My Connection to a Campground

Twenty years ago today, I received the sad news. Five days before, an internationally known minister had died of cancer. This same minister had performed a wedding for me months earlier. That marriage didn’t last. Nevertheless, it connected me with a ministry that continued to impact my life.

Back in early 2000, my then-fiancée and I drove from Minnesota to Calvary Pentecostal Tabernacle in Ashland, Virginia (just north of Richmond). This Christian campground hosts revival meetings throughout the year where guests can stay free of charge. The director at that time was Ruth Heflin, the daughter of founders Wallace and Edith Heflin.

A few weeks before while attending Brownsville Revival meetings in Pensacola, Florida, Ruth Heflin’s name kept coming up in conversations I had with people. At the time I didn’t know who this woman was. Meanwhile, Sister Ruth held meetings in Minnesota that my soon-to-be fiancée attended. So after hearing her talk about Ruth Heflin, I knew there was a reason God kept bringing this minister’s name to my attention. 

I found out Sister Ruth traveled to foreign countries by faith. She would pack her bags and trust God to provide the finances without asking anyone for help. The money always came in at the last minute. God had been doing the same thing with my missionary trips! Learning about Ruth Heflin’s ministry encouraged me since other missionaries I knew worked regular jobs, had an organization supporting them, or sent out fundraising letters. 

My fiancée and I attended the first few days of CPT’s Winter Campmeeting. During which, we got a marriage license and then asked someone in the campground office if there was a minister available to marry us. We were instructed to talk to Ruth Heflin herself. Her response was, “Let me think about it over the weekend.” Three nights later, Ruth offered to perform a wedding ceremony for us the following afternoon.

After honeymooning in Florida, my new wife and I returned to CPT for the final weekend of Winter Campmeeting. We were then offered jobs in the tape ministry in exchange for living there long-term. Unfortunately, my wife had personal issues and refused to receive counseling. She soon left me and went back to Minnesota. Campground leaders then advised me to do the same. Despite doing everything possible to reconcile with my wife, she filed for divorce.

Meanwhile, God continued leading me back to CPT to attend both their Summer and Winter campmeetings. At first, it was uncomfortable showing up there without my wife. Nevertheless, I was willing to work in the tape ministry again. That door didn’t open for me. Instead, the Lord provided places to live in Northern Virginia and in Richmond. Although I didn’t own a car, rides became available to make frequent visits to Ashland.

My faith was strengthened by listening to numerous speakers at Calvary Campground. Among them were Joshua Mills, Bobby Hogan, Russ Moyer (who I originally met in Pensacola), and current camp director Jane Lowder. Personal prophecies I received at CPT encouraged me to remain on the mission field. The late David Alsobrook once prophesied that God was sending me “…to the north, and the south, and the west.” I already planned on going back to Minnesota and then to Florida. The “west” part surprised me. The Lord gradually led me to travel to Alabama, Texas, and then to California.

Often I was assigned to stay in the men’s dormitory at CPT. Sometimes I didn’t sleep well because of other guests talking late at night. Still, there was good fellowship as I got to meet believers from all over the world. One time a minister from Germany stayed in the dorm with me. The following year, I taught an evangelism seminar for a house church in Germany. My translator happened to be that German minister I met the year before!

It was also in the men’s dorm I met another missionary named John Loewen. We first crossed paths during the 2000 Winter Campmeeting. The following winter, I met a young man named Rigo. Later that year, the three of us were placed in the same room during a men’s convention. We eventually made a few road trips together. In 2007 while having breakfast in the dining room, I met a retired government worker who offered to let me live in his house near Washington, DC. Jim and I have since done some traveling together as well.

God has used me to minister to others at CPT. Once I led a homeless man staying there to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Another afternoon while walking around Ashland, a man driving a van stopped to ask if I knew where the library was so he could check his e-mail. I had just left the library because their Internet service wasn’t working. This man drove me back to the campground. It was there that he prayed with me to receive salvation.

In recent years, I haven’t gone back to Calvary Campground that much but still showed up for part of Winter Campmeeting. After a partial shutdown due to COVID-19, the camp is resuming weekend meetings again. So if you need spiritual refreshment plus lodging and have the means to get to Virginia, I encourage you to visit Calvary Campground. You will be blessed!

“the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler.” - Job 31:32

Another One Rides the Bus

Not having owned a car for almost two decades, I often use public transportation to travel around the country. Whenever possible, I avoid overnight trips by bus. I had done that in June 2016 going from Boston to Virginia. A pastor in South Hill wanted me to lead outreaches there and offered to buy the ticket. Then a few days ago I took a bus from Tampa, Florida to Washington, DC. The Southwest and Amtrak fares were higher than usual. So I checked the Greyhound website and found a one-way ticket for only $69. 

Greyhound restricts passengers to one free carryon and one checked bag. Two extra bags may be checked for $20 each. Usually, I travel with four bags (one of them filled with tracts and gospels of John). I repacked my stuff into three bags by downsizing and placing my duffel bag into one of my suitcases. My backpack was used as the carryon. Despite using a scale at the missionary house to get everything within weight limitations, both my two suitcases were slightly over 50 pounds according to Greyhound’s scale. Fortunately, the employee told me not to worry about that and only charged me for the extra checked bag.

