Preachers/Pastors I have known/loved and why.

[Amanah]

thank you for those who have posted, these posts are inspirational.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Cindy

I always think about my childhood Pastor, Paul Hosch. Loving, kind, and humble man. And he could be firm, without being hurtful, or unkind. The kind of person you never wanted to displease, or hurt. Because you knew he loved you so much, he always wanted the best for you.

More later......

Can't wait to hear it. Just those few sentences to me epitomize a great person, pastor, parent, grandparent, mentor, teacher, boss. And those people are rare among us but I have met one or two and can think I will like your story.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

One of the nicest ministers I have ever known was our old Catholic priest.

When I say I was 'raised' Catholic it's a little different than what most people think. I was raised in the foster care system in Los Angeles. Because my mother identified our family as Catholic I was placed in a Catholic home for children from age 4 to 9.

It was amazing to me the first time I stepped into a Pentecostal prayer room that it brought back memories of the Sisters (nuns) who would gather in the chapel every morning and evening to pray for the children (and who knows what else) and weep before the Lord.

I never said that to any person in my church as I thought they would be insulted since they seem to have real disdain for Catholics but it's true nonetheless.

So tell us about Father________________ Randy.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Jay

I apologize for the length of my post.

Seriously Jay? You are apologizing to the blabber-fingers of the world about the length of your post? Hahahahahaaaa!!!!

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Jay

T2W, I tried to post earlier, and then wiped it all out by mistake. Mine would have been up for quite a while too.

I do not have an amazing conversion story as I grew up in the church. However, I have some of my own to share. I will save the most influential Pastor/minister for last. However, I have many that I can write about.

I will start with my Grandfather as I would not be here without him. He evangelized and pastored, and gave my father most of the standards that have been passed on to me. I have heard him preach, and can remember some parts of his messages. He has fairly retired from an active part in the ministry, but still preaches on occasion.

My Uncle Ron gave me my first opportunities to preach after we moved from Kansas, and before Dad took his current pastoriate. I know that my early messages were not that good, however I was only given encouragement. I wrestled with my calling for the next few years, but I will always be grateful for him to the experience. It was also while visiting his church that I was first used to give a message in tongues.

I do not remember Bro. Sims, but he had a major impact on the life of my family. My youngest brother was born with asthma, and he would have attacks severe enough to need a trip to the hospital. After one, the doctor told my parents that if he had another like that, they would need a ventilator for him at the house. My parents could not afford that type of expense. Shortly after this, in an evening service, Bro. Sims stopped in the middle of his message, turned to my youngest brother (asleep under the pew as babies will do) and said, "Lord, heal this child." He then returned to his message. My brother never had another attack again.

My family has never forgotten the generosity and obedience to God that was exemplified by Bro. Foster of Dallas First Church. Dad had taken the Church that Bro. Sims had pastored, but being a small congregation, revivals were beyond our ability to afford. I was very young, and asked Dad why other churches had revivals, but we did not. He explained that it took money and we did not have it. When we arrived at home, I gave him roughly 37 cents (my memory is not exact on the amount as I was just a child at the time). I told him that God had told me that if I gave my Pastor all the money in my bank that our church would have a revival. It was later that week, Dad was in his office, and Bro. Foster called. Neither of them were often in their offices at that time of day, and Bro. Foster told Dad that while he was praying, God told him to call my Dad and give him a revival.When the initial dates would not work, Bro. Foster told Dad that he had some young men who needed the experience, and that he would take care of all of the finances including food for them. He then set another date for about a month later, when he himself would hold a revival for us, and set forth the same statement on the finances. It was the first time that I ever saw faith accomplish the impossible.

Bro. Bishop, a pastor in Kansas, was a friend of our families for several years. He always had a kind word for us children, and I remember helping to pray his grandson through to the Holy Ghost.

Bro. Westburg was good to our family. We were welcome to attend his watch night service as the church we were attending served wine for communion. I also remember Bro. Young who was a young preacher in his church, and later became the pastor. He preached the youth camp when I received the Holy Ghost.

Bro. Ogle was another friend of our family's. He had my Dad preach on occasion, and then care for his church when he was involved in a bad wreck. Bro. Ogle broke his back, and was told that he was going to be paralyzed from the neck down. However, he had many people praying for him. One night he had a dream that he was in a tornado, and his body was being spun in the storm while his head remained stationary. He felt pain, and when he woke up, he had feeling and movement restored to his arms and hands. He has since recovered full movement of his upper torso, and limited movement in his legs and feet. We are still praying for a complete recovery, even after the course of several years. He has had my brothers and I preach when we were in town, and his advice to us was of great assistance.

Bro. Elder opened his church to us when we ended a period of time as home missionaries. This allowed our family some time to heal from some of the wounds that had been acquired, and regain our feet financially.

Mom Elder was Bro. Elder's mother. She had been a missionary to Africa and aided Sis. Freeman's mother in the Southwest. It was difficult to get her to talk about what she had seen unless she was approached the right way. Sadly, I took to long to learn it, and so missed a wonderful opportunity. However, I understand that the lesson that she was teaching me was one of humility. She wants to see God get all of the glory. I will always remember hearing her preach and listening to her pray. I hope that I get to see her again before much longer.

