Chaplain launches ‘adopt a terrorist’ prayer campaign

Posted: 4/25/08

Chaplain launches ‘adopt a
terrorist’ prayer campaign

By Adelle M. Banks

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)—An Army Reserve chaplain has decided to do his individual part in the war on terror. He co-founded an Internet ministry to pray for terrorists.

“Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer” was launched in March and features a catalog of photos of people designated by the FBI or the State Department as participants in or sponsors of terrorism.

“In a sense, it’s a spiritual conflict, and we’re not using spiritual resources,” said Thomas Bruce, a co-founder and spokesman for the ministry at www.myatfp.com. “I felt that the church of Jesus Christ was not engaged.”

Bruce, whose ministry is based in Colorado Springs, Colo., said he was inspired to start the effort after attending a conference of Christian military ministries last year. Soon, he will have to leave the work to other co-founders—who include a retired school administrator and a retired Coast Guard officer—when he is deployed to Iraq.

Bruce’s voice is on the two-minute YouTube video that promotes the idea of praying for terrorists.

“If they start converting, as did the Apostle Paul, then terrorism as a strategy for advancing militant Islam will fail, and the whole world will know something spectacular about the one true God,” he says in the video.

The website encourages readers to choose from a catalog of dozens of photos of people labeled as “at-large” or “captured” terrorists or terrorism sponsors. Each photo includes a link to more information, such as an FBI poster.

“Select and pray daily for a change in the heart of your chosen terrorist,” the site recommends. “Enlist others to join this initiative!”

Bruce said he has received mostly positive reactions to the project.

“Some people are very enthusiastic and can’t wait to participate,” he said. “No one has told me that it’s stupid or wrong, but some have told me it won’t be for them.”