Looking back through all the years of my life, I must admit there have been ups and downs, good times and bad, wonderful experiences and not so great times.
God has led me along the path I should go but once in awhile I forget to ask directions and that’s when I need to get back in fellowship with the One who really knows all the answers.
We marvel at those who have almost always kept their faith completely focused on the Lord. Such was the faith of the late Billy Graham, who is now residing in heaven with his wife Ruth.
I do remember way back when we lived on my Grandparent George Kroeker’s family farm for a few years. I think I was around ten or eleven years old, and it was about the time I had accepted Jesus Christ as my own and I did a lot of “extra” thinking. I got a lot (for that time) of mail that I had sent off for and one day I got a card telling about a new young evangelist with a picture and the name of Billy Graham. I remember walking across the farm yard when I scattered the feed for the chickens and thinking about the bravery of this new young evangelist and yes, even thinking he would become well-known because he seemed on fire for God and not on himself.
We really enjoyed watching his funeral on television this morning. It was like the other funerals we attended this winter. A Christian funeral is a joyous occasion because we know where that person is now and it will be forever.
The rest is history but isn’t that the way God works? Through all his years of preaching, Billy Graham always made sure he was proclaiming Christ and not himself.
And God is continuing to work. When we joined the Medora Community Bible Church several years ago, we realized how mission- minded it was. The pastor at that time was Wayne Johnson, very passionate about spreading the “Good News” to all the world. He taught many of the young men important Bible truths, one of them was the young man, Ron Mandeville, who is our real insightful pastor now whom we appreciate very much!
The time came when Wayne felt God calling him into full-time missionary service and he became part of a world-wide mission group. Since our present pastor Ron and his wife went to India this month, Pastor Wayne and his wife Lorrie are supplying our pulpit at the Medora Bible Church so we feel twice blessed.
When he left, we became acquainted with a young couple who became the music director at our church…Isaac Cummins, and his wife. We decided we’d like to sing together in a mixed quartet for awhile. It was really enjoyable for John and me to sing with a young couple and they weathered it well, but of course, had to quit when they left. They were looking for help from different churches so they, together with their little children, could go to Turkey as missionaries. They are such a sweet and God-directed family, dedicated to serving God wherever He leads them.
Now. hold your breath, they are going to be speaking at the Young at Heart meeting on the last Thursday of this month, MARCH 29, 10a.m., at the Delos Smith Center, 101 W. First Ave. and you are all invited to come and hear them. This is a group for people over 55 that meets every week to “inspire, not retire“. We would love to meet you! Come early and enjoy a snack with us in the coffee room at the Center. We will be looking for you at the lovely Delos Smith Center, one of Hutchinson’s “ pride and joy!’’
Doris appreciates your comments at [email protected].
