Walking by Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight

Sometimes small steps can result in a great leaps in one's faith.

For example when I was 17, I felt God urging me to go to a luncheon with Evangelist Moody Adams in Adrian Michigan which was a half hour away from my town by car but I had no car and no one to take me.

There was less than an hour for me to walk the 24 miles and find the meeting place. I had no idea where it was. (This is before cell phones and internet)

I felt that God was telling me to start walking and I would get there on time. So I started walking wondering what God’s purpose was in this. Was this from God or just my own heart or mind?

After 10 minutes of walking I was in downtown Morenci the town where I lived. I had lost 10 minutes and I was still in my little town. Even if I had a car I would get there late now.

As I was passing the local newspaper office a tall man in a black suit carrying a suitcase came flying out the door nearly knocking me over.

I recognized him.

He was evangelist Ken Slaughter who worked with the Moody Adams team.

He hurriedly apologized for nearly running over me and said, “I have to hurry I am late for a very important luncheon” I said, “The one in Adrian?” He said, “Yes how did you know?”

I said, “Because that is where I am going too!”

At this he came to a full stop with his driver door held open as he looked at me confused trying to figure out what was going on.

Then he said, “how are you getting there?”

I said, “The Lord told me to start walking and I would get there on time”.

Without hesitation he said, “Well, jump in.” We made it to the meeting right on time.

I have had other such experiences but none that stand out in my mind quite like that one and I would have missed the blessing had I not gone on that little walk of faith.

After the luncheon I remained in Adrian to do what we called street witnessing. I came across an immigrant family and talked to them about the Lord and invited them to the stadium that night to hear the Evangelist. They came and they went forward and accepted Christ. I was able to ride home with my parents and family after the crusade. My dad was wondering how I got there and I told him I rode to Adrian with Ken Slaughter. (Remember… no cell phones back then) My Dad looked a little envious that I got to spend a half hour with this evangelist. Sort of like the time when I was five my dad was standing in a long line with other pastors waiting to greet Billy Graham before the crusade in Chicago began. While he was in line some photographers came and took my sister and me to a room back stage. I was placed on Billy Grahams lap with my sister and other kids gathered around him on the floor as the news media took our photos.

When we got back to our seat the crusade was about to begin and my Dad came back to sit down and I asked him if he got to shake Billy Graham’s hand. He said no. I said, “I got to sit on his lap”. The next day my picture was on the front page of the Chicago daily news sitting on Graham's lap.

It was at this time that I thought that when my Dad would pass away I would inherit his church and become the pastor. He explained to me that it doesn’t work that way but that you have to candidate at churches and they have to vote for you to be their pastor. My response was, “Well if I can’t get a church I’ll preach around the world like Billy Graham.” My assumption was that Billy Graham couldn’t get a church.

We often look at the big steps of life as being the important faith builders but actually it is the small baby steps we take that really help grow our faith.