A Revival on Ship

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
—JAMES 5:16

THE FOLLOWING occurred on board the steamer, Canada, during the Civil War. Union soldiers sailed on her passage from Dubuque to St. Louis. While on board, a prayer meeting turned into a refreshing experience through the godly prayers of young soldiers and an elderly gentleman.

In the evening while many of the passengers were engaged in conversation, others whiling away their times . . . a young man seated himself at one of the tables, and engaged in reading his Bible. Another, and still another took their places around this temporary altar, until nearly all of that little band of soldiers, numbering about twenty, were reading the Scriptures. An aged man took his station in their midst. He had a pious and venerable air, for his hoary [silver] locks proclaimed that many a winter had passed over his head. There, those farming boys, with that old man, formed a group, whose actions indeed were worthy of all commendation. The creaking machinery of the boat, the dirge-like music of the wind, was loud; yet, above the clatter, all things else, we know those boys were heard in heaven, and their prayers will be answered! . . . parents and friends of home, fear not for such brave sons, who, relying on Heaven, are not ashamed nor afraid to praise God, and do battle for the Star-Spangled Banner.

When Christian people gather to pray, good things happen. In the story above, it all started with one young man reading his Bible in public. Others came around the table joining the soldier boy. Soon an elderly gentleman sat down with them and their Scripture reading turned to prayer. Then their prayers turned to praise.

Next time you visit someone in a hospital, nursing home, or restaurant, try taking your Bible. Interesting things happen in the presence of God’s powerful Word.

This excerpt is from Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the Civil War, by Terry Tuley. Published by Living Ink Books (An imprint of AMG Publishers). middot; 2006. ISBN 13: 978-089957043-3. To purchase a copy, visit your local bookstore, or click here:www.amgpublishers.com.

This excerpt is copyright-protected material and may not be reproduced in any way without obtaining written permission from AMG Publishers.