Randy Toms, a firefighter with the Warner Robins Fire Department for 23 years, is encouraging everyone to go see the new movie, Fireproof—at least, he says, people who are married, have ever been married, or may ever get married. Made by the same Christian filmmakers who produced Facing the Giants, Fireproof tells the story of a fireman fighting to save his marriage.

"I don't think it's an option to see Fireproof. I think it's one of the most amazing movies that I've ever seen about commitment to your marriage and commitment to God. I had a chance to see Fireproof at the Fire Conference in Macon in August, before it was released to the public. The next day a fire chief from the Augusta area told me that one of his guys who had seen Fireproof said the movie was made for him and that he was going to buy The Love Dare book and go home and put his marriage back together. That just showed me what a huge impact that Fireproof is going to have on fire service people all over the country and all over the world and on marriages everywhere. If we get our commitment to God, our spouses, and our families right, then all the other commitments will get in order," said Toms, who has served as the Chaplain of the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs for the past seven years.

Lt. Toms is currently teaching "Fireproof Your Marriage," a sixpart small group study using the accompanying book, The Love Dare, at Southside Baptist Church on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. The study challenges couples to look at love as a lifetime commitment. Southside is so confident of Fireproof's message that they have been providing free tickets for all firefighters and their spouses to go see the movie and will keep offering them for as long as the movie is in the theatres.

After completing the study at Southside, Lt. Toms is planning to offer the "Fireproof Your Marriage" study to firefighters and public safety workers, as part of a ministry he started two years ago, the Georgia Public Safety Ministries, Inc. (GPS).

"The emergency services (fire, EMS, and law enforcement) consistently have the highest rates of divorce, suicide, depression, and substance abuse of any profession. It is my goal to teach, encourage and challenge emergency workers and local communities to focus on helping each other to work out God's plan for their lives," Toms explained.

GPS Ministries' strategy is to teach public safety personnel to be all that they were created to be, to encourage churches and community groups to reach out to their public servants, and to challenge everyone to step out and reach big goals. Toms has had the opportunity to speak to men's groups and several church congregations, but is in the beginning stages of the plans God has for him.

"I would love to be able to teach the Fireproof study to public safety and emergency service workers all over the state. It's an awesome resource. If people would realize that marriage calls for a 100% commitment per person, then a whole lot fewer marriages would fail. If we could ever grasp how much God loves us, our heads would explode because we couldn't contain it. That's how much a man ought to love and cherish his wife. The biggest responsibility falls on the husband to love his wife like Christ loved the church. Then the wife will reciprocate by loving him back," Toms said. Toms sets a good example of commitment to marriage. He and his wife, Jane, have been married for 26 years. Before marriage, he remembers seeking wisdom from couples who had been married for a long time.

One of his mentors, Rev. Sydney Odom, has been married for over 60 years. Rev. Odom recently retired from being Chaplain for the Georgia Firefighters Association.

"Brother Sydney and his wife serve each other like no two people I've ever seen before. Their example of committed love provides true inspiration. A lot of times the longer you've been married, the more you settle into a routine. I think observing examples of devoted couples can help. The movie Fireproof also refreshes our spirits to serve each other," Toms said.

Toms' heart is in ministry, and part of the purpose of GPS Ministries is to educate churches and communities on how to better serve the Georgia's emergency service workers.

"I want to teach churches and community groups how to build relationships with their emergency service workers before the disaster strikes. In the fire service, when we see a tragedy we come back to the station, and we circle the wagons. I want to teach churches and communities how to be part of the wagon train—how they can help us in times of tragedy," Toms explained.

Toms's goal requires reaching out to more churches and organizations in the community. He would appreciate any opportunity to be invited to speak.

Contact Randy Toms through Southside Baptist Church or the Warner Robins Fire Department at 478-765-1020.

GPS Ministries, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization. For more information, visit GPSMinistries.net.