Mitsuo Fuchida led the attack on Pearl Harbor, but later led people to Christ

71 years ago today, the Japanese executed their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. As many reflect of the events of that day, let us also reflect on some of the personal lives that were affected by World War II.

From Pearl Harbor to Calvary is about the incredible, transforming life of Jesus Christ, manifested in Captain Mitsuo Fuchida who eagerly served in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Prior to his salvation Fuchida led three successful air attacks: Pear Harbor on December 7, 1941; Darwin, Australia on February 19, 1942 and against the Royal Navy in British Ceylon (presently Sri Lanka) on April 5, 1942.

After the war, Fuchida entered civilian life as a very dissatisfied farmer after being a decorated and highly honored soldier. He began to wonder why he survived so many calamities while thousands around him died. Slowly his thoughts came to something he’d never considered: A Creator God. During this time of deep contemplation about life, Fuchida was summoned by General Douglas MacArthur to testify at the war crimes trials in Tokyo. One day, as he was getting off the train, he accepted a tract from an American. The tract was entitled, “I Was a Prisoner of Japan.” It was the salvation testimony of Sargent Jacob “Jake” Daniel DeShazer, a member of the Doolittle Raid, and a prisoner of Japan in Nanking, China for 40 months.

In this tract, Fuchida read that DeShazer was brutally mistreated by the Japanese officials and initially, he hated them for it. But after 25 months in prison, and multiple requests for reading material, the Japanese acquiesced and gave the American prisoners Bibles. They were told they could keep them for only three weeks so DeShazer read the Bible with great fervency and passion. After reading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, DeShazer repented of his sins and received God’s free gift of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ and committed his life to sharing the Gospel with those who were once his enemies -- the Japanese.

Intrigued and baffled by such love, forgiveness and peace, Fuchida decided to purchase a Bible for himself. Just like DeShazer, Fuchida read it with fervency and passion. When he came to Luke 23:34 and read, “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’” he finally understood how true peace could be obtained. On September 14, 1950, Fuchida became a new creation in Christ, after realizing he too, was one of those that Christ came to save, he asked the Lord for forgiveness (repented of his sins) and gave everything he had to his new Captain, Jesus Christ the Lord, who called him to be a minister of the Gospel of Peace, rather than a man of war.

Fuchida spent the next 26 years of his life as an evangelist.

You can purchase "From Pearl Harbor to Calvary in paperback at Amazon.com for only $5.98, or download it to your Kindle for only $4.95.

Don’t miss out! And be sure to pass on this blessing to others.