My family
history in America began with the French Huguenots (Father’s side)
who came to America for religious freedom around the late 1600's. My
great-grandparents (father’s mother side) participated in the Third
Great Awaking Revival at the turn of the 20th century (1850s-1900s).
They were “shouting Methodists,”- strong believers in God’s grace
and our need for Jesus. My great-grandfather built churches in every
town and community where he settled his family for a while, until
the next move south and westward. My paternal grandparents were
Methodists, and my father reared his family in the United Methodist
Church. Memories of learning about God and His Son, Jesus, began
with them. As early as I can recall, God is our Heavenly Father, and
God was always honored in our home.
In 1969, a miraculous
encounter with God and His Holy Spirit began changing my life; also,
in 1971 another miracle began changing my husband’s life. For me,
the change was a rededication to the LORD Jesus. For my husband,
Jerry, the change was a total transformation-he made Jesus Christ
his LORD and Savior. As Jerry walked the aisle for his profession of
faith, he heard the LORD say, “That Bible you have in your hand is
My Word, and it is true. You are not to deny it in your family life,
in your business life, and in your private life.” These words from
God formed a rock-solid foundation that supported us in peace and
faith during all the changes that were happening. Four years later,
Jerry bid goodbye to the business world. Everything we owned was
sold; the only exceptions were Jerry’s old Ford Model A, my dining
table, and a few personal items other than our clothes and linens.
This decision was a totally new direction and purpose from the LORD
that moved us and our three young sons (ages 9, 5, and 2) to Golden,
Texas. Jerry was appointed Pastor of two churches, and began
seminary studies at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist
University, Dallas, Texas, earning a Masters of Theology degree.
Arriving at our fourth appointed charge, Airline UMC, Houston,
Texas, I was faced with the choice of fourteen adult
Sunday school classes, and other things I could join, when I finally
asked the Lord,
“Where is my place in all of this?”
Quickly
the LORD answered, “I told you. You were a Roving Teacher.”
I
thought okay, and then asked, “When did You tell me?
He
answered, “When it was revealed.”
God confirmed “when it was
revealed” by having me recall situations when I helped people
understand the scriptures. In the first recall God showed me the
home Bible study in Caldwell, Texas. The study came from Bible
teachers on audio cassette tapes who were respected for their
uncompromising stand of faith in God’s Word. I would stop the tape
player, so that I could explain points in question with supporting
scriptures. After a while the ladies considered me their ‘teacher.’
The second recall brought to my memory was the ease I had
when talking about the Bible and sharing with people the revelations
and understandings God gave me. In all these situations, I did not
realize God considered this ‘teaching.’ He showed me that He did!
A couple of days later, I was still hesitant about what I should
do, when a church member approached me asking if I would teach his
Sunday school class. I knew the man’s request answered my question.
I found my place. I started teaching the Friendship Class the
lessons I learned from other teachers in the Body of Christ who had
helped me understand and live in the abundant-life full Gospel. In
one year, the membership doubled. Soon the class outgrew their
classroom and moved to the Fellowship Hall. In time, the Friendship
Class filled Fellowship Hall with 60, then 80, and at last count, 90
plus people present most Sundays.
The people in the
Friendship class, and in the church as a whole, had a heart for God
and His Word in action. They were excited about an active God
today who still moved and worked in powerful miraculous ways. And,
they wanted more! These are the ministries that came forth from the
Friendship Class: Crossn’ the Gulf Ministries, founded by Rene and
(the late) Barbara Henderson of Houston, presently headquartered in
Belize; Kenton Pate Ministries, founded by Kent and Priscilla Pate,
Midway, Texas; and Jerry Anderson of Alvin, Texas, who believed God
for fulfillment of a bus ministry to bring children to church. Other
ministries that sprouted later from the overall congregation at
Airline UMC include: Harkins House, a maternity home established for
mothers-to-be who had nowhere else to go, and that provided an
alternative to abortion for their unborn babies, founded by (the
late) Bobby and Shirley Harkins, serving Houston, Texas for a total
of 17 years; The Reverend Spencer Sprayberry, who became an ordained
pastor; Terri Dietrich, who pursued Worship and Women’s Ministry,
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Melissa (Henderson) Mack, who became
Pastor of Eagle’s Nest International Church, Houston, Texas.
May we never lose sight or thought of, that as Ambassadors for
Christ, the King and Master, He has entrusted us to the ministry of
reconciliation. The Master has commanded - “go out quickly…and bring
in here…compel them to come in so that “My house be filled.”
I look forward to every day that I have doing life God’s way, and to
every ‘Roving Teacher’ opportunity that will bring reconciliation
for the people whom God “so loved” back to Him.
Thank you for
coming to my website and allowing a visit with you.
Grace, Peace, and much Joy be yours by Jesus Christ. Take all you
need! |
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