TEEN-AGER REWARDED FOR FAITHFUL STAND
When the persecuted cried unto the LORD, He heard.
“I AM grateful for the love of God that won my heart when I was a schoolgirl of twelve. I was brought up in a humble home in Louisville, Kentucky, and was faithfully sent to Sunday school and church. I believe it was through this early Christian training that the fear of God was planted within my heart, for I loved the house of God.
“There were four of us children; and I, for one, have been thankful for strict discipline and for parents who were faithful to take us to God’s house. But many times I wished I had never been born, for my young heart was sad and sorrowful because of conditions that existed in the home. There was no Christian life exemplified before us in spite of all the Christian training and discipline. On the contrary, there was quarreling, and disunity, and the name of Jesus taken in vain. Finally, our home went through the divorce court.
“In a miraculous way, God led us out West to Portland, Oregon, in the spring of 1906. I had a grandfather, a Civil War veteran, living in Portland, who wrote and invited us to come. At the time, I wondered why we had to sell everything and move so far away. Later I did not question when I saw God’s hand in this wise decision, for it was here I found God’s people who believed in the Holy Bible and did not shun to declare the whole counsel of God.
“God’s Spirit had striven with my young heart from the time I could remember. There was always that something which was reaching for reality. One night, when I was quite young, God let me see myself standing on the brink of a lost eternity, a lake of fire; and it seemed every step I took, my foot would slip farther down the brink. This troubled me as I tried to understand what it all meant. But after the Lord saved my lost soul, He let me know that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and morality alone does not win His favor. Although I had never known the outward sins of life or gone into the ways of the world, I had had to repent, find His forgiveness, and have His Blood applied to my heart, without which I could never pass through those Pearly Gates.
Led to a Camp meeting
“I well remember the Sunday morning, I went to our little neighboring Sunday school as I usually did each Sunday, and some of the children in our class were telling of a campmeeting being held in the Montavilla district, a suburb of Portland. I had no idea where the location was, or the name of those who were holding the campmeeting; but God put a desire into my heart to find out where these services were being held.
“One hot afternoon in July, 1909, we started out to find the campmeeting. There were few paved walks in those days – mostly dusty, dirt roads. We had walked so far we grew tired, and sat on the porch of a grocery store to rest. Across the street stood a woman with a Bible in her hand, waiting for a streetcar. I ran to her and asked if she knew of a campmeeting being held in that district. She replied, ‘Just up this street about a block.’ It didn’t take us long to find it: a large canvas tent, and a meeting was in progress.
“The minute we entered that holy place, I felt the Spirit of God. A calm came over my soul, and I knew that at last I had found the real people of God. From that day to this, there has never been a question in my mind as to whether those people preach the true Gospel, for the Lord revealed from Heaven to my heart that these were His people.
The Spirit Strove
“I don’t remember anything the minister said, but I knew one thing: the Spirit of the Lord was dealing with my heart. He showed me I was a sinner, that I needed to repent and get the witness in my heart that I was His child. They gave an invitation to those who wanted to seek the Lord, to come forward and kneel at the altar of prayer – not merely to shake the preacher’s hand or join the church. I had done that just a few months previously, thinking perhaps that would bring peace to my troubled heart.
“I didn’t know how to pray from my heart or what to say to the Lord; but one of the Christian women who was kneeling by me said, ‘Ask God to be merciful to you a sinner.’ I repeated the prayer after her, word for word, and the tears started to flow from my eyes as I saw myself a lost soul who needed God’s mercy. It did not take long for the Lord to answer, and I could feel that load lift from my heart. Unrest and grief disappeared, and in their place came joy, peace and happiness. I had really thought that I could never enjoy happiness on earth, and I tried to adjust myself to going through life with a broken heart. But that day when Jesus washed my sins away, the sunlight of Heaven broke in upon my heart and I knew I belonged to Him. No one had to tell me I was His child and that my name was written in Heaven: I knew the change that had taken place in my heart was real.
“I could go back into that home where I was severely persecuted – and many times beaten without cause, in anger and blasphemy – and there I lived a Christian life.
