Ruth and Dennis from Campbellford, Ontario, Canada

On July 20, we attended Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church. There we met Ruth and Dennis. As we walked in adult Sunday School class was nearly finished but just in time to hear Ruth give her testimony. Here it is:

Dennis had a good job in 1980 and he and his wife decided to get into an opportunity to buy a rental complex, fix it up, and rent it out for higher than current rents. At the time, there were imposed rent controls by the government. So after all the expense of refurbishing the place, they could not recover their investment through higher rents. Over a relatively short period of time, their outgo exceeded their income to the point that bankruptcy became the only option.

During this same time, Dennis became acquainted with a fellow worker (Albert) whom Dennis described as a "Bible thumper." He was always talking about things of the Lord and trying to get Dennis to read things like The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey.

When Dennis made Albert aware of their financial situation, he said to Dennis, "That is a pretty big load you are carrying all by yourself. I don't know if I could make it if I didn't have the Lord to help me through things like that" At that, Albert agreed that he would pray for the situation. He also asked Dennis to let him know when things changed for the better. This attitude of love and concern and prayer softened Dennis' heart and made him more interested in talking to Albert. Then Albert gave him a Bible. Dennis brought it home and shared it with his wife, Ruth. Within about 2 weeks, they both accepted Christ as Saviour, neither of whom had any real church background. (He was Catholic in name only)

Ruth is currently the Adult Bible teacher in the church we attended and Dennis is also apparently active. I didn't get to find out about thier two children.

Learnings:

• This is one of those situations where a persistent voice for Christ became the one Dennis and Ruth turned to when the crisis hit. Albert the Bible Thumper was there when they needed him
• So far, I'm not finding any adults who come to Christ without something upsetting their situation.
• Adults are very resistant to changing anything in their lives, especially religion, if things are OK as is.
• In this case, it was the man who was the catalyst for change on the spiritual front. It seems most of the adult-onset Christians are started by the wives.

Interviewing a Fellow Boater

Her name is Tata. Marlene and I met her and her husband as we were cruising up the Erie Canal. So as we arrived in Oswego, it was Saturday and we were looking for a church for the next day. When Tata learned of this in our conversation, she became interested in going with us. I sensed there was more than a casual interest in going to church. After the service, Tata said she made a personal commitment to Christ at the age of 25, based primarily on her nephew who, at that time, began going to Vacation Bible School. As a result of that experience, her nephew became the influence in that family circle to lead many to the Lord, including Tata.

Today, Tata is active in her church now, 63 and very energetic still. Her nephew is a physician and spends time across the world volunteering his time and money to help with medical needs in underprivileged areas of the world. Tata just sold her very successful business in plant maintenance and rental. One of her clients was the Christian Broadcasting Network. She knows Pat Robertson personally.