Serious persecution was a common occurrence in those days. Hoodlums would seek to disrupt the meetings, but little attention was given to them, and the services continued uninterrupted. As time went on, every window in the building was broken, as was the glass in the doors and the transom. The windows and doors had to be boarded up, but the work of evangelism continued just the same.

Numerous curiosity seekers would come to the meetings and false rumors were circulated. The slanderous reports which were published in the newspapers only drew more people to come and investigate. Ofttimes those people would be convinced of the presence of God and were convicted of their sins.

News reporters were not the most welcomed people in those early days when every bit of available space was needed for spiritually hungry people. One day a man who came to get an account for the newspaper, feigned himself to be a “drunk,” so he would be given a place to pray at the altar where he could see for himself just what was going on. With a “bottle” in plain view in his hip pocket he made his way forward and found a place to pray. But instead of investigating the Gospel, the Lord convicted him of his sins right there at the altar and he was converted. The newspaper failed to get a slanderous story from that man.

Through the years, Mother was accustomed to severe personal persecution. One time, while holding meetings in Santa Rosa, California, she received a large gash in her forehead from a bottle thrown through a window. Another time, in Portland, a patrol officer who had been sent to arrest Mother, said, “I have a warrant for your arrest, but I cannot use it.” She just smiled. She knew God was protecting her and the work He had called her to do.

It was not long until the officials of Portland recognized the high standard of Christianity maintained by the Apostolic Faith people, and also the effect these meetings had on some of the incorrigibles. For many years the city officials have stood in defense of this evangelistic work and have honored its cause.