Archives: Episode

December 12. Alexander Mackay. When Mackay was three, he read the New Testament, and at seven, he read Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. His father taught him geography, astronomy, and geometry. From eleven on, Mackay got interested in engines, blacksmithing, and the trades, and then mathematics, photography, and even shipbuilding. But when he was sixteen, and his mother died, he threw himself into the Scriptures—and the direction of his life was set. 

When famous African explorer Henry Stanley challenged any brave Christian willing to spread the faith and work hard—to come to Uganda, Mackay was all in. He would go to Africa as an engineer-missionary. He would tell King Mutesa about King Jesus. 

Mackay hacked a road 230 miles through a jungle so dense “a cat could scarcely creep along.” He traveled—land and river—for 700 miles, navigated a battered boat over Lake Victoria (an inland sea as big as Ireland), all the while driven by his fierce love for God and a bold determination. He created an alphabet for the local unwritten language and taught boys to read the Lord’s Prayer. Mackay translated Matthew’s Gospel into Luganda. But he didn’t see the success he hoped for. 

However, within 6 years of Mackay’s death, 100,000 people had been brought into close contact with the Gospel, and half of them could read it for themselves. Native Christians had built 200 buildings where they worshipped God, and they supported 200 native evangelists and teachers. There were 10,000 copies of the New Testament circulating—“and all this in the center of the thickest spiritual darkness in the world.” Here’s his story.  

Driven by a fierce love for God, a man is unstoppable. 

Alexander Mackay stood before one of the most powerful men in the African interior—King Mutesa, who ruled with ruthless authority. The king even called for human sacrifices to appease the imaginary gods. Would the king believe what Mackay had to say? 

Although the king’s dark eyes invoked a kind of primal dread, Mackay wasn’t afraid. He stared right back at the king—eyeball-to-eyeball and thrilled to share the message of hope in Jesus. 

“I am here, O King, to prepare a way for the coming of God’s Son, and I want you to join me in pointing the people of this land to the Lamb of God, who alone can take away the sin of the world,” Mackay announced. 

Mutesa listened with interest, but he wasn’t convinced enough to submit to Mackay’s message. The king did allow Mackay to hold Sunday services so he could hear more of what God’s Word had to say. 

In the beginning, Mackay had a remarkable way of influencing Mutesa for good. But one day, Arab traders appeared at court and gave Mutesa guns, ammunition, and yards of red cloth—in exchange for male and female slaves. 

Mackay stepped in and objected. He asked Mutesa if he was willing to sell his own people to be chained, beaten, whipped, and taken to other lands. Was he willing that others should laugh about him and say, “That is how King Mutesa lets strangers treat his children!” With this, and other challenging words Mackay appealed to the king’s manhood. 

Mutesa talked it over with his chiefs and decided his people would not be slaves—but all the same, Mutesa remained a slave to sin. He continued raiding other tribes and offering gruesome human sacrifices to appease false gods. In fact, sin seemed to increase more and more. 

Mackay wrote in his diary, “… Every crime and form of uncleanness is rampant in the country. Each day reveals fresh tales of iniquity, cruelty, and oppression.” 

When Mutesa died, his son M’wanga took over, and things went from bad to so-much-worse. 

Mackay didn’t give up. Until the day he died, he served Christ faithfully in Africa. 

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. … And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, … These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Hebrews 11: 13, 32, 33, 39, 40 NIV). 

Do you believe the victory belongs to God? Are you willing to commit the hard times to God and not give up? Driven by a fierce love for God, a man is unstoppable. 

Note: Mutesa is also sometimes spelled Mtesa. 

Boone, Ilsley. The Conquering Christ. Boston: Bible Study Publishing Company, 1910. 

Harrison, Eugene Meyers. “Alexander Mackay: Road-Maker for Christ in Uganda.” Missionary Biographies. Date Accessed: August 14, 2020. https://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biomackay.html. 

Lambert, John C. “Alexander Mackay, The Hero of Uganda.” Missionary Biographies. Date Accessed: August 14, 2020. https://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biomackay7.html. 

Mathews, Basil. “Alexander Mackay: Fighting the Slave Trade (1878).” Missionary Biographies. Date Accessed: August 14, 2020. https://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biomackay13.html. 

Story read by Chuck Stecker 

Story written by Toni M Babcock, https://www.facebook.com/toni.babcock.1 

December 11. Ulrich Zwingli. Zwingli was born a few months after Martin Luther, and they both served in Zurich. They both were Catholic priests, and they both wrote lengthy theses detailing the errors they saw in the Roman Catholic Church. But they were acting independently. 

