1948 was a year to remember; in fact never forget. I had just graduated from Houghton College and became Director of Youth For Christ (YFC) in Rochester, NY. The problem – over 90% of the churches at that time in Rochester were liberal. I discovered that when I called on a prominent businessman to ask for support. He seemed very interested in a program to reach youth, that is until he called his pastor. It was then I discovered that YFC was called a “crack pot fundamentalist organization” -- no check for support. At that time I was attending the University of Rochester and sat in a class with the manager of a Rochester radio station. We became good friends and from that friendship came the offer to broadcast 30 minutes of the Saturday night rally – Free! I also became good friends with the church editor of the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper and the result was he did a feature story on YFC.
These two instances arranged by God resulted in the rally enjoying capacity crowds in West Avenue Methodist Church. In spite of the objections by the Bishop, the pastor of West Avenue Church backed the ministry – Free rent! Not only did the rally make a great impact on the youth of the city, but also on me personally. Let me explain.
I was ordained in 1948. Thanksgiving week that year my mother had a massive stroke and lived only two weeks. She was my first funeral. There is more to tell! A pastor had convinced her that she didn’t need medical help because of his inaccurate teaching of Isaiah 53:5 “.. by His stripes we are healed.” Before I conducted my mother’s funeral I asked her pastor to read the scriptures since he was her pastor. I also asked for an explanation of her death in view of his teaching of Isaiah 53:5. His replay was -- “She didn’t have enough faith or there was sin in her life.” That ridiculous mis-use of scripture had the potential of destroying my faith – except for my involvement with Youth For Christ. The very next Saturday night Dr. Harry Ironside, pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, was our speaker. Someone told him of my potential disillusionment. As I drove him from the hotel to the rally he mentioned that he knew about my mother’s death and then he gave me a simple but profound exposition of Psalm 116:15 - “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints” He looked at me with his serious ophthalmic problem and said, “John, I’m sure the prayers of your mother is one of the reasons you are in the ministry. Isn’t it wonderful she could attend your ordination and then be rewarded by God for her efforts by entrance into heaven.” The next Saturday night George Beverly Shea was at YFC and he made similar public comments and sang with Don Hustad at the organ there in West Avenue Church these wonderful words:
Love divine, so great and wondrous,
All my sins He then forgave!
I will sing His praise forever,
For His blood, His power to save.
In life’s eventide, at twilight,
At His door I’ll knock and wait;
By the precious love of Jesus
I shall enter Heaven’s gate.
He the pearly gates will open,
So that I may enter in;
For He purchased my redemption
And forgave me all my sin.
1948 is a year I’ll never forget and included during that time was Donald Grey Barnhouse, one of my mentors. Add all of this up and you will better understand that I have never tried to substitute for the Word of God. It was the Word of God that literally drew me through these challenging times when I could have literally quit the ministry before I really got started. In 1948 I personally discovered all (I mean all) the Psalm 19:7-11 benefits of the Word of God. 60 years on radio and never with a surplus of money to make it possible. How do I explain it?
“For I live by what I believe and not by what I see” (Williams translation of 2 Cor. 5:7)
“So faith comes by hearing what is told, and hearing through the message about Christ” (Williams translation of Romans 10:17)
These are Luke 21:26 days -- “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Join me in prayer with John the author - “Even so come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20) I would like to get home before dark! In the meantime, it will be your prayers and financial support that will add to the 60 years! This is an investment you can trust ..
“FOREVER O Lord, your word is settled in Heaven”, Psalm 119:89
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As I begin 61 years on radio a gift to the ministry would be helpful as well as a note relating to how long you have been listening and how the ministry has helped you. I want to put these together into a book for personal use. Please use postal or e-mail to send these treasured thoughts.