I'm Still Hugging The Holy Spirit
An opportunity arose for us to broadcast a half-hour program on a local radio station. Our church was in its infancy and funds were very limited. We approached Heaven's throne to receive the go-ahead. After a few days I felt the Lord's assurance that He would supply the funds, so we signed the agreement.
Then we began praying that the Holy Spirit would lead curious, honest folks to listen. At the end of the first message we offered free in-home Bible Study videos.
The next evening our home phone rang. A local woman asked about having the in-home Bible study. It was obvious that at least one person had heard the program. We made an appointment for my wife and I to show her the first video. Then we began to pray earnestly that she would be a receptive-hearted woman.
When we met Carolyn she was so cordial and intensely interested that I wished I could hug the Holy Spirit for making this connection. She had two very young children: Alan and Paula. Carolyn had just recovered from a serious illness and was concerned about her soul's relationship with the Lord.
I watched her eyes and countenance as the Bible story was playing. I was astounded when I asked if she had any questions ~ ~ she had a basket full. She was one of the most perceptive and intelligent people I'd ever met. We scheduled the next session and left with our hearts full of joy.
Scripture records the Apostle Peter's very first sermon:
"When they heard this they were crushed and realized what they had done to Jesus. Deeply moved, they said to Peter and the other apostles, “What do we need to do, brothers?”
"Peter replied, “Repent and return to God, and each one of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus, the Anointed One, to have your sins removed. Then you may take hold of the gift of the Holy Spirit. For God’s promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and your families, for those yet to be born and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:36-39, TPT)
Over the next few weeks we completed the studies and read Peter's words to her. Then she asked, "Can you immerse me?" The videos had explained God's Plan of Salvation and she believed that Jesus was God's Son, that she no longer wanted to sin against God and wanted to complete her conversion.
After the baptism Carolyn and her children came to every service: three times a week. And her curiosity increased and increased. At the end of any sermon she would quiz us about anything that wasn't absolutely clear to her. In the adult Sunday School class she kept a notebook of each week's Bible questions and answered them as we worked through the Acts of the Apostles.
As we walk down life's pathway we meet many people. Some are more special than others. She was that kind of a special Christian. We were not the only ones who felt she was a dear soul. She invited many town's folks to the services because she was adored in the community.
Soon Carolyn brought a teenage girl with her. We learned it was her sister, Lauri. A week or two later she brought a senior woman ~ her mother, Edith. Then she brought a woman who owned a laundry in town. Over a period of six months or so Lauri and Edith both were converted.
Carolyn was a superb author and entered several contests for writing the best story for a chance to win a prize. She was so good she won several of them. This led to the local newspaper hiring her as a reporter. Faithful to the Lord she used the opportunity to spread the good news whenever she could.
Carolyn's husband owned a race car and she was the treasurer for the local racing association. So some of the other driver's wives began to attend with her. I befriended her husband but he was "too busy" to go to church. I went a step further and worked on his race car with him and attended a couple of his races. For some reason it made no difference. To this day I don't know if he ever yielded to the Lord.
It was just a pain in her side when she made the doctor appointment. But it was more than a painful nerve or muscle that he found. This sweet woman had pancreatic cancer and after a few months went to her eternal home where I'm sure the Lord hugged her and said, "Well done. Welcome home." I look forward to seeing her when I cross that final river.
I marveled about a few things. What if the radio station didn't have a program time available? What if we hadn't been able to pay for it? What if she hadn't heard the broadcast? What if she hadn't just recovered from her illness which sparked the interest in her soul? What if we hadn't heard the phone call? But most of all - How many other Carolyns are there out in our neighborhoods just waiting to connect with us?
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Plan of Salvation
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