From Apollo 11 Rescuer to Pentecostal Missionary

From Apollo 11 Rescuer to Pentecostal Missionary

Navy SEAL John Wolfram—The ninetyandnine.com Interview

Interviewed by Barbara Westberg

US Navy SEAL John Wolfram was the first man to reach the Apollo 11 capsule after it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean returning the astronauts from their history-making walk on the moon. John and his teammates became instant heroes--showered with confetti at a parade in Chicago, photographed and quoted in newspapers and Look magazine, and feted in their hometowns.

July 2009 marked the fortieth anniversary of the Apollo's epic accomplishment. Once again John Wolfram and his team became the focus of the national media. The phone at the Wolframs' home began ringing early in July. CBS, CNN, Fox News, K-love radio, Atlanta newspapers, and others called, requesting interviews. Not only was John able to promote his new book, Splashdown: The Rescue of a Navy SEAL, he was able to share with millions around the world the plan of salvation and his miraculous conversion.

Here is a little insight into what God has wrought in the life of UPCI missionary-author John Wolfram.

90&9: Your moment in the limelight came when the Apollo 11 astronauts splashed down in the Pacific on July 24, 1969. Forty years later, how would you describe your mission and your emotions on that day?
JW: We were professionals and trained to be proficient at what we were doing. The safety of the astronauts and their cargo was utmost on our minds. However, being a twenty-year-old kid, I was, of course, ecstatic.

90&9: From the limelight in the US to the battlefield in Vietnam . . . how did you handle such a dramatic transition?
JW: From the time I joined the Navy it was non-stop training and activity, including a trip to Vietnam. After Apollo 11 we had several months of lag-time before returning to Vietnam. The old adage "an idle mind is the devil's workshop" became true for me. To my shame, I filled that emptiness by participating in the drug culture of the day. Fortunately, God was able to reach out to me through unconventional means.

90&9: From frogman to missionary . . . that's quite a jump even for a man accustomed to jumping out of helicopters. How did that happen?
JW: I believe that God has the best scenario planned for all of us long before we are born. Through the Lord's persistent dealings with me, I was led to a Pentecostal revival by an ad in a local paper. After being born again, I followed the Lord's promptings into full-time ministry. It started with sharing Jesus with my teammates and has continued in over forty nations around the world.

90&9: After serving two times in the Vietnam War, how did it feel to return to that land as a missionary?
JW: The first "rush" came when I visited a refuge camp in the Philippines. After walking among the refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, I knew that God was calling me back. A few years later, thousands of feelings surfaced as I walked the streets of Hanoi, still dealing with a myriad of ghosts. A former Vietnamese soldier grabbed me in a bear hug. After I discerned that he was trying to convey to me in the only way he could that the war was over (I've moved on. How about you?), I heard the Lord whisper, "John, I am calling you back to this land. This time you won't be carrying an M-16, but you will be carrying my Holy Word." I've been making trips ever since.

90&9: On the fortieth anniversary of the Apollo landing you found yourself again in the limelight. How many interviews did you do and with whom?
JW: I did several newspaper interviews across the country (all of which were front page) and appeared on NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX Atlanta local TV news. Also, The Weather Channel, CBN, and TBN international TV news stations did interviews. Plus, I was interviewed on several national Christian radio stations including K-love radio, which has 644 outlets across the nation. I've also had numerous invitations from civic clubs, churches, and schools, including Regent University. One of the most unique opportunities was a business proposal from a watch company.

90&9: What was the highlight of these interviews?
JW: To talk about the Lord and the opportunity to promote my book, which I feel is a tremendous soulwinning tool.

90&9: Have you received any responses from your interview and/or book that you would like to share?
JW: When I get letters from strangers who were given my book and they tell me how much it has touched them, that is very special to me. I especially love to hear from the troops overseas who have been encouraged or led to the Lord by reading my book. The national interviews have also brought me back in contact with childhood friends, some of whom I haven't seen since high school.

90&9: Your experiences have filled a book, and could, no doubt, fill several more. If you had only five minutes to share your testimony with an audience, what would you tell them?
JW: I would help them understand that we are placed on this Earth for God's purpose. That God speaks a language we can understand, and He is the pursuer of this love relationship. He is doing His best to get our attention in order to draw us to Himself so He can bring us to Bible salvation. Then I would walk them through the highlights of how God got hold of my heart and led me to a born-again experience. They can find that out by reading my book.

90&9: Tell us about your book, Splashdown: The Rescue of a Navy SEAL, and where it can be purchased.
JW: Anyone who relates to the 60s, space travel, the Special Forces, BUDs training, Hell Week, the Vietnam War, or is looking for self-motivation will enjoy my book. While I was rescuing others, the Lord was trying to rescue me. The best place to purchase the book is on my website. All proceeds go to missions.

90&9: What was the greatest struggle you faced in writing your story?
JW: Reminding myself that I was not writing just for friends, family, and church associations, but I was writing to reach people who do not know me.

90&9: How did you find an editor and a publisher?
JW: Through much prayer. For an editor I wanted a woman, as I felt this would give my manuscript a different perspective. I also was looking for a secular editor, as I was writing to reach not just the church but the world, so I needed an editor who would not be prejudiced against my testimony. I sent a writing sample to about fifteen editors, asking each one to edit it and/or make suggestions on how to improve it. Then I called those with potential before I made my final decision.

90&9: Do you have any tips for writers hoping to publish a book?
JW: Find a good editor.

90&9: U.S. Navy SEAL, soulwinner, husband, father, pastor, missionary, and author . . . you wear many hats. What are your plans for the future?
JW: To continue to be a servant to the Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him wherever He leads me.

(Editor’s Note: This interview originally appeared in the Pentecostal Writer’s Fellowship E-Zine.)

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Barbara Westberg is the director of the Pentecostal Writers Fellowship.