By Richard A. Roberts
ALAMEDA, California--A year ago we started a small group Bible study where I work in Alameda.
Here's how it started. As a computer systems analyst of Unisys Corp., I take care of user problems. Unisys contracted me to the U.S. Coast Guard in Oakland and on Coast Guard Island in Alameda.
In May 1996, on Coast Guard Island, Chaplain James Glaspie started a book review on Men Are From Mars and Women Are From Venus.
Members of the group brought up issues they could find no solutions to, so I asked them if they believed in God. They all said yes.
I then explained that solutions to the issues raised can be found in the Bible. I related what Jesus said we should do.
At the end of the meeting, I asked if anyone would be interested in participating in a small group Bible study at work after our current book review was over. Everyone said yes.
Since the National Day of Prayer was the following week, I asked if we could observe it here at work. Once again, they agreed.
The next week we conducted a National Day of Prayer observance in the chapel on Coast Guard Island.
During the intercessory prayer, someone who did not attend our book review asked God to start a Bible study on Coast Guard Island. I took that to mean that God had opened the door for us.
We started a small group Bible study two weeks later, meeting once a week during lunch. For the first two months, we had seven regular members at every meeting and, even to this day, someone new came nearly every time.
Nine to 17 people attend every week, sometimes with a friend.
Some people who never came to our meetings told the Human Relations and Civil Rights Committee that I forced my religious beliefs on them.
The Admiral's Office told me to stop sending out electronic mail messages about Bible study until it could be determined if I was violating any Coast Guard commandant instructions, or anyone's civil rights.
Our small group prayed about the situation. The next week, the chief of Legal Division of the Pacific Area attended our Bible study for the first time. He encouraged me to continue the studies.
I began to see clearly how God has left before me an open door that no one can shut (Revelation 3:8).
Later, when I was teaching a user how to print instructions from a new program I installed, I printed at random a Commandant Instruction from the computer.
Lifting it out of the printer, I noticed the subject was "Religious Ministries within the Coast Guard."
It was the official word on the subject: "It is CG [Coast Guard] policy that Commanding Officers shall provide for the free exercise of religion by all personnel of their commands."
I took copies of it to the Admiral's, Human Relations and Civil Rights offices. If we stand firm for Jesus, he will take a stand for us, too. If God is for us, who can go against us?
Had it not been for the changes that God brought about in our church, and the understanding he gave us about other Christians in other churches, I wouldn't have thought of starting a small group Bible study at work, especially with people of different religions.
Thank God, by his love, grace, mercy and forgiveness, for initiating it. God is good.
We have more than 52 people of different religions, races and cultures who rotate in and out. We are still growing.
Let us boldly go forward, because God already went before us and prepared the way.
Aug. 19, 1997, WN, page 13
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