Out of Gas

On a bitter cold day in the winter of 1975-1976 Dayna, Darlene and I had been to Benton, Arkansas and headed back to Jonesboro when we ran out of gas. We had made the trip before on the same amount of gas, but the fuel pump was messing up and caused it to use more.  It left us stranded on the side of Highway 49 between Hickory Ridge and Waldenburg and the weather was cold, windy and becoming icy. 

With no gas in the pickup we couldn't run the heater, and I knew the temperature would drop quickly. The girls had their coats on but I had them to scoot close together, then wrapped my coat around them too. They sat huddled together  while I got out to flag down a passing motorist. 

Standing on the edge of the highway with the wind whipping around me I looked at my two babies in the pickup and started praying. I prayed for warmth for Dayna and Darlene, for safety for us all and for God to send some good person to help us. 

With the weather so bad there were very few cars on the highway. But eventually a car stopped. Still whispering a prayer I walked to the door and explained the situation to the couple inside. Then I asked if I could give them gas money and them bring it back to us. They talked me into getting the girls and me into their car, and they would take us to get some. 

We got to Waldenburg and the service stations were closed. Though the couple were from another city they knew the owner of a station there. We drove to his house, he opened the station, and sold us gas. When I tried to pay for it, the couple who picked us up wouldn't let me. 

God is more than enough for any need or situation we face. 

Tea Ma'am?

Sister Mary Harris and I sat at my kitchen table visiting one afternoon. We could hear the chatter of Darlene and Dayna in their room playing as Sister Harris told about playing dress-up with her daughters, Kathy and Donna. 

Sister Harris told about dressing up one day and stepping outside to pretend she was a visitor. She knocked on the door and the girls told her to come in, but when she tried to open the door, it was locked. Her girls were very small and she had quite an ordeal trying to get back inside.

While we visited,  Dayna and Darlene came into the kitchen with their tea cups and asked, "Would you like some tea, ma'am?" Normally I would play make-believe with them and drink or eat what they offered. This day I distractedly said, "No, thank you ma'am. Not today." But Sister Harris reached out and drank the tea (water) that they served. 

Several minutes later the girls were back and offering tea again. Suddenly, as Sister Harris drank another cup, I realized, I had not given them a pitcher of water for their pretend tea party as usual. So where did they get the tea? 

As Darlene and Dayna walked out of the kitchen, I quietly followed just in time to see them dipping their tea cups into the toilet. I was thankful for Sister Harris' great sense of humor, and also thankful I hadn't accepted tea that day. 

Love & Loyalty

Good friend, don't forget all I've taught you;

Take to heart my commands. 

They'll help you live a long, long time, 

A long life lived full and well.

Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.

Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. 

Earn a reputation for living well

In God's eyes and the eyes of the people.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

Don't try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

He's the one who will keep you on track.

Don't assume that you know it all.

Run to God! Run from evil!

Your body will glow with health,

Your very bones will vibrate with life!

Honor God with everything you own;

Give Him the first and the best.

Your barns will burst,

Your wine vats will brim over.

But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline;

Don't sulk under His loving correction.

It's the child He loves that God corrects;

A father's delight is behind all this.

Proverbs 3:1-12

We Wear the Mask

"We Wear the Mask"

We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes--

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile

And mouth with myriad subtleties.

 

Why should the world be over-wise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us while

We wear the mask.

 

We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries

To Thee from tortured souls arise.

We sing, but oh the clay is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

We wear the mask!

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Shampoo Deb?

Mom had four small girls between two and six years old, was the pastor's wife, helped to care for Grandpa George after his stroke, and she was also pregnant with Juanetta. So it is understandable that she would need to rest a few minutes while we played right outside. 

Mom said she lay across the bed and listened to our chatter as we played on the porch. She didn't think much about it when she heard me ask, "Debbie,  do you want me to wash your hair?" But her rest was over when shortly afterward Deb came through the door and said, "Momma, Annette put that stuff on my hair."  Mom saw a brown, sticky, semi-liquid running down Deb's hair and got up to investigate its source. When she walked onto the porch she realized that she had set Grandpa's tobacco juice spit can there, thinking she would empty it later. Hopefully tobacco shampoo won't give Deb cancer. 

