Moving Right Along

After I was saved I learned that I could read the Bible and understand something frowned on by the Catholic Church. I began to attend four Bible studies a week, I just loved learning about this person I invited into my life. A lady, an ex-nun would come to our house on Friday night and we would make her teach us the Word until the next morning.  I left the Catholic religion and attended a church that believed in the gifts of the Spirit and taught faith. One day our best friend, the ex-nun, told me that God was raising me up to teach and she was moving on.
Most nights our little house would have over fifty people crammed into it. I loved our lady teacher. I didn’t want her to leave and I didn’t want to teach. I knew in my heart she was right, but I didn’t want to submit to God and be responsible. I began to teach our Bible study, but I was crude and too immature to be affective. One night before Bible study I was in my bedroom praying, things were not how they should be. The Lord said to me. “Don’t you understand what I’m trying to do here?” No Lord, I don’t! “You have been complaining about people not getting their healing, if you will teach them faith I can heal more of them.” His words cut through my heart, I quickly repented and got on my knees. When I did something came on me I have never had before, later I realized it was the anointing to be a minister of the Word.
Our Bible study group began to grow, we had more people than a lot of the churches. One day I was riding my bicycle and the Lord spoke to me: “I want you to start a church now.” Oh Lord, I don’t want to start a church. I don’t want to be a Pastor, I’ve seen too much compromise and abuse in that field. And then the Lord reminded me of something. “I thought you said you would do whatever I asked of you?” Yes Lord, but I never thought You would ask me to pastor, I will do whatever You tell me. “Good, now count the cost.” Over the years I found out what the cost of being a pastor was all about. Being a pastor has many glorious moments, but it also has times of great stress and disappointment. When you pour your life into a person whom you have loved for many years and one day, they take offense over little or nothing and abandon you, that’s a high cost.
I have been a pastor now for thirty years and God has given me great favor and wonderful opportunities. My friend and pastor is Joe McCroskey, the Lord sent him to help me and grow me up. I have met my father in the faith Kenneth Copeland and my other father, Jerry Savelle. I got to meet Jesse Duplantis, Happy Caldwell, Dennis Burke and other leaders of the faith camp. The Lord told me He would give me favor with all the men and women He would send to revive Montana. I have been on several motorcycle tours with Jerry Savelle, he even helped me buy my first Harley Davidson.
The Lord said He would give us a life better than we ever dreamt of. I’m living a dream I never dreamt. I will be eternally grateful to Jesus for saving me and using me to bring Him glory and honor.