Inspirational • Jun 22, 2026 • 40 min read

THE STRONGEST SOLDIER

When retired Zambian army officer Captain Lubasi boards the Santa Lucia in Tunis for a voyage across the Mediterranean Sea, he expects nothing more than a peaceful journey to Rome, where he will attend the funeral of his longtime friend, Marco Armani. A decorated veteran of numerous United Nations peacekeeping missions, Lubasi has survived wars, ambushes, and dangerous conflicts across Africa and beyond. He believes there is little left in life that can frighten him. But everything changes when a powerful medicane sweeps across the Mediterranean. As towering waves batter the ship and panic spreads among the passengers, Lubasi encounters an elderly English teacher named Fernando. While fear grips everyone around him, Fernando remains remarkably calm, praying, comforting frightened passengers, and speaking of a peace that the storm cannot touch. Throughout a terrifying night of darkness, flooding, engine failure, and the constant threat of death, Lubasi witnesses a strength unlike anything he has seen on the battlefield. Determined to uncover the source of Fernando's courage, he embarks on a journey far greater than the voyage to Rome. The Strongest Soldier is an inspiring Christian adventure novel about faith, fear, inner peace, and the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. It reminds readers that the greatest battles are often fought within the human heart—and that true strength is found in trusting God through life's fiercest storms.