Mom has always had a weak stomach, so you can imagine her gagging while washing Deb's hair. 

Jail & A Snake

There was an old, unused jail in Success that was near the home of the Perren's.  Dad and Hershel were both pranksters and wouldn't miss a chance to get back each other with one. 

One day Dad went to the Perren's house and Hershel wanted to show him the jail. When Dad stepped inside Hershel dropped something in the hasp and had him locked in but hurriedly let Dad out when he realized there was a snake inside. 

As Dad came out of the jail he grabbed the snake behind its head and started after Hershel. Of course  he didn't stand still for long with Dad after him. 

Dad killed the snake and later sneaked over and coiled it in the floor of Hershel's pickup. I think when he got in and started to town he about killed himself trying to get out of the truck. 

Dad's Teeth

It was about 1960 and 1961 when we went to Success, Arkansas. Dad and Mom helped tear down and rebuild the Pentecostal church there and pastored during that time. 

In the front, left corner of the church was an old cement style baptistry which was probably a block in width. The inside was built narrow, so the minister would stand on the outside to baptize someone. 

Dad had trouble keeping his top denture plate in, even with Fixodent, when he would excitedly yell, "Hallelujah!" because his tongue would get under the edge and flip them out. You know that it is tough for a Pentecostal preacher to avoid doing that. 

One night he was baptizing a new convert when the Holy Ghost fell. Dad yelled, "Hallelujah!" and out his teeth flew. They bounced about three times and fell out onto the floor. 

Later Dad was talking to Hershel Perren, a friend of his in town and said he thought they were gone into the baptistry for sure. Hershel replied, "Well Preacher, it wouldn't have been a problem to get them out. All we would have had to do is tie a chicken leg onto a string and drop it into the baptistry. Your teeth would have grabbed it."

Slag or Tree?

When we were about eleven and twelve Deb and I were playing chase before school started one day. Deb was being very elusive when I tried to tag her. So for some strange reason I decided to tag her another way. 

Why I did it, I have no clue, but I picked up a piece of coal slag and threw it at her. She turned to look at me just as the slag caught her nose and eye. Deb was adled and blood was flowing from her broken nose and cut eye when I got to her side. There was no question in my mind that I was in serious trouble. She asked,  "What happened?" Thinking what a rare opportunity to save my hide, I replied, "You ran into the tree."  That was the story we told Mom and Dad when we got home. My conscience bothered me, but evidently avoiding a paddling was more important to me at the time. 

Deb being stunned enough that she believed my story saved me that day. The truth wasn't told about this incident for many years, when Deb asked me one day, "Did I really run into the tree when my nose got broken?" I then told her the truth. She said she had always had the idea that I had thrown something. 

A Bug

Around 1959 Dad preached a revival in an old night club he had rented near Thayer, Missouri. Many people came to know God through this revival and he helped the Lafferty and Crony families get a church started there. 

We lived in a small, two bedroom house with brown asphalt siding and an outhouse.  At the time there were only four of us girls, Debra-age five, Rhonda-age three, Sherlyn-age two, and myself-age six. We all four slept in a full-size bed. (Sure wouldn't want to try that now)

One evening after we sat down to eat supper Rhonda asked to go to the outhouse. When she stayed out too long I was asked to go check on her. When I walked around the corner of the house there Rhonda stood, holding a big, brown, hairy tarantula by one leg. I yelled, "Rhonda! Throw that thing down!" as I slapped it out of her hand. Then I excitedly asked, "What did you think it was?" She calmly replied, "A bug."

Donald Duck

Mom and Dad were cleaning out the old night club at Thayer, Missouri to prepare it for starting a revival. They thought they could get more done without four little girls helping so we stayed a few hours with a lady nearby. 

When we first arrived the lady told us she would turn the tv on and let us watch a show. As we were taught against tv we told her that we didn't believe in watching it. She had no children, so she had no toys and was at a loss of how to entertain four little girls. She finally decided that all little girls like playing make-believe.

