Several years ago I was invited to speak at a conference at the beautiful American Baptist Headquarters facility In Nashville Tennessee. The platform hostess was none other than the lovely and gracious Eleanor Graves. I was very impressed and touched by her graciousness as she brought each speaker on when it was their time to speak. She handled all other details for which she was responsible with the same grace.
I had never met this lovely lady before. I was aware that she was first lady of Temple Baptist Church pastored by her husband, Dr. Michael Lee Graves though I had never seen even a picture of her. Somehow I knew that we were destined to meet again at some point in time. Ten years went by before our next meeting. As I was looking over the list of potential speakers for the Mother’s and Father’s of the Faith Mentoring Clinic which was soon coming up I saw her name and knew she was the one. She was happy to come and bless us at that event. Read the rest of this entry »
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Several years before I had the privilege of meeting Dr Gruits. I had read her book “Understanding God” written in a question and answer format which I found to be interesting and informative. Later I would meet her in person and for me it was a Divine connection with a lady who has since that time greatly influenced my life and ministry.
Dr. Gruits, who is most often referred to as “Sister Pat” was born and raised in Michigan. Her mother, Rev. Myrtle D. Beall founded and pastored Bethessda Missionary Temple in Detroit in the forties. The church grew from a store front mission to more than 5,000 members in just a few years. Rev. Beall, affectionaely known as “Ma Beall” was also a pioneer of the Latter Rain Revival. She continued pastoring at Bethesda until shortly before her death in 1979. Read the rest of this entry »
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When I think of Billye Brim, the words that so aptly describe and define her come to mind. She is intelligent, courageous, strong, faithful, humble, kind and gentle. I could go on, but soon I would exhaust all adjectives at my command.The words I have used and many more of like kind paint a picture of this dear and loved friend who has greatly influenced my life and ministry. I first met Billye in the mid seventies.She has been a friend and mentor from the beginning.
Billye was among the ones who in 1967 attended a meeting in Tulsa, OK in Brother Kenneth Hagin’s ministry headquarters where Sister Clara Grace was the speaker. This meeting proved to be prophetic for Billye and the fulfillment of her Divine destiny. I have a tape of that meeting and occasionally I listen to it again. Read the rest of this entry »
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“I leave you peace, my peace I give you, I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27″
The peace that comes from the world is fragile. We have all observed that it can be here today and gone tomorrow. Peace treaties are broken or trouble flares up in another area. Jesus gave a promise that is secure and never will He renege on that promise. If only we could only believe that He has come not to condemn but to save, not to bring confusion, but order, then peace would be a constant companion. We would know deep within that tomorrow will be better than today. Our sorrow would turn to joy in His presence. God is for us, not against us. He has given us His Spirit, the great Helper to see us through life in a world that is troubled. God has our best interest at heart. If only we would learn to trust Him and
rely on His Word.
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