<TITLE>02. Par 5-9</TITLE>L-5 One day when I was pastoring the little Baptist Tabernacle there in Jeffersonville... It--it wasn't because the people wouldn't give me an offering, I just was young and able to work, so I just worked and didn't have to take an offering. I pastored there seventeen years and never took one cent.
And the closest I ever come of taking an offering myself was--well, one time was for the Foursquare Church, a missionary rally, I made a talk. And that was for Brother Beard over at Kansas City. I made a missionary talk and told them because my heart is in missions. And every night that...
I feel inspired as I look around here and see these different nations represent, that's--that's missionaries out of this Temple in other countries. You'll never go wrong being a missionary. That's the general orders: "all the world, to every creature."

L-6 We got in a tight place where we couldn't make ends meet. I'm sure we're all here in the visible audience, know about those things. And I said to the wife... I was working, walking high lines then for the public service, had walked thirty miles a day through the jungles and was gone about... I got home once or twice a week. And this was on Wednesday night, and I had to rush in, ragged, pulling through the brush and stuff, and wife had my clothes laying out on the bed. And we had two rooms, and I was--had run across to the church. And so I told her; I said, "Honey, you know what? Tonight I'm going to take up an offering. I need five dollars. And we just can't make those ends meet, and I'm going to ask for an offering."

L-7 So I got up that night and I said, "Friends," I said, "I... We never took an offering in this tabernacle, but I kind of hit a little snag," I said, "and we're going to pass a hat." My hat was hanging on the side of the wall. I said, "We're going to take a little offering, nickel, ten cents, something you have to throw in will be just fine." Old Uncle Jim Wisehart, he's in glory tonight, an old deacon, he goes over to get my hat.
There was a little woman by the name of Webber; she used to set right down before me; she prayed all the time, little old fashion mother. She wore one of these little aprons that has a pocket on the inside. Did you ever see one of those? They--they put the pocket inside the apron. And she reaches down in there (And it was during a time of hard times.), pulled out one of those little pocketbooks with snaps on the top, begin pulling out those nickels. I couldn't do that. I looked at that, and I--I just felt my heart swell up. Oh, I said, "I was just teasing you; I didn't mean it." And the--to take--And I couldn't have spent that if I'd had to.

L-8 And however, how I come to get out of that little tight place, old Brother Ryan from Benton Harbor; many of you might've knowed him, he was out here in California with me one time, long beard. He rode an old bicycle down there, and it kinda backslid on him and he gave it to me. And I went down to the ten cent store and got me two cans of paint, and painted it up, and sold it, and didn't have to take up a offering after all. That was the closest I ever come of taking an offering.

L-9 Well, I--I would like to make this statement; I wish the radio audience could see this fine group of people here tonight, just sure a wonderful crowd here in the Temple tonight. And I love you with godly love. And if any time that I can be a favor to you, let me know. And I'm... Always when I'm home, I'm praying for the sick and the afflicted by phone, and sending prayer clothes, and so forth. I'll be glad to help you in any way I can. Now, there may be... If I'd ask tonight how many Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterian, they'd be all across here. There's no denominational barriers among us. We just reach across the fence to everybody, because we're all one in Christ Jesus: all one.


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