OS91 attends Responder Life Florida Dinner

L to R: Trey Doty, L A Doyle, Ronnie Rivera, Chris Green and Terry Hassle

Last evening Ed and Mary attended the Heroes Dinner, welcoming Responder Life, a Ministry affiliated with Focus on the Family, to the Tampa Bay community of Florida. Responder Life, http://www.responderlife.com/ an outreach to Police, Fire/Rescue, EMS, Federal Agents and 9-1-1 Dispatchers has recently taken Firefighter/Paramedic Ronnie Rivera, Founder of Emergency Workers for Christ, as Responder Life Florida's Regional Head. When this joining took place, Ronnie introduced Responder Life to OS91: http://operationsafety91.blogspot.com/2012/01/os91-meets-with-responder-life.html  Welcoming all the Dinner Guests was Ronnie Rivera, now head of Responder Life in Florida, pictured above. Behind Ronnie are from left to right: Trey Doty, Executive VP and COO of Responder Life in the U.S., L A Doyle who is head of Responder Life Canada, Chris Green, President and CEO of Responder Life U.S. and Terry Hassle, Board Chair and Spokesperson of Responder Life in Florida, who so graciously hosted our delicious Heroes Dinner at her beautiful home.

This partnership with Responder Life opens new doors to Operation Safety 91, enabling us to reach literally thousands more ...tens of thousands more Responders with the life saving message of Psalm 91. Ronnie connected OS91 with Dr. Ann Brown of the Joint Commission on Chaplain Accreditation and Education who attended last evening's dinner. Dr. Brown immediately welcomed with open arms this partnership with Operation Safety 91 to reach the Responders through the Chaplains who go through her Program www.jccae.com. 2,000 Psalm 91 cards were put into her hands, plus the Psalm 91 books. We also connected with the wife of a Military Chaplain currently in the heart of Afghanistan so that we can send over Psalm 91 cards for his Troops and get the Psalm 91 books into his hands.

Deputy gives testimony to Dinner Guests

Two current Responders spoke: the first was a Deputy, very close to retiring from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, who spoke about how the Lord was so very much a part of his work. Secondly, a young woman Deputy from Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, who overcame being shot 3 times during a 911 call because of her faith in Jesus Christ, gave her testimony. All present were inspired by these courageous Responders and their heart for Jesus Christ. They are not ashamed of the Gospel.  Ronnie wrapped up the Testimonies with his own: in the past three weeks overcoming blood clots to his heart and brain resulting in paralysis of his entire left side, now gone...because of his faith in Jesus Christ and Psalm 91!

L to R: Ronnie, Mary, miraculously spared Deputy

OS91 looks forward to a very fruitful partnership with Responder Life and welcomes the outreach to an ever growing number of Responders through this Ministry and those with whom it is associated. To date, well over a quarter million Psalm 91 cards have been given to Responders through and with the help of our partners. "Together we can do so much more than separately."

Email Request for Psalm 91 cards received by OS91

What a joy to receive this by email: "Your Psalm 91 cards are very special. I picked a couple of them up from a Christian Firefighter booth at the recent Firehouse World conference in San Diego. I would like to request a supply of them to share with my coworkers. Our faith in God is important to continue to do the work that we do. I appreciate your support. Thank you."

M M, NREMTP

COL Danny McKnight, OS91 National Spokesperson, speaks at Orlando Fire Conference

COL Danny McKnight Speaking at Orlando Fire Conference

Today we joined over 1,000 Firefighters from all over the U.S. at Holiday Inn Universal in Orlando, FL, for the opening morning speaking session of the Orlando Fire Conference. Guest speaker was Operation Safety 91's National Spokesperson, COL Danny McKnight, US Army (Ret.), Ranger Ground Commander of the Battle Of Mogadishu, portrayed in the movie, "Black Hawk Down". COL McKnight inspired all present with his story and his teaching on leadership, professionalism and success. COL taught the Firefighters that a true leader leads from the front. He emphasized TOTAL fitness: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. It was such a joy to hear him share about the Psalm 91 cards: "I believe they are very important!" And pulling his own Psalm 91 card out of his pocket he said, "Here's mine! I carry it with me wherever I go! Because it is the ultimate Scripture in the Bible about Divine Protection...." Then speaking about OS91: "Ed and Mary started Operation Safety 91 because of YOU: Firefighters, EMS, EMT, Police and Law Enforcement and Military. And I am proud to be their National Spokesperson!" Also available were the Psalm 91 books.

