Part Two: The Call to Preach
When I was 17 years of age and in my senior year of high school, God spoke to my heart as I was sitting in a youth conference at my home church. I heard no verbal words from God, but I knew I was supposed to be a preacher of the Gospel. I did not come forward in a church service or make a show. It was quiet and personal. The only struggle I had with it was that I was afraid to speak publicly. I was not considered a leader in our youth department even though I was very involved in the church. I was just an average church youth with the same problems as many of my peers. When I did tell my youth leaders, they were not impressed. Some of them even tried to talk me out of it. There were three other young men from our youth group who were called to preach that year. Each got a chance to preach at the church, and there was fanfare on the day they went off to Bible school, but for me there was no recognition of my calling. None of the other young men finished Bible school, and, as far as I know, none are in the ministry today. In reality only God can call a man and prepare his heart for service. I do not think it strange that God calls weaker men to service and enables them to do what we would call great things in His name.
When it came to choosing a Bible school I had three choices. My church supported only three colleges during that time, and I was able to visit each one. They were all good schools, but one stood out from the rest. I had begun to understand in 1974-75 that I had not received an adequate education. I could not speak publicly, write, or even properly present myself. To be perfectly honest with you, I did not know the difference between a noun and a verb. The third school I visited was Bob Jones University. The campus was beautiful, and that alone nearly sold me, but what about education? I visited the classes and stayed in the dorms, yet still there was little that made the school stand out other than its beautiful acreage and fine buildings. The strict rules did not bother me, because I knew I needed the discipline if I was to stand a chance in the ministry. On that Friday night I had the privilege of attending my first Shakespearean play. I believe it was the comedy “Much to Do about Nothing.” I was not too excited about going until the play began. I was greatly surprised that I could understand most of it, and I found it funny and delightful. After that night my mind was made up. I would go to BJU and get a good liberal arts education. I did not agree with everything that was taught at BJ, but I can say they made me aware of things in the world that had never entered my mind. I will always be grateful to God that I had the chance to attend a school with such high academic standards. Most of my religious convictions were already in place before I attended Bob Jones, yet I was challenged every day to think and stand up for what I believe. I have never forgotten the simple wisdom from the founder that was printed on many of the walls of the school. I made many friends, and my life took a turn that ultimately put me on the path I’m on today. I remember sitting with some friends one evening and discussing the ministry. I remember telling the men that I would like to go somewhere and preach to people that have never heard the Word. I never dreamed that a few short years after that conversation God would lead me to be a missionary in the Soviet Union and fulfill that dream.
The most wonderful blessing of my life came when God led me to my wife at BJU during my senior year. Stephanie Kay Lautner was a junior then. She often teases me that I don’t remember the first time we met. It was a dark evening, and a friend introduced us. I could not see her face, so my memory of it was shaky. Stephanie’s best friend was dating my best friend. They had a plot to get us together, and they finally pulled it off. Mark and Sherry were your classic college couple; they were so much in love that it was hard for me to be around Mark when he was with Sherry. Mark had talked to me about finding a girl; I was a senior. He invited me to his brother’s birthday party and sat me across from Stephanie. We became friends and started to see one another. After a few months it was clear we would be a couple and make a life together. I can honesty say that Stephanie was God’s great gift to me as a minister and a man. She has faithfully served God by my side now for 27 years. She has never complained. She was willing to give up everything for the cause, and she has been nothing but an asset. Stephanie cannot sing; she can barely play the piano; she is not a flamboyant speaker, but she is an example to every woman whose husband is called to missions. She loves the people of Moldova, and they know it; she never complains; and she seeks God on a personal level. If ever there was a person who had taken up the cross, it was Stephanie.
When it came to choosing a Bible school I had three choices. My church supported only three colleges during that time, and I was able to visit each one. They were all good schools, but one stood out from the rest. I had begun to understand in 1974-75 that I had not received an adequate education. I could not speak publicly, write, or even properly present myself. To be perfectly honest with you, I did not know the difference between a noun and a verb. The third school I visited was Bob Jones University. The campus was beautiful, and that alone nearly sold me, but what about education? I visited the classes and stayed in the dorms, yet still there was little that made the school stand out other than its beautiful acreage and fine buildings. The strict rules did not bother me, because I knew I needed the discipline if I was to stand a chance in the ministry. On that Friday night I had the privilege of attending my first Shakespearean play. I believe it was the comedy “Much to Do about Nothing.” I was not too excited about going until the play began. I was greatly surprised that I could understand most of it, and I found it funny and delightful. After that night my mind was made up. I would go to BJU and get a good liberal arts education. I did not agree with everything that was taught at BJ, but I can say they made me aware of things in the world that had never entered my mind. I will always be grateful to God that I had the chance to attend a school with such high academic standards. Most of my religious convictions were already in place before I attended Bob Jones, yet I was challenged every day to think and stand up for what I believe. I have never forgotten the simple wisdom from the founder that was printed on many of the walls of the school. I made many friends, and my life took a turn that ultimately put me on the path I’m on today. I remember sitting with some friends one evening and discussing the ministry. I remember telling the men that I would like to go somewhere and preach to people that have never heard the Word. I never dreamed that a few short years after that conversation God would lead me to be a missionary in the Soviet Union and fulfill that dream.
The most wonderful blessing of my life came when God led me to my wife at BJU during my senior year. Stephanie Kay Lautner was a junior then. She often teases me that I don’t remember the first time we met. It was a dark evening, and a friend introduced us. I could not see her face, so my memory of it was shaky. Stephanie’s best friend was dating my best friend. They had a plot to get us together, and they finally pulled it off. Mark and Sherry were your classic college couple; they were so much in love that it was hard for me to be around Mark when he was with Sherry. Mark had talked to me about finding a girl; I was a senior. He invited me to his brother’s birthday party and sat me across from Stephanie. We became friends and started to see one another. After a few months it was clear we would be a couple and make a life together. I can honesty say that Stephanie was God’s great gift to me as a minister and a man. She has faithfully served God by my side now for 27 years. She has never complained. She was willing to give up everything for the cause, and she has been nothing but an asset. Stephanie cannot sing; she can barely play the piano; she is not a flamboyant speaker, but she is an example to every woman whose husband is called to missions. She loves the people of Moldova, and they know it; she never complains; and she seeks God on a personal level. If ever there was a person who had taken up the cross, it was Stephanie.
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