Amazing-Lee blessed
Vietnam veteran speaks to students about having a burden for the U.S.
Vietnam War veteran Dr. Tim Lee encouraged students to “begin to get a burden for (their) nation like (they) never have” on the first day of Liberty University’s Military Emphasis Week, which began at Convocation Friday, Nov. 6.
Pride — Veteran Dr. Tim Lee opened Military Emphasis Week when he spoke at Convocation Friday, Nov. 6 about his concern for America. Photo credit: Michela Diddle
To kick off the annual event, Director of the Center for Chaplaincy Dr. Steve Keith called for a moment of silence to honor those who serve in America’s armed forces to protect the nation’s freedoms.
Lee, a double amputee who lost both his legs because of a land mine in the war, began his address by telling stories about how God has allowed him to present his testimony to thousands of members of the military, many of whom have given their lives to God. He said while he feels hopeful for the future of the country, he is concerned the U.S. is forgetting its heritage as a nation founded on the Word of God.
“Our nation was founded on biblical principles,” Lee said. “Our forefathers weren’t trying to kick God out of anything. Our forefathers wanted God in America, and I believe that is one reason why God has blessed this nation, the most blessed nation on the face of this earth.”
Lee read passages from Jeremiah 2 and Lamentations 1, 2, 4 and 5 that dealt with the problem of a nation turning its back on God. He said he believes America is trying to remove God from the land at an increasingly faster rate, with drastic changes taking place “daily and sometimes even hourly.”
“It is a push to try to kick God out of America,” Lee said. “I look around and see what is happening to America today, and it causes me to weep. I’m not an alarmist.
I’m a realist.”
Lee, who has been a member of Liberty’s board of trustees since 1991, said even though Christians should not neglect their roles in politics, hope for America does not ultimately lie in the government.
“Our hope is not in a political party, and our hope is not in Washington, D.C.,” Lee said. “Our hope is in God. And the real hope that we have today is … the God-sent revival that can come to our churches and our homes and our schools and to our neighborhoods.”
Now in his 37th year as an evangelist, Lee said he will continue to travel around the country to spread his message about defending the Christian values of the U.S. but most of all, the message of the Christ.
“My prayer is going to be that some in this room … will seriously begin to get a burden for your nation,” Lee said. “Let us begin to take America back alley by alley, street by street, town by town and city by city so we can once again say, ‘One nation under God.’”
Students lined up after Convocation to meet Lee and some mentioned they were thankful for the service of the men and women in uniform who put themselves in harm’s way.
“We wouldn’t have these freedoms and these liberties that we have without someone protecting them and fighting for them,” sophomore Sarah Ray said.
Junior Charlie Wade said he agreed with Lee’s message about the desire to see America turn back to God, and he said without the military “it would be impossible to gather together and worship and grow closer to God.”
Clarke is a copy editor.