COL McKnight autographs his new book release, 

Streets of Mogadishu - Leadership at its Best, Political Correctness at its Worst

http://dannymcknight.com/bookdvd.htm
COL's dear wife, Linda, is in the left foreground

More autographs after COL's talk

What a joy to meet with some local Firefighters we know!

Mary and Ed with Orlando Fire Department's Kamalu Kong

http://islandvisionproductions.com/

Firefighter Jimmie from Port St. Lucie, FL

This Firefighter Jimmie Myers told Mary that two of our partners, Chaplain Jack Favorite and LT Tommy Neiman (Port St. Lucie/ Ft. Pierce) spoke at his father's funeral. 

Cindy Ell, 
Founder and President of the Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation
www.FFCancer.org

Mary was so blessed when Cindy, the president of the Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation pulled out from her wallet a Psalm 91 card which she has carried with her for some time now. Cindy knows the Mid-Atlantic Director of the Federation of Fire Chaplains, John Long, and his his Associate Director, John E. Jamieson, both of whom we met at least 4 years ago in Rhode Island during their Annual Convention http://firechaplains.org. Obviously, they have done a wonderful job of spreading the Psalm 91 cards! 

A heartfelt Thank you to COL McKnight for his personal invitation to us to attend this Event. It is such an honor and privilege to hear COL speak and to learn from him, and it is our joy to continue reaching Responders with the message of Psalm 91! 

New Operation Safety 91 partner

R to L: Chaplain Fred Wilcoxson, Kathy Hicks, Tracy 

Operation Safety 91 has been blessed throughout its 4 1/2 years of existence with devoted Chaplain partners... like Chaplain Fred Wilcoxson, who recently traveled to Tennessee with his wife, also a Responder Chaplain. Fred requested a supply of Psalm 91 cards and books before he left and we just received this email from him.

Kathy and her crew are #1 supporters of the West Polk County Volunteer Fire Department. Just about any time the doors are open at Kathy’s you will find a Police or Sheriff’s car, a volunteer Fireman’s personal vehicle, or an EMS truck in the parking lot. Kathy now has a supply of Psalm 91 cards and books that she distributes to her police, fire, EMS and military friends. She also offers them to all her customers. She is the daughter of a pastor who always has a smile and a hug and has never met a stranger. 

If you are ever in Benton, TN stop by and see Kathy have a good meal and say thank you to her for loving and caring for our first Responders and troops.

Blessings

The Rev. Dr. Fred D. Wilcoxson PhD

Supervisor of Pastoral Care

Health Central

10,000 West Colonial Dr.

Ocoee, Florida 34761

407-296-1815

fred.wilcoxson@healthcentral.org

Board Certified Pastoral Counselor and Clinical Chaplain by the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy

American Association of Christian Counselors certified Stress & Trauma Care (with Military application) and Professional Life Coaching.

Elder, Manataka American Indian Coucil

The agent of healing is prayer. We are each physicians of prayer, sworn to practice its art for any who need a blessing.

Let us be about our task, Spirit guided and Spirit filled, transforming one another, healing the healers, healing a waiting world.

~Steven Charleston

Another new partner for Psalm 91 cards and books!

Today we received an email from a dear woman who founded Remember Our Soldiers, a care package Ministry to our soldiers: http://rememberoursoldiers.weebly.com/ It is wonderful just what God can do through us "regular people" as I call us! Check out her website! 

