WESSON – Dustin Brewer knew God was calling him to do something,but he wasn’t sure what it was until he opened the Bible.

It wasn’t a particular verse that caught his eye, it was whodonated the Bible: Firefighters for Christ.

Brewer, chief of the Wesson Volunteer Fire Department, sat downin front of the computer and looked up the organization’s Web site.It caught his attention, but at first he shied away from the ideaof creating a chapter in Mississippi.

“I was afraid because I didn’t feel like I was the guy whoshould start this in Mississippi,” he said. “But I wanted to buildmyself into that kind of man.”

Despite his initial hesitancy, Brewer, along with other membersof the Wesson Volunteer Fire Department and the Smyrna FireDepartment, were commissioned as the state’s first Firefighters forChrist chapter Sunday night during a service Wesson Baptist Church.National Firefighters for Christ President John White and fourother members of the national chapter prayed over the new chaptermembers during the service.

“It’s my first time ‘praying in’ a new chapter,” said JerryWhite, a national member who came from San Diego to be a part ofthe service. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be a part ofthis.”

Other national members came from California and Minnesota. BobRichards, of Rochester, Minn., said though he’s been retired 11years, Firefighters for Christ has helped him stay connected. Hesaid being a part of services like Sunday night’s has kept himclose to the career he has loved.

“It’s just great to have the chance to do this again,” he said.”You never really retire from helping people. And we’re not justsaving lives anymore, we’re saving souls.”

Firefighters for Christ’s focus is on encouraging firefightersto live a Christian life before their fellow firefighters as wellas the world.

“All of us have to be involved in life-saving,” said John White.”And it can be forever.”

Until last night, there was not a chapter anywhere Mississippi.And there still wouldn’t be if Brewer hadn’t followed the leadingof the Holy Spirit.

After researching the organization, Brewer wrote an e-mail tothe national chapter and had a response later the same day. He thenspoke to the Rev. Mike Carr of Wesson Baptist Church, and left himwith some information just before church.

“That day he spoke about going out and having a ministry in yourcommunity,” said Brewer. “He hadn’t even read the literature I’dleft him. And I knew he was talking to me.”

Carr read everything he could find on the Firefighters forChrist. He followed up on Brewer’s vision in discussions withnational leaders and a date for state chapter commissioning wasset.

“This is something that God is doing here in Mississippi,” saidCarr. “These things happened not by circumstance or chance, but byGod.”

John White, speaking to the Wesson Baptist Church Sunday night,said, “God has told us, ‘If you will commit your way to me, I willbring it to pass.’ We want to be the kind of men that when othermen’s lives fall apart, they turn to us, because we know God.”

Brewer said his vision for Mississippi is to have a chapter ofFirefighters for Christ in every county in the coming years. And asfor being the one who had the vision first, he’s extremelyhumble.

“There really aren’t words to describe it,” he said. “I’m justamazed these guys would come to this small town in Mississippi todo this for us. It’s so amazing how God works.”

The group currently consists of current and retired CopiahCounty firefighters and fire servicemen and women. Brewer said theorganization is open to any and all firefighters.

“We’d love to see a lot of participation,” he said. “If you feelled to join us, we’d love to have you. Fire service and emergencypersonnel are welcome, too. We work so closely together.”