February 3, 1943: The Allied troopship S.S. Dorchester was torpedoed by a German sub and went down with a loss of 600 lives. As it sank, four chaplains gave up their lifejackets to shipmates, thereby also perishing in the icy waters. The bravery of Rev. Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed), Rev. George Lansing Fox (Methodist), Father John Washington (Catholic Priest), and Alexander David Goode (Jewish Rabbi) led congress afterward to mark February 3rd as “Four Chaplains Day.”

As Christians we have an eternal hope that is grounded in Christ and the unchanging faithfulness of the Father. We too should be willing to give up our lives in favor of those who as of yet have no such hope.