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by Wes Bowers
The Canadian Forces took Major Wes Bowers around the world. An air force pilot for 20 years, Wes flew missions in the Gulf War, served in UN headquarters as a staff officer in Somalia and as a UN peacekeeper in Lebanon, Israel, and Syria. And along the way, he went from being a peacekeeper to working for the Prince of Peace.
Wes is now retired and living in Cloverdale, British Columbia. He traded his military wings for a second career with Campus Crusade for Christ and enjoys sharing his journey of faith.
Wes was raised by Christian parents, but when it came time to make his own decision for Christ, he admits that he cut corners. “I really only took out the proverbial ‘fire insurance salvation policy." “I didn’t recognize Jesus as the Lord of my life,” Wes recalls. “Instead, I began to move gradually further and further from what my parents taught me.” Fortunately, before going too far down that road, Wes married a Christian girl.
However, as he continued his education and then moved into the workforce, Wes grew more distant from God. He began a career as a teacher after finishing university, but the lure of a life of travel, adventure, and excitement changed his plans and he joined the Canadian Forces in 1973 and received pilot training.
Three years into his flying career Wes made another change in his life, but this time the 
consequences would be eternal. During a routine flight over a remote region of Ontario, the weather turned sour and Wes decided he needed to land his helicopter immediately. But he quickly realized he was virtually trapped in a steep-walled valley with increasing clouds and pouring rain. To make matters worse, he was rapidly running out of daylight and there was no safe landing area to be found.
Wes thought to himself, “I could die here!” He had a strange sense of being, “One step from eternity.” And now finally, God had his attention.
“It all comes home when you have a test in your life,” Wes says. Alone and in the tiny cockpit of his helicopter, Wes made a decision that would change the course of his life. “I turned my situation over to the Lord, whether I lived or died.” He said out loud to God, “Lord, I realize I don’t have the right to ask you for any favours. But if you give me a second chance and show me the way out, this time I promise to follow your leadership.”
The Lord heard his prayer and gave Wes a chance to prove his sincerity. After a few more nervous minutes of continuing to circle the valley, the clouds seemed less dark in one direction. He took his chance and followed it.
Wes describes what happened next. “I managed to navigate out of the valley and ended up landing at the nearest farm. And when I landed I did two things. I thanked God for saving my life and then I told Him I would need His help to keep my part of the deal.”
Things gradually began to change in Wes’ life after that day and his concept of trusting God began to grow. And for this military officer and his wife Gail these changes were long overdue.
“Some military men have a tendency to value their military career more than their wife and children,” Wes explains. “I had to learn how to talk to my wife and how to better love my wife. It’s a significant task to build a marriage and family. I’ve learned that you’re in it together.”
Wes also decided that spending Friday evenings at the bar with his pilot friends until late at night was not healthy for his marriage and family. “It was a struggle for me,” he admits. “But God gave me the power to change.”
After 20 years of flying for the Canadian Forces, Major Wes Bowers retired from active duty in 1993. He returned to academic life for a time and attended seminary.
In 1995 Wes joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ and began working in Leadership Ministry and later worked on The JESUS Film Project, taking the Gospel message to countries around the world. For Major Wes Bowers, this is the ultimate promotion. “I’ve gone from being a Peacekeeper to working for the Prince of Peace, ” Wes proudly declares. This summer Wes and Gail, now married for 34 years, are expecting their first grandchild.
Wes adds these comments:
"My life experience has taught me that drifting away from God is harmful to one's self-worth as well as to relationships with family, friends and co-workers. I wish I knew then, what I know now: that the key to a growing sense of fulfillment and a sense of purpose in life is to learn how to live the Spirit-filled life. If you would like to discover more about the Spirit-filled life yourself, Click here."
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If you know, like Wes, that you need changes in your life, you can ask God to change you today. Ask, by faith, for Jesus Christ to take control of your life again and He will do as He promised. Here is a suggested prayer...
Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. I thank you that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
