God's Invasion Army
After
meeting Mormon youth who had dedicated 18 months to proselytizing for their
faith, Ed Nelson, director of Baptist General 
Conference visitation evangelism,
created God's Invasion Army (later Evangelism Corps). He recalls, 'The
only requirement was that they were truly born again and would be willing to
spend a year giving themselves as a living sacrifice to God." Thirty
five post high school youth volunteered in September 1948, the kick off year.
Between 1948 and 1987, youth participated in visitation
evangelism, children's meetings and public services. Thousands of people
made first-time decisions for Christ.
"God only knows what fruit this ministry bore," he
says. For example, Kenneth Hanna, who grew up on a Saskatchewan farm,
joined God's Invasion Army. Hana became vice president and dean of
education at Moody Bible Institute and later president of Bryan University,
Dayton, Tennessee.
The above picture and article was copied from THE STANDARD - June 2002
In the history of The
Columbia Conference, the coming of God's Invasion Army was an event of
importance as it was wherever the G. I. A. "invaded" an area.
WHAT IS GOD'S INVASION ARMY
Not long after the end of World War 11, Rev.
Edward O. Nelson was addressing a young people's rally in the Middle West, and
at that time challenged young people to give a year to Christian work.
If young people could give a year of their life to serve their country, may it
not be reasonable that they give a year to serve God?
To his own amazement there were many who responded, Had
they understood the full implication of his challenge?
"Do you realize what this means?"
"We think so."
"A whole year to be given unreservedly to go out in
direct soul-winning activity. Hard work. No pay at all."
"We understand."
In the fall of 1948, a training period of a few weeks was
instituted and held in the Temple Church, Duluth, Minnesota. Thirty-two
young people received the training comparable to the "basic training"
servicemen of World War 11 knew so well. Intensive.
Rugged.
Paul Obinger, pastor and brother of George Obinger came to
God's Invasion Army to help them remember scripture. They were able to
stand up before congregations and quote chapter after chapter of God's Word.
Who were they? Youths, most of them about the age of twenty.
Among them, some a little older, businessmen, nurses, teachers, students,
mechanics--young people from every walk of life.
These young people, with Edward Nelson as leader the first
year, went into communities that had indicated that they desired to have the
God's Invasion Army. Visitation work and witnessing for Christ was a major
part of their work. Soul winning was their goal.
They came to Columbia Conference territory and spent a good
part of the summer in that territory, They were well received, and the
general opinion was that they had done well. They had started something
old as the Gospel itself and yet with a new, fresh approach in their own
generation.
The God's Invasion Army has been active with gratifying
results in most, if not all, areas in the United States and Canada.
The "Army" was in training with Central Baptist
Church, Tacoma, has trained at the Mount Pleasant Church, British Columbia.
The above account was copied from page 61 of Gordon Carlson's
book, "Seventy-Five Years History" of the Columbia Conference.