MY STORY
Despite the pain and difficulty of abandonment, my mother became a believer in Jesus Christ. From then on her life was completely changed. She moved our family to Central Wisconsin next to our grandparents and two aunts. |
Left to right: Ellen, Mother, Hilda, Jim, Bob, Don, Me, Bruce.
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My grandparents lived in the old, Swedish homestead along with my two aunts. These dear 'second mom's' never married. Instead, they dedicated their lives to help raise my four brothers and myself. My aunts were strong and God fearing. Aunt Ellen was a school teacher. While raising us, my mother attended college and became a teacher also. My aunt Hilda was the first woman minister in the Baptist General Conference. For 20 years she pastored the little, country "Spirit Baptist Church" in Spirit, Wisconsin.
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Every Sunday all five of us boys faithfully attended church. The first time I ever sang in public was at Spirit Baptist Church. Nearly every week my brothers and I were called on to provide the "special music". We'd stand like stiff soldiers in front of the congregation and sing in 4 part harmony, while Tilly Nelson accompanied us on the old, upright piano. |
When I was eight years old, my mother brought me to a week of evangelistic, tent meetings held by evangelists Ralph and Lou Sutera. It was there that I heard great singing and God's Word preached. After the last meeting I couldn't sleep. I remember staying up late that night talking with my mother. She sat on the couch and I perched next to her on the armrest. She read verses in the Bible to me and that night I confessed my sins before the Lord. Then I invited the living Savior, Jesus Christ, to be the Lord of my life. From then on I knew that I had to keep singing. But I only wanted to sing for Jesus! Many times I'd walk to the back of our little, eighty-four acre farm. There I'd find an old stump, climb on it and pretend that I was Cliff Barrows leading a choir. Then I'd sing songs like George Beverly Shea. Finally I'd pretend that I was evangelist, Billy Graham. I'd preach about Jesus and give the most sincere invitation to accept Christ. Unfortunately, the only audience I had back then were some old cows grazing in the field.
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