Pastor Karriker was the youth leader in Bro. Elder's church when we were there. It was after we left that he was made the Assistant Pastor, and upon Bro. Elder's death the pastor of the church. I had the privelege of being allowed to stay in his home during some the time of Bro. Ogle's illness when I wanted to attend youth functions, that occured on Saturday night. He was always good to me, and I remember his entire family with great fondness.

Bro. Traylor came through town last year, and was mightily used of God. He provided much needed encouragement and direction at a time of confusion. I have will always appreciate the words that he gave me, and have laid them up in my heart.

What can I say if the most important of them all? He has been both my father and my pastor. He has provided more direction and advice for me concerning my method and style of preaching than anyone else. He has performed the work of an evangelist and pastor. He cared for a church that needed a man of God when their pastor was in the hospital with a broken back, and then reported to him the condition of the church and a report of the service. He has cared for his saints, and had them repay him with woundings, but cared anyway. He gives more than any two or three members combined, but does not declare it. He stands to deliver a word of encouragement, even when there are none to encourage him. He is my Pastor and my father. I have seen him used in the gift of the word of knowledge and prophecy. I have watched him do the work of the church in weariness and pain without complaining. He has been patient when I caused him pain because I felt the need to discover the purposes of the standards and when I failed to live up to expectations. If I can ever be half of the man and preacher that he is, I shall be grateful. If I become anything in the ministry, it will be because of his influence and teaching me.

This is beautiful Jay. It is families like yours that drew us into Church. Generational Pentecostals who have lived faithfully for God. Those who never felt the need to try out every kind of sin and were able to raise their children to see the value of living for God from ones youth. Never feel like you need or would want a dramatic conversion story (not that you do personally, but just general advice for whoever needs to hear it). Living apart from God is awful. Coming to know God later in life brings many scars, sadness, and regrets but it is still exponentially better than never knowing God at all.

I loved your story. Listening to you describe the godly people in your life makes me sad that I will probably never meet them in my lifetime but glad to know that one day I may meet them in heaven. Thank you.

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by Cindy

I always think about my childhood Pastor, Paul Hosch. Loving, kind, and humble man. And he could be firm, without being hurtful, or unkind. The kind of person you never wanted to displease, or hurt. Because you knew he loved you so much, he always wanted the best for you.

More later......

Cindy,

You brought back sweet memories of Bro. Paul Hosch. Dad had just began a work in our small town. Didn't have license yet, and so we asked Bro. Hosch if he would marry us. He came out to Garland,Tx and married us in my cousin's back yard. We had a lovely garden wedding, flowers blooming, etc. etc. Simple, yet sweet! July 11, 1959. 52 1/2 yrs ago.

Bro. Paul Hosch and my late father were close friends for many yrs. A dear, precious man of God!

Falla39

[AreYouReady?]

Reading good things about real Godly-minded Pastor's gives me hope that someday I will see a real Holy Ghost revival in my region. It is my sincere desire to see, once again, an upper room rushing, mighty wind blow in and God's Holy Ghost take over our area both inside and outside the many church buildings that dot this landscape.

Please help me pray.

[BeenThinkin]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Reading good things about real Godly-minded Pastor's gives me hope that someday I will see a real Holy Ghost revival in my region. It is my sincere desire to see, once again, an upper room rushing, mighty wind blow in and God's Holy Ghost take over our area both inside and outside the many church buildings that dot this landscape.

Please help me pray.

Do you suppose there might be "cloven tongues like as of fire", with folks speaking in languages that could be understood? Just wonderin'!


Been Thinkin

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by BeenThinkin

Do you suppose there might be "cloven tongues like as of fire", with folks speaking in languages that could be understood? Just wonderin'!


Been Thinkin

Well if there is, sign me up!

[Margies3]

Others here have heard my story - but I will tell you anyway In my years in Pentecost, I had the privilege of sitting under several of the finest men the church has ever known. I may not have agreed with them 100%. But I loved them and I respected them deeply.

I started out under Bro Fred Kinzie, but only for a short time.

After that we moved to a church closer to us and Bro Paul Dennis became our pastor. We only got to have them for about 3 years before God called the Dennis's to the mission field in Japan and eventually as regional field director in the Asian district. But I am still good friends with them and hear from them often. These are some FINE people, folks!

Next I spent some time under the leadership of Bro Roy Well in Pontiac, Michigan. Under Bro Well I learned the power that is in a faithful, committed prayer life. Sadly for us, God called the Well's to become missionaries to Chile, South America. Are we seeing a pattern here, folks? Hang on - cuz it gets better! The blessing for me tho is that even after all these years, I have remained friends with the Well's and have been invited several times to spend time in their home for the weekend.

Then I moved to Owosso, Michigan where my pastor was Bro Harold Roberts. Another very fine man of God.

After that I moved home to Ohio where my pastor was Bro William Schaffner. Sadly, Bro Schaffner has moved on to Heaven. But his wife and I remain good friends. Good people - those Schaffner folks!

So then I spent the next almost 20 years in the United Methodist Church with my husband. Until we decided we needed to make a change and have moved to an Alliance Church here in our town. We love it at this church. It has been one of the best moves we've ever made in our marriage. When we first came here Andy Brake was our pastor for the first 6 or 7 years. And guess what! God has called him to the mission field too! He and his family have moved to Indonesia to work as missionaries.

Sooooo, I think I'm going to get myself a T-Shirt to wear or a bumper sticker for my van. It will say, "I TRAIN FUTURE MISSIONARIES". Because apparently, that is my calling in life. !!! LOL