Zwingli said, “Before anyone in the area had ever heard of Luther, I began to preach the gospel of Christ in 1516 … I followed Holy Scripture alone.” 

On this date in 1518, Zwingli was elected stipendiary priest, and after he became a priest, he taught himself to read Greek so he could read the New Testament.  

Next, he bought a copy of the Latin translation by Erasmus, and he fell in love with the Scriptures. One of Zwingli’s biggest contributions to the Reformation was that he began a practice of preaching systematically through the Scriptures. The people were at last hearing the Word of God. Here is his story.  

Doing what is right is not always safe, but it can demonstrate God’s kindness. 

When Ulrich Zwingli arrived at the healing hot springs of Pfeffers, he was hoping for a much-needed rest. He had worked so long and hard in his first year of pastoring at Zurich, it led to exhaustion. It weakened his health. His co-workers had told him before he could help anyone else, he needed to recuperate. 

But only a few days at the hot springs had passed when a messenger showed up and handed Zwingli a letter. He tore open the seal. It was probably just a simple update. But no! 

The plague had come to Zurich! He suddenly found it hard to breathe. 

With shaking hands, he lowered the letter, and his body felt like he was made of molten lead. His friends, even some of his family, were still in Zurich … not to mention the thousands of innocent souls—ones he ministered to. They would need him. He had to get home to Zurich. He had to care for the people who were about to die. No one survived the plague. 

He hurried back to Zurich, but his home was deserted. The students who had been studying there were gone. The only person left was Ulrich’s younger brother, Andrew, and Ulrich ordered him to get back to where their family was at Wildhaus, away from Zurich, so he wouldn’t get the plague. It was terrifyingly contagious. 

Immediately, Ulrich went to work. With all the strength and compassion he could muster, he visited the homes of the dead and dying to minister to them any way he could. 

When the ill and dying saw him, they were moved by his kind demeanor and uplifting spirit. He reminded them that God was still there with them despite their suffering, and he comforted them. But Ulrich’s friends were worried he would catch the plague, too. “Perform your duty,” one of the friends said, “but at the same time be careful to guard your own life.” 

But Ulrich did not listen; he had his duty, the people needed him, and he continued to work long hours. Soon the plague claimed him, too. 

The disease hit him furiously, taking advantage of his already-weakened immune system, wracking his body with chills and pain. He was bound to bed, and the plague ravaged his entire body. He knew he was going to die. “Help, Lord God, help in this trouble! I think Death is at the door,” he wrote. “The illness increases; pain and fear seize my soul and body. Come to me, then, with Thy grace, O my only consolation!” 

Word spread quickly of the minister’s demise, and an already-suffering population felt despair that such a kind-hearted man was dying. Word spread to his family in Wildhaus, where totally distraught, Andrew sent a letter to Zurich begging for news. “Tell me in what state you are, my dear brother,” Andrew pleaded, but he got no reply. 

Rumors swirled about that Ulrich was dying. Overwhelmed with grief, his family, his friends, and the people he ministered to came together day and night to pray that Ulrich might be healed, despite the fact that surviving the plague was almost impossible. 

But they would not give up. Ulrich Zwingli had supported them in their time of need. Now, they would support him. 

They prayed when they heard no news. They prayed when rumors swirled that Ulrich had already died. They prayed when they didn’t know what else to do and all hope seemed to be lost. 

And suddenly, word came. The disease had been defeated. Their pastor was recovering and would survive. Almost half the population of Zurich had perished, but Ulrich Zwingli was spared. 

“I think I am already coming back!” Ulrich wrote in gratitude. The people rejoiced and praised God at their answered prayer, and word went to his family’s home in Wildhaus to spread the good news. Ulrich recovered, gradually gained back his strength and stamina, and returned to minister to the people who had prayed for him. 

“Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God” (1 Peter 5:2 NLT). 

When doing your duty is costly, where can you turn for support? Doing what is right is not always safe, but it can demonstrate God’s kindness. 

Blackburn, Rev. William M. Ulrich Zwingli: The Patriotic Reformer, A History. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1868. Internet Archive. Accessed: February 18, 2019.  

Jackson, Samuel Macauley, ed. The Latin Works and The Correspondence of Huldreich Zwingli, Together with Selections from His German Works, Volume One 1510–1522. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1912. Internet Archive.  Accessed: February 18, 2019. 

