Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) likes to run short, 250-word stories in each weekend's bulletin to tie in with the sermon or events happening within the church. The approximate bulletin count is 7,200 every weekend.
Fighting the Flame
Steady, consistent and full of integrity…these are words that accurately describe Glendale firefighter and CCV member Gil Mantzey, a real-life warrior who daily battles the flames and hurdles that life throws at him.
It’s not easy to be a warrior for Christ where all eyes are looking to you for strength, support and leadership. Yet Gil Mantzey plays this role well. Former fire engineer Mike McClain, now a CCV neighborhood pastor, knows Gil well and believes that real-life warriors still exist today. They just don’t wear the typical body that they used to wear. Modern-day warriors are often dressed in service uniforms, business attire, or even shorts and flip flops.
Gil Mantzey is a modern-day warrior. He recognizes what battles are worth fighting for and which victories are worth claiming. “I always look for opportunities to talk about Christ with others. I work 24 hours on and 48 hours off so this gives me time to get to know the crew really well. This can sometimes bring good conversations about life. I guess the best way I try to show God at work is by living the way I say we should. In this type of environment, people really study you to see if you’re the real deal. I just hope that I can make a positive impact for Christ on my co-workers,” Gil said.
The warrior code that was prevalent centuries ago, still exists today. Warriors—whether modern-day or ancient—are known for their faith, loyalty and courage. And living a victorious life for Christ takes just that!
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