The lady got out some of her old dresses and shoes so Deb, Rhonda and I could play dress-up.  When she saw that we were content she thought she could sit down with Sherlyn, as she was so small, and watch tv. As she turned on the tv to a cartoon Donald Duck came running straight into the camera. As Sherlyn had never seen it before, it scared her. She covered her eyes and started screaming. 

When Mom and Dad came to pick us up the lady asked how they could teach a two-year-old that it was a sin to watch tv. (She had misinterpreted Sherlyn's fright for conviction.)

Mice

Near 1966 Mom and Dad had been asked to preach a revival in Wynn, Arkansas. They rented an old restaurant/night club, which had not been used for a long while. So we were facing a huge task to clean it. 

Roger and Diane Carson, our cousins, drove over to help clean the building and get it ready for having services. While we were cleaning we found a nest full of baby mice, so young they were pink and had no hair. We girls came up with a fun idea. (One of many for us through the years)

When everyone was busy we carried the nest full of baby mice and set it in the back floor of Roger and Diane's car. After everything was cleaned and ready to start having services they left to go home.  We would see them again when the revival started.

Roger and Diane told us that after they left Wynn and started home Roger commented several times that he needed to work on the brakes because they were squeaking. But soon they realized they heard the squeak when not braking too so started investigating and found the cause.... 

Frogs

Around 1976 AB, Dayna and Darlene and I moved to Mesquite, Texas to work  for about six or eight months. The girls ages were three and four at the time. 

Dayna and Darlene have always enjoyed the outdoors. They were intrigued by anything of nature, whether bugs, frogs, lizards,  rocks or other things. 

We were visiting with Aunt Hazel one evening and were meeting some family we hadn't met before. Dayna and Darlene had been playing in the back yard when Aunt Hazel asked me to bring them in. As they came in the door I was embarrassed that they had the bottom of their dresses in their hands and folded to their waist. I told them to put their dresses down which they did as they sat down, and frogs started hopping everywhere. 

#10

It Happened In Pentecost! It Really Did!!

A pastor friend of mine shared this embarrassing episode with me about one pastor preaching for another. The host pastor was a prankster and always enjoyed a good laugh.

The visiting minister needed to buy a few items from the store after church. So the pastor and his son drove him. On the way they told their guest about the crime in their city and how dangerous it was to be out at night.  

When the men arrived at the store the young man stayed in the car to protect it while the two older ministers went inside to make their purchases.  The host pastor hurriedly made his choices, checked out, and told the other minister he would wait for him in the car.  

The pastor knew his friend was next at the check-out counter, so he walked around the corner, pulled his hat down over his eyes and turned his collar up and waited.  When he heard footsteps and saw the grocery bags he jumped out with his finger jabbed into the chest of his friend and shouted, "This is a stickup!" Only it was not his friend. 

A woman started screaming, dropped both bags and took off running. Seeing his mistake the pastor tried to calm her, but the more he tried the louder she became. 

Finally seeing the futility of making the woman understand the joke he was pulling on his friend, the pastor ran to the car. They picked the other minister up as he came out the door and drove away. The last they saw of her the lady was still jumping up and down and screaming. 

The minister had let the lady check out ahead if him when he realized another item he needed to buy. 

As told by Rev. C.E. George

Intro:

It Happened In Pentecost! It Really Did!

Below is an introduction from a spiral notebook of stories Dad had written. He was compiling stories told to him by friends or of things that he had seen. His plan was to collect the stories and then write a book. The title, "It Happened In Pentecost! It Really Did! was the title he had selected. I hope you enjoy his stories as I have been enjoying them, because many of his stories, are your stories. 

If anyone notices facts that are incorrect please private message me with the correct facts so I can change them. 
(Annette George)

"The things related in this publication are, to the best of my knowledge, true.

I have long felt that many things are being forgotten and should be preserved as a part of Pentecostal History. I have compiled stories from the lives of many ministers. I am sure that you will be moved by many of these stories as the experiences are shared with you. And you may roll with laughter as you read of the embarrassing and humorous experiences of others. They have blessed and amused me over the years. So allow me to share with you what many friends have shared with me."