Simpson, Samuel. Life of Ulrich Zwingli: The Swiss Patriot and Reformer. New York: The Baker & Taylor Co., 1902. Internet Archive. Accessed: February 18, 2019. 

Story read by Daniel Carpenter.  

December 10. Francis Schaeffer. On this date in 1930, Schaeffer pledged to give his life for God’s service. 

Eighteen years later, Schaeffer and his family became missionaries to Switzerland. Within seven years, he established L’Abri, a spiritual community which attracted thousands of followers in the following years. 

At first, the Schaeffers opened their home to visitors who wanted to talk about Jesus and philosophy. Visitors were called students, and they spent from a day to several months at L’Abri. Soon more houses opened in the area, and Schaeffer took on a staff, who were available to talk with visitors. After study time, students helped with cooking, cleaning, and household maintenance—based on Schaeffer’s belief that Christianity took in the whole of life. 

Schaeffer also wrote at least thirty-nine books. His How Should We Then Live? was so well-received, a documentary film series based on the book was produced, and the book served as the basis for ten major films. Today’s story focuses on Schaeffer when he first started college. 

To reach the stubborn, speak the language of perseverance. 

“Alright,” the bully told a still-bleeding Francis Schaeffer, “but only if you’ll carry me.” 

Schaeffer hadn’t expected to hear that. 

Moments earlier, the tall bully had thrown a can of talcum powder into Schaeffer’s face. The can clipped him above the eye, and blood dripped down his brow. The dispute wasn’t over a girl or money or even pride. It was over a prayer meeting. 

Schaeffer, then a 20-something first-year college student, had repeatedly invited the other student to attend a prayer meeting in his dorm. And the young man, agitated at Schaeffer’s persistence, finally snapped. He didn’t want to go. He didn’t want to pray. He didn’t want religion. 

Perhaps Schaeffer should have expected it. Or ducked. 

The college was a mixture of sinners and saints. Some of the young men wanted to party hardy. Others, like Schaeffer, wanted to spread the gospel. Confrontation was bound to happen. Given Schaeffer’s perseverance, it was a matter of how soon and how loud. 

Schaeffer’s dorm was infamous and had a reputation for mischief. Students brought their rifles to the building and tucked them away in the corners. They would use them to kill mice and to shoot out the light bulbs in the stairwell. Just for fun. 

The guys went out on Saturday nights and stumbled back after midnight, drunk and undeterred by the prohibition laws and college rules. 

They also relentlessly hazed the freshmen. If the freshmen disobeyed an upperclassman’s orders, they got spanked with a stick or paddle. Ministerial students like Schaeffer received the harshest treatment. He endured the beatings for a few weeks, but then broke the code by fighting back and pinning his tormentor to the ground. 

The hazing stopped. 

Professors rarely stepped foot in that dorm. Pre-Schaeffer, the Student Christian Association also wanted nothing to do with that dorm, though they organized prayer meetings in every other dorm on the campus.  

And then Schaeffer arrived. He was courageous and daring and even a little reckless. A year earlier, he had pledged his life to God’s service. 

He wanted to see men transformed by the gospel—no matter the cost. Even if his boldness for Christ resulted in insults. Even if it resulted in pain. Even if it resulted in a talcum-powder projectile to the head. 

After he was hit, Schaeffer didn’t punch the boy. At five-feet-six to the bully’s six-feet-two, that was a sound decision. Instead, Schaeffer did the unthinkable. He repeated the invitation. That’s when the bully agreed to attend … if Schaeffer would carry him. 

Perhaps he thought Schaeffer was too weak. Maybe he figured Schaeffer wouldn’t try. 

But Schaeffer, still bleeding, used the same technique firemen still use today. He bent over, heaved the tall guy over his shoulders and upper back, and stood upright. He navigated precariously down the dark stairwell and into the meeting room, where he set the guy down. 

Schaeffer—persistent and patient—had won. 

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV). 

How do you respond when others challenge or even mock your beliefs? To reach the stubborn, speak the language of perseverance. 

Duriez, Colin. Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2005. 

“Alumnus Francis Schaeffer and the Spirit of L’Abri.” History. Accessed August 14, 2020. https://www.cogito-hsc.org/​our-history/. 

Roberts, Mostyn. Francis Schaeffers. Bitesize Biographies Book 1. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Evangelical Press, 2012. 

Story read by Chuck Stecker 

December 8. Tim Tebow. As a quarterback for University of Florida, on this date in 2007, Tim won the Heisman Trophy—the first sophomore to ever earn that honor. He also won two national championships and went on to the NFL. 

