It appears that an opportunity to do some teaching has come about. (Note the irony after I posted about the ever-widening gap between ‘elitist’ academics and we ‘uneducated’ folks.) Anyway, I've never considered myself an educator by any means, (I still don’t), but I do love speaking to people about the subject of spiritually during the Civil War. This afternoon, I received an email from a gentleman named Rudy Halleck who runs an organization called Saved-Sons here in Virginia. Saved-Sons publishes Christian teaching materials and helps book guest speakers for church retreats and dinners.

Their goal is to provide young men with a religious-perspective that they probably do not get in school. I have been asked to speak at a fall retreat about the “Great Southern Revival” and its impact on the spiritual lives of Confederate soldiers. It’s a great topic that I look forward to tackling and what makes it even neater is the fact that I will be speaking at a campsite pavilion. In fact, I don’t have to worry about creating a PowerPoint, as there will be no electrical-outlets.

Beginning in the fall of 1863, this event, sometimes referred to as "The Great Southern Revival," was in full progress throughout the Army of Northern Virginia. Before it was interrupted by Gen. U.S. Grant's attack in May 1864, approximately seven thousand soldiers-10 percent of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s force-were reportedly converted. Dr. Gardiner H. Shattuck, Jr., author of A Shield and Hiding Place: The Religious Life of the Civil War Armies, reports that “The best estimates of conversions in the Union forces place the figure between 100,000 and 200,000 men-about 5-10 percent of all individuals engaged in the conflict. In the smaller Confederate armies, at least 100,000 were converted. Since these numbers include only ‘conversions’ and do not represent the number of soldiers actually swept up in the revivals-a yet more substantial figure-the impact of revivals during the Civil War surely was tremendous.”

I certainly hope that I can come up with a presentation that reflects this most blessed event and is worthy of these gentlemen's attention. According to the Saved-Sons' mission statement in the email: “Saved-Sons recognizes the need to give today’s teenagers positive role-models that are worth looking up to. In today’s fallen society, impressionable youth are far too often exposed to celebrities, athletes and music artists with less than desirable character traits. As parents and mentors, it is our job to introduce them to more holy and wholesome subjects that are worthy of their admiration and emulation. Unfortunately, our public school system has pushed Christian values out of the classroom and it has been left up to us to fill this void. Saved-Sons provides scripture-based lesson plans that can be used at youth group meetings, church retreats, and after school bible-study programs. While it is not our intent to interfere with any school’s existing program, we are hoping to add a godly viewpoint that will enrich the education of those wishing to know more.”

I’ll keep you updated on where this goes. Saved-Sons is a start-up and they hope to have a website soon. I will add their link when it is. I sent a tentative acceptance email, but do not have any specific details yet. I am hoping that is doesn’t conflict with my schedule. It would be a blessing indeed to speak to a group of young men on a subject that is so inspirational and enlightening.

[UPDATE: I did want to add that Saved-Sons discovered me thanks to my book 'The Southern Cross' being carried and showcased in the Re-enactors Missions For Jesus Christ (RMJC) bookstore and their booth at this past weekend's Civil War Seminar at Liberty University. My thanks to them for selling my title and therefore, promoting my witness.]