As told by the late Rev. C.E. George

#9

It Happened In Pentecost! It Really Did!

Brother Charlie Wycliff, a fellow minister and friend has left a trail of miracles behind him too numerous to record, and countless people he has won to God. 

Being unable to read or write, yet Brother Charlie had an exceptional knowledge of the Bible. His ministry lasted about fifty years, took him from coast to coast and to some foreign countries. Many of those miles were covered by hitch hiking. 

There is no way I can list all of the astounding stories of Brother Charlie being led by the Spirit of God.  His beginning in the ministry was heartbreaking, yet he never faltered in that work. 

As a young boy Brother Charlie received the Holy Ghost and felt the call of God to the ministry. His stepfather, being an  infidel, resented him being a minister. So he beat him with a frying pan until Brother Charlie was bruised and bleeding then told him to get out and stay out. He carried the scars the rest of his life, not only visible scars but the beating left him with the mental capacity of a child as well, though  that never kept God from using him. 

Brother Charlie Wycliff began his ministry at the age of fifteen. With a small bag of clothes and no home he made his way to a small Texas town. He said as he walked past a vacant lot God told him to preach a revival there. 

After finding the owner of the lot, getting permission to use it and hanging oil lamps he still had no seats. Brother Charlie said he saw a church with discarded pews piled in the back. So he went up and knocked on the door of the parsonage. The pastor answered the door, Brother Charlie introduced himself and said, "God sent me to town to preach a revival." When the pastor asked to see his papers with their denominal organization and Brother Charlie said he had none, the pastor told him that he couldn't preach there. 

After being told that he couldn't preach for the denominal church Brother Charlie asked about the pews behind the church and the pastor told him he could have them if he would move them. 

After dragging the pews to the vacant lot Brother Charlie  began a revival which continued for many weeks. During that time about seventy-five people were baptized in Jesus Name, including two deacons and several other members from the church he had contacted when first coming to town. Over fifty people testified to the baptism of the Holy Ghost as in Acts 2:1-4 before the revival was over. 

Several ministers have relayed this testimony to me and said that a church was erected on that lot after the revival and continues until now. 

As told by the late Rev. C.E. George

#8

It Happened In Pentecost! It Really Did!

My wife and children and I were preaching a revival in East Saint Louis, Missouri for Pastor Herman Clenney, and staying in the Sunday School rooms of the church. Even though the church was adjacent to a police station we had been warned about the neighborhood. The pastor, to inform us of how dangerous the community was, told us about their church being broken into multiple times, about people throwing bottles through the windows during service, and other lawbreaking incidents that had happened.

Of course, with the large family we had, taking towels and clothing to the laundry mat was imminent. After a few days we drove around and found one, parked, carried the laundry in and loaded the washers. 

I leaned against a washer and my wife had set her purse on one while she was putting coins in and starting them all. 

Something caught my eye in the doorway and I watched a large man stop, look at my wife's purse then start walking toward me while staring me straight in the eye. I stepped in front of her purse, folded my arms and looked him in the eye as he advanced toward me. ( His eyes looked so cruel as to give you the feeling he was heartless.)

As the man approached and was within hearing distance I asked, "Do you know Jesus?" while still looking him in the eye. His next step was hesitant as he inquired, " What?" I repeated my question, "Do you know Jesus?" I saw the man's eyes soften and I continued to tell him about how God loved him so much, about the death, burial, the resurrection, and how God's Spirit came to dwell in us and give us life and hope. 

Before I finished talking the man had stopped in front of me and stood there with tears flowing down his cheeks. When I finished telling him about Jesus' love, hope, and grace he said, "Mr, I came in here to annihilate you, and would have if you hadn't told me about Jesus loving me."

 Story as told by Rev. C.E. George

#7

It Happened In Pentecost! It Really Did!

My wife and I along with our small daughters had just moved to Maynard, Arkansas in the 50's to start a church, leaving behind good paying jobs in Rockford, Illinois. We found ourselves struggling under the load of a new work with little income. Every penny that came in to the church for two years was needed to keep the doors open. The only work I was able to find was an occasional temporary job. 