Then he switched to baseball and signed on with an AA minor-league team. He used his football savings to upgrade the team’s meals and buy equipment for them. The next season he was called to the New York Jets. 

He founded the Tim Tebow Foundation and started a movement that has swept the nation. It’s called A Night to Shine, and it’s a local church-supported extravaganza for people with special needs. Churches staff the place with trainers, hairdressers, makeup people, and escorts. They dress up the guests of honor and treat them to an evening prom with all the trimmings. 

Tim said, “Being outspoken about my faith isn’t just something that I do; it’s who I am because my faith isn’t just a little piece of my life. It is my life.” 

Sometimes, the best way to stand up for what you believe is to kneel. 

Before he played baseball, Tim Tebow played football. Before his Florida-Gator years—when he led his college team to win two division championships, before the day he won the Heisman Trophy, before he began his professional-football career with the Denver Broncos and three other NFL teams, Tebow was a high-school sophomore who loved Jesus. 

The scent of the crisp autumn air mixed with popcorn and tangible excitement. Fans in green-and-white filled the bleachers. Friday-night high-school-football had begun. With more energy than a boatload of Red Bull, the cheerleaders led the crowd, and the Allen D. Nease High School football team took the field. 

The display of testosterone coupled with deep calls of “Let’s do this!” And the crowd yelled even louder. They could feel the win that was headed their way. 

Then one player put a little distance between himself and his teammates, and he knelt. On the field, in front of all those people, he knelt. He thanked God for the opportunity and his ability to play. 

And after the game—Tim knelt and thanked God again—an action that would become known in the NFL as “tebowing.” 

During his sophomore year, Tebow was brutally tackled early in the game. And after he got up, he limped a bit. 

“It’s just a bruise, toughen up,” the coach said. “He didn’t want to come out anyway, so I told him, ‘This is the stuff legends are made of. Keep going, keep going.’” 

As the game wore on Tim’s limp became more and more obvious. He hobbled through the fourth quarter. And as he ran twenty-nine yards for a touchdown to tie up the score, Tebow’s gait resembled a toddler tottering urgently to seize a toy. 

By the end of the game, Tebow could hardly stand. But he managed to kneel after the game and thank God for the opportunity and his ability to play. 

After the game when they x-rayed his leg, it showed a fracture—a jagged break. 

The God before whom Tim Tebow knelt is the same God who gave Tim enough strength and perseverance to play almost an entire game of football on a broken leg. And God gave Tim the perseverance that led him to play professional baseball after his football career ended. 

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:33 ESV). 

What do you believe in so much that you would stand for, even if others do not? Sometimes, the best way to stand up for what you believe is to kneel. 

Borden, Sam. “Backup to Starter to Phenomenon. Repeat.” New York Times. March 30, 2012. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/31/sports/football/mania-for-tim-tebow-rooted-in-big-moments.html.  

Peter, Josh. “Tim Tebow not happy about ‘Tebowing’ being brought into national anthem protests debate.” USA Today. June 8, 2018. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2018/06/08/tim-tebow-kneeling-national-anthem/686533002/. 

Townsend, Mark. “Tim Tebow fires back at people misrepresenting ‘Tebowing’ photo as national anthem protest.” AOL. June 10, 2018. https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/06/10/tim-tebow-fires-back-at-people-misrepresenting-tebowing-photo-as-national-anthem-protest/23455303/. 

Story read by Nathan Walker 

December 6. John Perkins. John was born on a Southern plantation, with no father and a mother who died when he was seven months old. She died of malnutrition—in 1930—in the United States. John went on to become janitor, welder, equipment designer, Bible teacher, civil-rights activist, and community developer, and he has written fifteen books. On this date in 2006, John published Let Justice Roll Down. 

He has spent 50 years leading demonstrations and filing lawsuits on behalf of Black Americans regarding equal pay, hiring practices, poor treatment of inmates, and voting rights, and he always champions forgiveness. 

At the time of this writing, John is 89 years old and still fighting against racism and for justice and forgiveness. About continued racism in the US, John wrote: “This is a God-sized problem. It is one that only the church, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can heal. It requires the quality of love that only our Savior can provide.” 

Out-love the people who live to hate. 

In the early seventies in the deep south—long after slavery had ended—bigotry and segregation persisted vigorously. But John Perkins and his supporters had made up their minds to change that. 

