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Doing His Part

An Interview with Pastor Tommy Carstens

          Pastor Tommy Carstens of Phenix City,  Alabama has been recognized by the United States military in Iraq for his exemplary commitment to prayer concerning the Iraq War. In Pastor Carsten’s honor a flag was flown over the Headquarters of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, the former palace of Saddam Hussein, during Operation Iraqi Freedom on November 17, 2006. The flag was subsequently awarded to him along with a certificate signed by the USA Commanding Lieutenant General, Peter W. Chiarelli and USA Command Sergeant Major Ralph R. Beam of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

            Pastor Carstens explains that from the inception of the war, the Holy Spirit instructed him to pray daily. Not one of the soldiers specifically named in  his morning prayer time has been hurt, and many of them are active in some of the most dangerous zones in the war effort. He includes all the military in his prayers as well as those cooperating with the U.S. military effort.  He is strengthened daily in the conviction that, “This war will never be won in the natural only. It will be won in the Spirit,” as was affirmed to him by Richard Depietri, a member of his congregation currently serving in Iraq.

            Richard has been serving in Iraq since the beginning of the war as a specialist, training the Iraqis to defend themselves and their people. Before the war, he served in the U.S. Homeland Security and then with SWAT.

            Pastor Carstens’ passion resonates in his voice as he insists the military are not called to stand alone, “They have their part, but we must do our part by interceding daily.” He encourages his church to pray daily, and has held a prayer vigil open to all for 7 hours of continuous prayer.

            He loves to demonstrate the many types of things that are happening in Iraq which are not reported on the news by telling this true story, related to him by Richard.

            An Iraqi came to Richard weeping, having had a dream in which  he and an  American were  being chased by terrorists, who were closing in for the kill. As he and his companion fled desperately for their lives, they reached a river and flung themselves into it. Upon entering this river, there was simply complete peace. The Iraqi looked up and saw Jesus standing on the opposite shore, surrounded by Americans worshipping and praising Jesus. He looked back, and saw on the bank behind him his Muslim pursuers worshipping Jesus.

            Pastor Carstens hears of many such happenings, and prays for the salvation of the Iraqi people, for Muslims, and for the terrorists. He reminds us that God promised Abraham for his sake that He would bless Ishmael, Abraham’s son and his line as well as Isaac and his line, though the promise came through Isaac (Jesus).

            We have a responsibility to pray earnestly in this manner as well. Know that  supernatural intervention by God is happening, and can continue to happen as we present ourselves faithfully in the prayer closet, or gather with the family of faith for seasons of prayer concerning this war.

“The effective fervent prayer  
of a righteous man avails much.”

James 5:16 NKJ

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