New OS91 Partner - Corvettes For Christ

Yesterday a member of the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International called us to request cards. What a wonderful Chaplain, who started a wonderful Ministry to attract Corvette lovers: http://www.corvettesforchrist.org/Home_Page.php  We appreciate you, Chaplain John! Thank you for your partnership. "Together we can do so much more than separately!"

Operation Safety 91 just received this Psalm 91 testimony from a Responder:

"I am finally home (from the hospital). God protected me after having a heart attack and a stroke in an 8 day period. The reason was blood clots. The devil tried to take me down but he can't because God is with me. Just like Psalm 91 says. He is good. I am stable and have no damage to my brain or heart. I just need to take medication. I have an even bigger testimony now." Praise God!

OS91 receives NYCPBA cards

NYCPBA card for OS91

A most heartfelt thank you for the membership cards to New York City Patrolmen's Benevolent Association given to us by Nick Liverani, an Art Client of Mary Ganster and former NYPD. Nick was at the scene on 9/11 when the Twin Towers fell, and has experienced first hand the risk Responders face. Nick was very blessed to live to tell his story...which, of course led me to share with him about Operation Safety 91 and we have been friends ever since. 

Nick also sent cards made up for Ed and Mary themselves and we appreciate this so much! It is such an honor to be associated with The Police of New York, and especially those who braved that horrible day to save the lives of those involved in tragedy of 9/11.

I want to share with you the portrait Nick commissioned me to do for him, a first for me - a Police Officer on a motorcycle. This is Nick's retirement picture and the portrait.

18" x 24" Pastel on velour

Nick's Retirement picture

To view more Portraits, go to:

www.marygansterartist.blogspot.com and www.marygansterartist4responders.blogspot.com

OS91 receives Certificate of Appreciation from Army

OS91 receives Certificate of Appreciation from Army

Today Operation Safety 91 received a very special package in the mail: a Certificate of Appreciation from the Army! This is such an honor! 

Written in this Certificate: "Your care and compassion were instrumental in the success of the Mission during a year long deployment to Afghanistan. Your efforts have greatly contributed to the success of the Bayonet Brigade, United States Army Europe and the United States Army."  

It is Psalm 91, God's Covenant of Protection, made available for our brave Responders through the generosity of our donors that made the difference! A most heartfelt Thank You to all our partners. As we say, "Together we can do so much more than separately." This Certificate we share with you all!

OS91 Chaplain's Vehicle

OS91 Chaplain receives Chaplain car

Operation Safety 91 rejoices with our Founding Chaplain, Andrew Wade, Sr. Chaplain of Orlando Police Department on his new blessing: a Chaplain vehicle! Any Responder Chaplain would agree that this is a tremendous advantage and we are so happy for Chaplain Wade! Speaking of blessing, you, Andrew, are a blessing to OS91! Thank you for your friendship and support of OS91's mission and of Ed and Mary. We appreciate you so much and pray for you daily!

OS91 Spokesperson, COL McKnight, in Afghanistan

COL Danny McKnight (right) in Afghanistan

COL Danny McKnight, (Ret.) U.S. Army Ranger Commander of the Battle of Mogadishu, Somalia, depicted in the famous movie, "Black Hawk Down", and now National Spokesperson of Operation Safety 91 has just returned from spending 10 days with our Troops in Afghanistan. Ten Prayer Breakfasts and 10 Prayer Lunches were scheduled, each in a different location in order to reach as many of our Troops a possible. Of course, COL McKnight was loaded with Psalm 91 cards, which quickly ran out but were requested by an Assistant Chaplain via email and then quickly sent over by OS91. Accompanying the cards - 10 cases of Psalm 91 for Military books from the 1687 Foundation.

COL McKnight has such a heart for our Troops, making himself available to them person to person, heart to heart. COL told us that this trip far exceeded all he expected. Operation Safety 91 is so honored to be represented by such an outstanding American hero!