After some supporters attended a peaceful civil-rights protest in the streets of Brenden, Mississippi, they got into their cars and headed home. Suddenly the sound of police sirens broke their laughter. They pulled to the curb, lights flashed behind them, and officers approached their vehicle. 

One by one, the protesters were escorted from the car, arrested—and beaten without cause. The police stuffed the men into patrol cars and drove them to the county jail. 

Perkins, a local leader who had organized the protest, got word of what had happened, and raced to the jail to get his innocent friends out. 

But the Sheriff of Brenden was a member of the Ku Klux Klan and not at all happy about the uprising Perkins had started. So, when Perkins arrived at the jail, he met the fury of the local police force and was brutally attacked. The corrupt policemen dragged Perkins into the jailhouse. 

From the cold, concrete floor of the jail cell, Perkins cried out for mercy, as round-after-round of feet, fists, and clubs landed on his head, ribs, and groin. Perkins realized the same hate was rising in him, too. “I discovered that I hated them back, and I hated them as much as they hated me. I saw that I was a bigot, too.” 

Perkins told God that if He got him out of that jail alive, he would dedicate his life to preaching the Gospel. The Gospel would overcome the hate that he saw in them, and in himself. 

Days later, in his hospital room, Perkins was surrounded by the steady beep of a heart monitor, the chatter of nurses in the hall—and a staff of kind, white people. But he wanted nothing to do with them. 

“One of my Doctors was white. He would come and sit with me every night at the hospital until I’d go to sleep … I was out-loved by those people I needed to hate,” Perkins said. 

Through this first-hand experience with the power of hatred, Perkins had come to see its root—not as a racial problem—but as a spiritual problem. 

He realized we all need the Savior. We all need to be healed. Miraculously, Perkins was transformed by the Spirit of God and was able to sincerely forgive. He returned good for evil, and God filled him with a love for his enemies. 

“How satisfied you are when you demonstrate tender mercy! For tender mercy will be demonstrated to you” (Matthew 5:7 TPT). 

Is there an injustice you’ve encountered that could be overcome with God’s love? Out-love the people who live to hate. 

“Improving Race Relations: An interview with John Perkins.” Accessed August 16, 2020. https://youtu.be/fG5YNduwF-Y .  

 Perkins, John M. Let Justice Roll Down. Ada, Michigan: Baker Books, 2012.  

Story read by Nathan Walker 

Story written by Shelli Mandeville, https://worthy.life/ 

December 5. Joseph Hovsepian. At 12, Joseph gave his life to the Lord Jesus. At 17, Joseph volunteered to serve in the Royal Greek Air Force as a wireless engineer and he served the king’s plane. At 20, he traveled 10 days at sea, 2 days by train, and arrived in Montreal—“tired, sick, and almost penniless.” Two days later, he met the people from Temple Baptist Church, and he was home. For 60 years, he has served that church, the last 36 years as its volunteer pastor. 

Joseph “has baptized close to 200 people, many of them from non-Christian backgrounds and faiths. Two tracts he wrote have been reproduced millions of times and distributed locally and around the world, one of them in 12 languages. He has been on the radio every day for over 12 years with a 5-minute inspiration message at noon. His devotional book, God’s Workshop, was recently translated into Eastern Armenian and is being distributed freely in Armenia and surrounding areas.” 

Let the spark that ignites your passion become a flame that burns with purpose. 

From an early age, a main theme of Joseph’s life could be labeled: shenanigans. 

The first time he tinkered with electronics, he was ten years old. He discovered that touching the ends of a nail to the poles on his father’s motorcycle battery created a bright glow. And he gleefully continued this experiment until the inevitable happened. 

The next morning, when his father tried to start the motorcycle, the battery was dead, Father was unhappy, but Joseph’s love for electronics sprung to life. 

Another time, he mystified his grandfather. Young Joseph invented a mechanism connected to the bedroom-ceiling light. When Grandfather lay his head on the pillow, the light turned on. And when the old man sat up, the light turned off. Not everyone involved was entirely amused. 

But the spark inside Joseph never stopped glowing, and eventually it led to a successful career selling and repairing radios and other electronics. 

Today, his 80-year-old hands, head, and heart are still in the fixing business. He has a shop, and it services antique radios. So one of the themes of his life has shifted from shenanigans to restoration. 

Some of the radios and tape recorders he gets have been neglected for years in a basement or garage. Opening them up often reveals dirt, dead bugs, and even mouse droppings. The wiring and parts inside may be rusty, dried up, melted, or burned. The exterior may be scratched up and discolored. 