On the first of the month we had a bill coming due for $10.72. That doesn't sound  like much now, but in a time like that it looked large. On the last night before it was due I talked to my wife and we committed the need to God before we went to church. 

We were in a revival so the offering we took, which was always a meager sum, was being given to the evangelist. 

During the service a lady came in who was a stranger, and God gave me a vision of her handing me a ten dollar bill. Immediately I fell on my knees and thanked God for it. 

When the service was over that night I was shaking hands with everyone and when I shook the hand of the visiting lady she left a bill in my hand. I didn't look at it, there was no need, I had seen it an hour before while it was still in her purse. 

As I shook hands with the other visitors that night a man gave me a dollar as well. 

When we arrived home we counted our money and had the $10.72 to pay the bill that was due plus $1.10 to pay the tithes on the $11.00 we had been given. Our bill was paid on time. 

Many times through the years of working for God, He has protected and provided for us when our eyes could see no way. We have found that "BIG or small" God sees our every need and He cares. 

As told by the late Rev. C.E. George

#6

It Happened In Pentecost! It Really Did!

A  minister I knew of from Indiana had crippling arthritis and could only walk with leg braces and crutches. Thankfully in later years God performed a miracle and made him whole, but this story that was related to me was before his healing. 

In the early years of his ministry this preacher was traveling to conduct a revival in a small, remote village. The village was in a valley at the bottom of a long stretch of gravel road. Cars were very scarce in the area during the 30's and this minister considered himself fortunate to be one of the few blessed to own one. 

The preacher told that he was running a little late when he came into view of the village below as he topped the last hill. Considering that he had a good view of the road in both directions he decided that he would have time to change into his suit before arriving at the church. He knew he would be able to see any cars coming from either direction.  

The minister stopped on top of the hill and got into the back seat of his four door sedan. He removed his shirt and undershirt and had his trousers around his ankles. As he realized he couldn't reach to take them off he started twisting and kicking to remove them. 

Suddenly, while twisting and kicking to remove his trousers the minister felt his car lurch forward and begin it's descent toward the village. Not being able to climb over the high-backed seat, he could only reach over and grasp the steering wheel to keep from wrecking. 

When a car came by in those days everyone stopped to look and children would run to the road to see it go by. So you could imagine the shock they received when seeing a man go by in only his bvd's.

After reaching the valley the evangelist was relieved that his car finally came to a halt. But that relief was short-lived as he saw the crowd of people watching him and realized he had stopped in front of the church. 

As told by Rev. C.E. George

#5

It Happened In Pentecost! It Really Did!

Rev. Joel Bourn shared with me a story about his Grandfather, Rev. Hiram Holland,  who was a man of faith and was in need of a horse to till his field. In those days money was scarce and he was praying for God to supply the need. 

One day a man was returning from the cotton gin and stopped and engaged in conversation for a while with Brother Holland. The man mentioned that a horse had broken it's leg at the gin and that they were going to have to shoot it. Brother Holland left in a run toward the gin. 

When Brother Holland arrived breathless at the gin  the gin owner was just about to shoot his horse to get it out of it's misery. Brother Holland stopped the gin owner and asked why he didn't give him the horse, and he would take care of it. The man readily agreed. 

He said the crowd of men around bore witness to what happened next. Brother Holland dropped to his knees and lay hands on the broken leg of the horse. He called the Name of Jesus and reminded Him that He had promised to supply all his needs. The bones of the horses leg were instantly healed, and Brother Holland got up onto the horse and galloped home thanking God for supplying his need. 

As told by the late Rev. C.E. George

#4

It Happened In Pentecost! It Really Did!

About the year 1940 Rev. T.C. Montgomery was conducting an open air meeting in Leachville, Arkansas. There had been a great response, many miraculous healings had taken place and a large number of people had received the Holy Ghost. 

One night a preacher from another denomination stood up during the testimony service and declared that people were being deceived. He said that only twelve people had ever received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Immediately a young man jumped to his feet who had received the Holy Ghost the previous night and shouted with joy, "Thank God I was one of the twelve!"

As told by Rev. C.E. George