“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NKJV
When God hit me in the heart with Romans 12:1-2, it motivated me to reach out to a lifetime friend who was going the wrong direction. When Pete turned to Jesus, He gave us joy and peace as together we reached Slim for Christ.
That Fall, Pete headed for Bible college, and Slim and I and other teenagers, encouraged by our pastors, launched Mt. Carmel Youth for Christ.
God continued to put me in the midst of people, places, and programs, abounding in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Accepting the challenge to direct advertising and circulation for Youth for Christ magazine, I met Dave Breese. As our friendship developed, we put together “Splendor of Sacred Song,” a Christian music spectacular at McCormick Place Arie Crown Theater.
In 1962, we began taking Splendor of Sacred Song across America, sponsored by local Youth for Christ rallies. Flying from city to city, I became the catalyst for Splendor.
Bringing Splendor to Evansville, I was prayerfully considering establishing a Christian communication center in the area, found a piece of property, and learned it was not for sale and “probably never would be.” So I prayed and waited 2 1/2 years until the “for sale” sign appeared on the property.
Abounding in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, I read and prayed Joshua chapter 1, claiming the property to become the base for the Christian Communication Center.
God willing, February 7, 2026, TTT Christian Youth Ministries will commemorate 60 years of continuing ministry every Saturday, and training and outreaches from the TTT Christian Communication Center throughout the tri-state, across America, and around the world, toward the vision: Every youth, before turning 20, to hear the Gospel with an invitation to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Public relations outreach ministries, including Telling The TRUTH daily radio/podcast, weekly newspaper editorials / blog, internet / social media, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” billboards, and God’s ABCs of salvation, consistently proclaim the Gospel.
Soon after TTT began, Doyle Eddings, minister of youth and music at Grace Baptist Church, invited me to speak at a sweetheart banquet there. A couple who attended, Ray Harper and Sharyl Clark, learned about TTT and attended the next Saturday. Students at Evansville North High School, they invited others who soon joined them.
While working with the Evansville Press, when we put together the Youth for Christ march from TTT to Roberts Stadium (Easter 1969), Ray helped arrange front page and cover page coverage.
Ray Harper later became pastor of Willow Road Baptist Church, encouraging teenagers to attend TTT Saturday nights and participate with Fair Share.
Doyle Eddings continued to train young adults in youth ministry, and he personally participated with Fair Share in Kentucky counties. Wherever he pastored, Doyle invited me to speak to the congregation.
In 1967, we had 15 teenagers in the living room on a Saturday night. Standing by the window, I asked God for two teenage guys to catch the vision to reach their friends for Christ. In a few moments, two young men knocked on the door, saying they had a flat tire but hitchhiked to TTT. That night, I shared the story of Lenin’s starting the Communist Party with just 17 followers. Emphasizing what could be done to reach people with the Gospel, I challenged those there to set a goal to have 100 attending within 13 weeks. Dave Schwambach caught the “Christ through you can change the world” concept, and he and his friend decided to see which one could get the most students to TTT. Within five weeks, 100 teenagers accepted their invitations, and attendance stayed above 100 that school year.
Following high school, Dave enrolled in Oakland City College, and with other high school and college students we organized the first Faith Festival at Roberts Stadium, with Dave serving as chairman with a task force of students. Easter weekend 1970, with Pat Boone and family as special guests, 3000 attended and over 500 responded to the invitation to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and dedicate their lives to Him.
Every Monday afternoon that fall, I took Dave Schwambach and two other college students to lead TTT clubs, starting at Mt. Carmel High School, driving on to Lawrenceville High School, and then to East Richland High School in Olney. As we traveled, I taught them principles and techniques to keep evangelizing youth.
Praying and serving together, believers can abound in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Will you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and invite others to abound in hope?