“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5 NKJV
“Today, tomorrow, eternity: this is the route in time that the speeding track of our life follows in skyward course from humanity to immortality … ‘Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor,” wrote Dave Breese in “Discover Your Destiny.”
Visiting in the home of my aunt and uncle, Hazel and Buss Dooms, my picture was on their piano. Their friend Esther Millhouse saw it and said, “George, you look like an evangelist.” I was shocked. On the wall was: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Later, I learned about the poem’s author, C.T. Studd, born in England, born again about 1878 at age 18. His father had accepted Christ through D.L. Moody’s ministry in England in 1877. C.T. Studd served as a missionary in China, India, and Africa, where he died in July 1931.
In 1873, Mr. and Mrs. D.L. Moody met Emma Dryer, an outstanding professor at Illinois State Normal University and excellent Bible teacher. The Moodys challenged Emma to begin a training program for women in Chicago.
Having a desire to establish a wide-ranging school to train young adults to be involved in evangelism and home missions, Emma prayed together with other ladies every Saturday morning for several years that the school would become reality.
Meanwhile, D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey were conduting evangelistic campaigns across the United States and in England.
Moody had promised Emma Dryer he would return to Chicago to help raise needed funds for the school. C.T. Studd gave the inheritance received from his father to “The Bank of Heaven,” with 25% going to help D.L. Moody begin the Chicago Evangelization Society, later becoming Chicago Bible Institute. It served as headquarters for the evangelists and singers involved in the Chicago World’s Fair under Moody’s direction. After his death in 1899, the name was changed to Moody Bible Institute.
Moody Bible Institute graduates Leroy “Preach” and Audry Blackburn were called to pastor Second Street Baptist in Mt. Carmel. When I was two months old, my parents started taking me with them to services every Sunday. When I was two years old, Preach Blackburn led my Dad to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
After the Blackburns left to take another pastorate, Moody graduate Albert Fauth and his wife Alma came to pastor Second Street Baptist, and invited the evangelistic team of Bob Finley and Paul Levine to conduct meetings. On the final night, at age 8 I was “born again” into God’s forever family in February 1940. The following month, the congregation was renamed Grace Memorial.
When I was in junior high, Charles and Mary Pedersen moved from Wisconsin to pastor Grace Memorial. They brought the “Youth for Christ” concept, sharing it with pastors of different denominations.
Pastor Pedersen began a radio broadcast every Saturday morning called “Echoes of Grace.” Later, when as he was leaving to pastor in another city, he turned the broadcast over to me as a senior in high school. Meanwhile, we had launched Mt. Carmel Youth for Christ.
As a Bob Jones University student, the 1,200-member class “The preacher and his problems” (“Preacher Boys”) met directly after chapel, and many Bob Jones graduates who were in full-time evangelism were guest speakers.
Working with my Dad and launching Gospel Advertising Association, we began producing advertising for several evangelists.
After my first year at Bob Jones, I was invited to conduct an evangelistic crusade at my home church in Mt. Carmel. Later, God opened more doors for evangelism in other communities, including Casey, Illinois, hosted by my father-in-law J.C. Greer, pastor of the First Baptist Church.
Preparing for a Gospelizing Crusade at the First Baptist Church of Rock Hill, South Carolina, I learned from Pastor C. Michael Warr that messages would be presented to multiple age groups. The Lord led me to formulate and present “God’s ABCs of salvation.”
In 1960, pursuing the U.S. 41 “Roadside Missionary” ministry, we moved to Bradenton Florida and launched Tamiami Youth for Christ.
Soon I was invited to become advertising circulation director for Youth for Christ Magazine. Warren Wiersbe, editor, introduced me in print and publicly at the Youth for Christ International midwinter convention in Los Angeles.
Then God miraculously opened doors and provided the property to direct Tri-State Youth for Christ, now TTT Christian Youth Ministries, February 5, 1966.
Through the decades, God had proven His faithfulness, and to Him goes all of the honor and glory for what He is doing, as we go “Together Toward Tomorrow.”