I was scheduled to go on an evangelistic mission to Java, Indonesia at the beginning of September 2005 with Global Evangelism. I was notified that the project was canceled and I was asked if I would consider going to another location in Indonesia. After much thought I responded with a “No, thank you at this time.”

You see, my father was diagnosed with Alzheimers in January 2002 and has steadily gone downhill. He had had the disease for a number of years and we just didn't recognize it, so early in January 03, I called and told my siblings that some time this year we are going to have to put Dad in a home; his care was to much for our mom to handle beyond a few more months.

At this, my stepsisters and stepbrother kidnapped my father, and tried to take all of his and my mother’s money and properties. I sought legal counsel. After four weeks we were able to secure all the assets, at which point they no longer wanted our father. Still, we had to be careful of everything we did and eventually my father was home. My father forgot how to walk, and we had to put our father in a convalescent hospital. All this time there was always a continued threat that my siblings would try again to seize the estate.

On April 16, 2005, my parents celebrated their 50th anniversary.

As the year progressed I could see that my father was not going to live much longer—he had already forgotten how to swallow, so we had a speech therapist come and teach everyone how to feed him and also teach him how to swallow. Slowly he was leaving us. I felt that if I was ministering in Indonesia when my father passed away, my mother would panic because I couldn’t take care of things and protect her from my siblings’ greed.

Immediately after I notified Global Evangelism that I would not come because of my father’s imminent death, the Lord showed me Luke 9:59-62, which says "And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him. Let the dead bury the dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee: but let me first bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Wow! That really hit home. Over and over it seemed I would run across this text. Then one day I was doing my morning worship when the Lord showed me this text again. After completing my worship, I went to check my e-mails. I saw an e-mail from John Featherstone asking me to go to Russia with The Quiet Hour.

I immediately went to prayer. As I did, the Lord brought Luke 9:59-62 to my mind. I had read it so many times because the Lord was continually putting it before me.

At that moment, the phone rang: it was Grant Agadjanian asking me if I would prayerfully consider going to Russia. I immediately said yes, I would go.

I knew God wanted me to go and I was not going to look back. He said go, so I must go and trust that He would take care of my father and mother. This was July 10, 2005. The trip to Russia was planned for September 30, my father’s birthday, to October 15.

On August 17, 2005 at Wednesday night prayer meeting, I asked everyone there if we could pray for my father's salvation and for the Lord to take him as soon as his salvation was determined. My father was a very faithful Roman Catholic, and for several months I was telling him to prepare to meet Jesus, and to ask for forgiveness for any sins in his life, to ask God to bring any sins to his memory, and as soon as he remembered he must ask for forgiveness before Satan could snatch it away from his mind. I reminded him not to pray to any idols, not to recite prayers, but just talk to Jesus. I told him about God's law and how we are to accept His law in our hearts. After the meeting I received the call that my father had passed away. I drove to my mother’s home 1 1/2 hours away before she found out, and along with my sister we told her that our dad, her husband, was gone. The days following were very full and I could see God's hand in everything as things progressed.

I had occasion to speak with the nurse in charge the night my father passed away. She knew him very well. She said something was different about him that day. She said she had never seen this man before, there was a light about him. She had told him "How are you this morning, Geronimo?" (My father had forgotten how to talk for the most part.) He looked up at her and said very loudly and clearly, "I feel like a new man." All day long he interacted with everyone around him. I believe Christ was living in him that day and Jesus was letting me know that Dad’s salvation is secure. Praise the Lord!

Now all was taken care of, but my siblings are still trying to get control of the assets. But we leave that for God to care for, and for Him to give wisdom to the lawyer as the estate gets settled.

I went to Russia with The Quiet Hour teams. Our God is an awesome God. I saw Him at work everywhere. Though there were many obstacles along the way all through the trip, I could see God in control.

The meetings touched many hearts. Some heard the truth for the first time; others had been in the truth for many years when their hearts were touched anew. My own heart was touched more greatly than I ever dreamed it would.

I felt at one point that He wanted me to be rebaptized. After much prayer and soul-searching, I realized what He wanted me to do: spend more time in His word. More time with Him. Baptizing my soul with His word.

Before going to Russia I asked God to help me give Bible studies and to help me find people to study with. He has arranged Bible studies every night of the week except Wednesdays, when I am fed at prayer meeting. Now I am blessed with more people to study with on Wednesdays.

God will bless you if you step out in faith. We don’t do the work. It is the Holy Spirit working through us that prepares our souls as well as theirs for eternity.