Since the very beginning at His Way in 2007, we have given all residential graduates a weighted commemorative coin as an encouragement to remain true to the Christ-centered path of recovery. The coin was first suggested by my wife, Selwyn, when she saw them displayed at the Pentagon. The message of the coin is based on Ephesians 6:10-20, “To Put on The Full Armor of God”!
We felt that encouragement like that would be appropriate as men complete the residential phase of their recovery program. While completing a nine-month residential program is a great accomplishment and many spiritual battles have been fought and won, the battle will truly intensify with graduation and their departing from the daily structure of Christ-centered recovery at His Way. So in recognition of this coming conflict, we affirm every graduate and remind them of the weapons God provides throughout the lifelong battle of recovery.
The Significance of Commemorative Coins
The history of the military commemorative coin goes back to WW I. Apparently, the original pilots in this effort to fight in the air were primarily Ivy League students who volunteered for battle. As one squadron was preparing for their first mission, one of the pilots had minted a small coin that identified their specific group and commemorated their first mission. One of the pilots, who truly prized such a special token, placed it in a small leather pouch that he wore around his neck.
He had to make an emergency landing behind enemy lines and was captured by the Germans in a small village in France. The Germans stripped him of his clothes and all forms of his identification as they prepared their prisoner. The German location was bombed that night. By clothing himself with civilian clothes, he was able to escape during the chaos. He eventually came upon a French battalion and identified himself to them. However the French were looking for German spies in civilian clothes, so they took him captive. He had no identification. As they were preparing to execute him by firing squad, he remembered the coin around his neck. He revealed that coin which identified him as an American pilot, and it saved his life.
The Coin Challenge
Soon all military divisions began minting special commemorative coins for the purpose of identifying them within a particular group or with a specific mission. This pride has grown and resonated through the military since. It has grown into the tradition of the coin challenge. If a current or former military member identifies themselves with a specific group or event, they are challenged to produce the coin. If they cannot prove their identification with a coin, they are obligated to pay for a round of drinks. If they do, the challenger must pay for them. It is called “the coin challenge.”
We have given every His Way graduate this coin to remind them of their identity and strength in Christ for the battle ahead. We have encouraged them to always keep it with them as a constant and daily reminder, but also so they can proudly display it as they tell their story of Christ-centered recovery through His Way.