This book, Go Now, is filled with bold faith and miracle stories from the head hunters in the northern Philippines, to Communist China where Wendell and his wife Daisy, made over 1000 border crossings with suitcases filled with Bibles. Wendell gives you an intimate inside look at how God worked deep in his heart rescuing a discontented young man and crafted him into an effective tool for His service. Now, onto post #4 of 9.
Gerald Derstine, a well-known preacher, was spending several nights as a guest at the Volunteer Service Center while conducting revival meetings at an affiliated church in the city. I had read some info about Gerald several years earlier and I remembered how it had dramatically challenged and inspired me. In his writing I had learned about other people who had experienced Jesus in similar ways as I had when he had healed me of those warts. I knew I had to talk to Pastor Derstine. I had so many unanswered questions.
Night had fallen when I found him settled in a well worn over stuffed armchair with an open Bible on his lap. His eyes were closed and I couldn’t tell if he were asleep or meditating. I shuffled my feet in the doorway making just enough noise to let him know that he was not alone yet, given him the liberty to ignore me if he chose.
The slight disturbance was enough. Aware he was not alone, he glanced in my direction. Seeing me standing in the open doorway, he smiled broadly and offered the warm invitation I had been hoping for. “Hi there! You want to come in and sit with me for a while?” I quietly entered the room and found a chair nearby. For moments we were both silent. I stared out the window at the bright city lights that suddenly blurred as tears filled my eyes. Blinking them back furiously, I sought to control the flood of unexplainable emotions overwhelming me. I didn’t want to cry; I wanted to have an intelligent conversation.
Sensitive that I was struggling, he waited quietly until I finally gained some control. Then he inquired, “Would you like to tell me what’s on your heart?”
That was all I needed. I choked down the lump in my throat and blurted out, “There has to be something I’m missing. I just don’t understand why today’s Christianity doesn’t match up with what I read in the Bible. I just don’t understand.” I felt anger and bitterness rising as I vented my frustration. I thought he would scold me, to tell me to read my Bible more, pray more, or just suck it up, but instead he let me unload my frustration.
Bottom Line:
When I was done, he just smiled. Finally, he broke the uncomfortable silence. “You know, I understand what you’re feeling, probably much more than you realize. I’ve been there and…” He paused for emphasis. “I know just what you need, what your heart is longing for.”
To be continued tomorrow…