Endured Persecution
“At one time I was kept away from the Apostolic Faith meetings for months, and how I longed for the fellowship of God’s people! I was taken before the Juvenile Court with no other charge than that I wanted to go to church and serve God. But in a miraculous way, the Lord undertook for me, and I was granted permission to go to church twice a month, which brought great joy and encouragement to my soul.
“I was not of age and did not want to disobey my mother, but I also knew God’s Word said to obey your parents ‘in the Lord.’ I could see God’s hand in bringing me through those trying times. I was confident He would never forsake one whose trust was in Him. I read many times, when going through great trial and testing, I read Psalm 27:10: ‘When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.’ Thank God for the Arm that is stronger than mine, that we can lean upon. We can know that He fights our battles and gives sufficient grace under all circumstances.
“I was not allowed to have any playmates or friends, so I stayed close to home and read God’s Word much and prayed often. I would pick out promises from the Bible and claim them, and stand upon them. It would bring courage and strength to my heart. Many times, I would come home from grade school (and later from high school) very tired after having walked several miles, and be met at the door and told I was not wanted at home. I was called unpleasant and abusive names that cut very deeply into my heart. But there was no other place for me to go.
“God kept me with victory under those conditions, and I did not want to run away from home or take steps that would bring me into the Juvenile Court or cause any trouble; neither did I want to get ahead of God’s plan in my life. I had prayed and consecrated my life and my all to Him, to do anything or go anywhere, just so I knew I was in His divine will.
Gloriously Rewarded
“I was eagerly looking forward to Christmas Day when I would be of age; and that very day I was again asked to leave home. I packed my few belongings in an old suitcase that my grandfather had lent me and left home; but God had a place for me among the Apostolic Faith people. It was not long until the Founder of this great work asked me to come to live in her home. My joy was almost more than I could contain: to think that God would count one such as I worthy enough to abide in her home and accept the love and kindness that was extended to me. But that is just like the love of Jesus toward one who will pick up the cross and follow in His footsteps.
“I was sent to a business college to prepare for a place that God had for me in His great work. I can say that from that day to this, I have had the blessed privilege of giving my life, my strength, and talent in His glorious service.
Deeper Spiritual Experiences
“I had never heard of sanctification, but I wanted whatever the Lord had in store for me. He did not disappoint me. He sanctified me wholly, a second, definite work of Grace. Then I still hungered on for more of the Lord; and the Apostolic Faith people told me of the mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. I had never heard of that experience before. I sought it day and night and within a few days’ time, the Lord poured out this blessed experience upon my sanctified soul. It seemed all I could think about was that Jesus was coming soon, and if I could do something for Him and win some sheaves to lay at His feet, how happy I would be! I can say that He has given me these many years to work for Him in His vineyard and what a glorious privilege has been mine!
Miracles of Healing Performed
“God has performed mighty miracles of healing in this body of mine, and also in members of my family. Through an auto accident, I was injured internally and suffered much for eight years. No other thought but to trust in the Great physician entered my mind. Then, one day after walking over two miles, something I had not been able to do for years, I suddenly realized that God had healed me. How wonderful to trust His healing Blood! When He heals, He does a perfect work.
“He healed my older brother when his appendix had burst and gangrene had set in. He had been given up to die, but through the prayers of the children of God, he was healed. His son, my nephew, had leukemia. When there was no earthly hope or help for him, a request was put in for prayer, and God reached down His mighty Arm and raised him up, and added years to his life. He is a strong, well man today with a family of his own.
“My uncle was facing a serious operation for tumor of the brain. A handkerchief which had been anointed with oil, laid upon the Word of God, and prayed over by the ministers, was sent him, and the Lord healed him without an operation. More than that, the Lord saved his soul and he wasn’t ashamed to declare the wonderful change that had come into his heart and transformed him into a child of God. These are miracles which prove that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
“It pays a thousandfold in this world to live for Jesus. And after our work on earth is done, there is that hope of seeing His blessed face and telling the story, ‘Saved by Grace.’ What a morning that will be!” – E.M.C.