But Joseph takes great pleasure in the process of restoring each piece brought to him. He says, “While I work on these units, I think of God and His workshop, where He takes battered and neglected lives and deals with every little part of them. He fixes what’s broken, cleans and polishes what’s tarnished or soiled, and refines the entire person. He removes bad habits and vices that have affected the lost soul. Sometimes the process is quick, but other times it’s more painful.” 

“So whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV). 

Understanding the difference that a masterful touch can make to a radio or a person, Joseph approaches people with care and compassion, knowing they can be restored with God’s help. His business is part of his mission field, and he grabs every opportunity to talk with his customers about faith, their eternal souls, and the God who loves them. 

Next to his business cards on the service counter sit gospel tracts and New Testaments. 

“I have seen many radios that were discarded become useful and enjoyable again,” he said. “I have also seen many broken and rejected souls come back to life after the Master Technician touched them and restored them.” 

Do you have a talent that could meet someone’s need? Let the spark that ignites your passion become a flame that burns with purpose. 

Based on an interview with Joseph Hovsepian, 2019. 

Joseph Hovsepian Ministries. “Joseph (Hovsep) Hovsepian.” Accessed August 14, 2020. josephhovsepianministries.com/​joseph-hovsep-hovsepian/.  

Story read by Blake Mattocks 

December 4. AW Tozer. The main thing about Tozer was that he was obsessed with the holiness and the goodness and the glory of God. And he wanted everyone to know that awesome Being. 

Although Tozer was self-taught—he wrote more than forty books, and two of them are Christian classics. He never attended seminary, but he pastored for forty-four years. He lived a simple, non-materialistic life, never owned a car, and had six sons and a daughter. He believed the church was headed the wrong way and in danger of compromising with the world, and he was never shy about it, but spoke up every chance he got. 

For thirteen years, Tozer was also a magazine editor. In his first editorial he wrote: “It will cost something to walk slow in the parade of the ages, while excited men of time rush about—confusing motion with progress. But it will pay in the long run, and the true Christian is not much interested in anything short of that.” 

Find the courage to speak; God will bring the power to change. 

When seventeen-year-old Tozer wasn’t making a living selling “candy, peanuts, and books on the Vicksburg and Pacific Railroad or hand-cutting rubber for Goodyear,” he spent his days with his head buried in any book, dreaming of wild adventures. Although he regularly attended church with his family, he was unaware of his need for salvation—until a neighbor dared to ask him what no one had ever asked him before. 

Tozer told the story: “We had a neighbor by the name of Holman. I do not know his first name or initials. I had heard that he was a Christian, but he never talked to me about Christ. Then one day, I was walking up the street with this friendly neighbor. Suddenly, he put his hand on my shoulder. ‘You know,’ he said, ‘I have been wondering if you are a Christian, if you are converted. I just wanted the chance to talk it over with you.’” 

Tozer replied politely, “No, Mr. Holman, I am not converted, but I thank you for saying this to me. I am going to give it some serious thought.” Tozer then bid Mr. Holman goodbye and went about his business, outwardly unchanged by the conversation. 

A few days later, when walking home from work, Tozer was shocked to see a German man shouting on a street corner in a thick, almost incomprehensible accent. Being a curious boy, Tozer ambled over to listen carefully. 

This strange man was a street preacher, and what he said next hit Tozer harder than a hammer to the chest: “If you don’t know how to be saved, just call on God, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner,’ and God will hear you.” 

For the first time in his life, a preacher’s words burned on Tozer’s heart, and not only that, “They troubled him. They awakened within him a gnawing hunger for God.” 

He went straight to the attic and after much anguish of heart, he surrendered his life to God. And that afternoon in 1915, Tozer became a new man in Christ Jesus. He became a man whose pursuit of God would never end. 

Neither Tozer’s neighbor nor the street preacher could have imagined the profound impact their words had made on the boy, or how their kindness and courage had changed him. Nor could they have perceived that his books, In Pursuit of God and Delighting in God would be read by millions of people. 

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21 NIV). 

Is there someone in your life who needs to hear the life-changing news of Jesus? Take a minute today to ask the Lord for courage to share with them. Your words may change them forever. 

Find the courage to speak; God will bring the power to change. 

Snyder, James, L. The Life of A.W. Tozer: In Pursuit of God. Bloomington, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers, 2009. 

Hobson, John. On the Trail of A. W. Tozer: A Biography. Frome, Somerset, UK: John Hobson, 2015. 

Story read by Daniel Carpenter