" -- talents, skills, physical strength, expertise, armor, weapons and equipment -- He will give us the power we need to answer life's "calls for service" He "dispatches" us to. Accordingly, let's look at just four main points: 
 
(1) As believers (true Christians), God is calling us to be dependent on Him for the resources we need. Many of us have been trained to be self-sufficient, self-reliant and independent in our duties. However, the Christian's job description demands dependence on Him:  "I am the vine; you are the branches....apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

(2) God will empower us to accomplish what needs to be done. In times of great stress and duress, we can find comfort in the reality that God will provide the power to accomplish whatever He has called us to do (His will vs. our own): "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).
 
(3) We must rely NOT on our own power alone (it will eventually fail), but rather on the power of God. As followers of "The Way" (what 1st Century Christians were called based on John 14:6 where Jesus declares, "I am the way...") we must be humble enough to recognize our own powerlessness and that we must turn to God for the power to carry out His will. "...yet by God's power we will live in Him to serve you" (2 Corinthians 13:4).
 
(4)  God will provide us what we need when we need it. God may not always provide resources in advance, but He does provide them when needed. "...do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit" (Mark 13:11).
 
Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly places His warriors in positions where they MUST rely totally on His power to accomplish the tasks He has set before them. In fact, He often goes out of His way to ensure that we will recognize that it is by His power alone that the victory takes place. Today's short study is a reminder that our Lord is still calling on us to rely on His power to live and serve victoriously. 

Examples? Here are just a few (of many):


(2) One of our signature passages is Psalm 144:1 in which God tells us,

Blessed be the Lord my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle

Notice that is is not, "Blessed be MC who trains himself for war and his fingers for battle." NO! It is God who will train His faithful and prepare us for the spiritual battles of this life. When we depend on ourselves, we can be assured that failure will soon follow!

(3) Our salvation! We can't earn it or be "good" enough for it. We MUST instead rely on Him alone: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. -- Ephesians 2:8-9.


What is your response to God's biblical promises that He will provide His followers with the power and resources to perform the mission He has called us to do? Are you doing things "my way" or His? Are you taking for yourself the glory that rightfully belongs to God? If your answer is former, let me encourage you to repent and turn to Him today.

So do you know Him? Are you one of His people? A follower of "The Way?" Are you following His path for your life (versus your own). Are you in fact saved or do you embrace the false hope that you "deserve" Heaven because of your so-called "good" deeds? That your own strength will see you through? If so, I can't encourage you enough to scroll down to the Know God? section below and surrender to Him in faith today!


Let's stay front sight focused on Christ our Captain and finish strong in His strength and power!

MC


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KNOW GOD?

(1) Do you continue to hold to an utterly false hope that you can "earn" or otherwise "badge" your way into heaven and escape hell because you consider yourself to be a "good" cop or a "good person" (the "I'm good" mess)? That you can be "good" enough without knowing Christ as Lord and Savior? That mere "belief" is enough to "save" you (as our Lord, through James, tells us, "...even the demons believe, and tremble" -- James 2:19)? That you somehow "deserve" heaven because of your so-called "good" service in law enforcement? Take  the  Good Person Test  and see how you do!  

(2) Jesus' first recorded words in His earthly adult ministry included, "Repent and believe in the Good News..." -- Mark 1:15. To repent is a "180" -- a complete, radical change of mind and heart as it relates to our sin (as God defines it). To "believe"  (pisteuo in the original Greek -- a different word than James used in James 2:19) as Jesus intends it here is to wholeheartedly trust and surrender your life to Him in faith in the same way we have "faith" that our body armor will do its job against the rounds it is intended to stop; that a well-maintained weapon will function properly when used in against criminals intent on destroying us or others; or that our parachute will open when it is supposed to on a combat jump (we stake our very lives on it)! For more, see What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

(3) This same concept of "believe" (the saving kind) is further revealed in John 3:1-21  where Jesus says, "... you must be born again." Again, note our Lord's emphasis on the word "must" (not "may" or "should" or even "someday"): this is ultimately the life-saving AND life-changing  personal relationship (and NOT "religion") with Jesus Christ that I stress here every week (see What does it mean to be a born again Christian?). HINT: there is no other kind.

(4) NOW then, with this in place, go to:  How can I be saved? 

(5) Need more? Then check out this powerful, short video message from Maj. Travis Yates Cops and Salvation

(6) Have you now said "yes" to Jesus as Lord and Savior but are wondering what to do next? The "now what" is also vital in dealing with the issues that contribute to police suicide, PTSi and more. Click on,  Now what?  

Questions? I'm here to serve -- contact me.    
MC



ABOUT US


The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry is a national, FCPO-affiliated, non-denominational, evangelical Christian outreach to our own in law enforcement. These newsletters and profession-focused Bible studies are part of this effort and past editions can be found on our website and social media  feeds. Our desire is (1) to be used of God to WIN the lost in our profession to a saving faith in Christ; (2) to DISCIPLE the Christian officer; (3) SEND out discipled (trained) officers to "repeat" 1 and 2; (4) to SUPPORT police marriages; (5) to transform our God-ordained profession by infusing it with all-in Christian officers; and (6) to IMPACT (reduce) police suicides and PTS with the Cure found in Christ Jesus alone. In keeping with these 6 points, please feel free to adapt these messages for your own individual or group use and share them with others. 

The Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO-USA) exists to provide biblical support ("backup"), accountability and iron sharpens iron fellowship for Christian officers first in the U.S. and throughout the world as well. Our Denver-area FCPO chapter (FCPO Chapter #217) is a Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry affiliate. Locally, we generally meet every 1st and 3rd Tuesday evening of the month at Calvary Chapel Castle Rock starting at 6:30 PM for profession-focused, uncompromising Bible study, prayer and "iron sharpens iron" fellowship (and spouses are both welcome and encouraged to attend with their LEO). Contact me for further details.

The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry is led by veteran police officer, chaplain and evangelist Michael "MC" Williams. MC is an active (33-years and counting) sworn officer/investigator and sought-after instructor and speaker at churches (including the popular Centurion Church Security Seminar), retreats and both police and civilian training conferences and seminars around the country. Contact MC via email for details on how to book him for your event.

Finally, we covet your prayer and financial support for this vital ministry outreach. Reference the latter, you can give in two ways:
(1) Send a check to the address posted below.
or
(2) Go the the FCPO Giving Page, select "Donation to a Local Chapter" from the drop-down menu and then designate "FCPO #217" or the "Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry." All donations are tax-deductible.


The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry, P.O. Box 630854, Littleton, CO 80163 | Email Address | (720) 371-1022 | Website