While at the Tampa Greyhound station, I went online with my laptop and also witnessed to a homeless man who earlier helped bring one of my suitcases inside. He was already a believer. Later after getting in line, another homeless man approached me complimenting my doing God’s work but it was obvious he wanted money. Instead, I gave him two of the bags of chips brought with me and a gospel tract. He rambled on about beliefs inconsistent with the Bible. Fortunately, that conversation was cut short because it was time for me to board the bus.

Despite riding an express bus, the layovers on this trip seemed longer…one to two hours at a time. Another thing I wasn’t happy with was the “free Wi-Fi” on buses now limited to 100 MB per device. However, free movies were available online that didn’t count against the data limit. I watched “I Can Only Imagine” and “Wonder Woman” plus part of “Toy Story 4.”

While traveling from Orlando to Jacksonville, there were fewer passengers on the bus. So I played worship music through my earphones wanting to enter into the presence of God. That was hard to do even though I never had to let someone sit next to me. A young man two rows behind me talked loudly on his cell phone. I had to remind him the driver instructed us not to use speakerphones. 

While in Jacksonville, I mostly did stuff online since the Wi-Fi in the stations didn’t have a data limit. I considered getting food in the Greyhound cafe but decided against that because of the high prices. When it was time to board the bus again, we were suddenly told to get on a different one. The previous bus I rode had mechanical problems. I hurried to retrieve my jacket and neck pillow left behind (the checked baggage had been transferred) and then picked another window seat close to the front. Later while the bus traveled north on Interstate 95, the young man who talked loudly on his phone started playing music through the speaker. Other passengers complained about it using profanity. The driver issued many warnings but didn’t kick him off the bus.

More stopovers were done in Savannah, Georgia, Fayetteville, North Carolina and a short one in Stony Creek, Virginia. There I hurried over to Subway to get a $2.99 roasted chicken sub plus a free vitamin water from filling out an online survey. I had mostly snacked on chips and wanted something more nutritious. Then in Richmond, I sat in the cafe watching YouTube videos on my iPad. I was really tired and not in the mood to talk to anyone or do anything productive.

My bus finally arrived at Union Station in Washington, DC around 9:15 a.m. A friend picked me up to take me to his house in Fairfax, Virginia. It felt good to lay down on a bed. Usually, I don’t sleep well in moving vehicles. During the little sleep I got on this bus ride, I dreamed of having back problems. This was probably due to my lower back feeling uncomfortable.

Despite my desire to save money, I don’t want to do an overnight bus ride again. It reminds me of a story involving Smith Wigglesworth. The British “Apostle of Faith” often traveled by train first class. Someone once asked him why he was “wasting God’s money.” Smith answered, “I am preserving God’s servant.” Every minister has probably traveled in uncomfortable circumstances but it’s better for him to stay refreshed so he can be at his best at a moment’s notice.

“Be ready in season and out of season.” - 2 Timothy 4:2

Born To Be Alive

If someone were to guess what my all-time favorite song is, one might assume it would be a hymn or inspirational tune. There have been a few that touched me over the years. However, one particular song stands out from the rest.

In July 1979, I was fifteen years old and went on vacation with my family. One night in my motel room, I turned on a radio and for the first time heard “Born to Be Alive” by Patrick Hernandez. I already knew about the song since Casey Kasem had announced it was #1 on Billboard’s disco chart. I liked it immediately with its entrancing synthesizer sounds, dreamy strings, and catchy guitar riffs.

Two weeks later (and exactly 40 years ago today), “Born to Be Alive” debuted on “American Top 40” at #40. I taped the song off the radio and for the next several days played it over and over (even today it still gives me goosebumps). Soon I bought the Patrick Hernandez album of the same name. Meanwhile, I continued rooting for “Born to Be Alive” to hit #1 on the Hot 100. Despite only peaking at #16, the song earned a gold record in the U. S. for selling over one million copies. 

Around this time, I started hanging out at a local roller rink. There I repeatedly requested to hear “Born to Be Alive.” The music at this roller rink was usually kept up-to-date. For some reason, they didn’t get a copy of the Patrick Hernandez song until after it fell off the charts. I got frustrated whenever the record played during “girls only.” Perhaps that was done on purpose. The floor guards often told me to stop skating so fast when my favorite song came on the sound system. After becoming a floor guard myself over three years later, I made sure my first record played was “Born to Be Alive.”

Although “Born to Be Alive” is not a gospel song, a portion of its lyrics could describe my present-day lifestyle as a missionary…

People ask me why I never find a place to stop and settle down down down

I never wanted all those things people need to justify their life life life

Yes we were born born born to be alive

I have written an evangelistic takeoff of “Born to Be Alive” called “Must Be Born Again” that I might release someday. In the meantime, I will continue listening to Patrick’s song as a reminder God wants us to enjoy the life He has given us.

“I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” - John 10:10

Amtrak Rant

As a missionary, I’ve traveled across America and other countries through various means of transportation. Obviously, flying is a more attractive option for longer distances. Because I usually don’t sleep well in moving vehicles, I try to avoid overnight trips. Nevertheless, I’ll sometimes take the long bus or train rides depending on logistical issues and fare costs.

Train travel can be an enjoyable experience especially when there’s beautiful scenery to look at. Last year, I used Amtrak to go from Portland, Oregon to my birthplace of Fargo, North Dakota. That route allowed me to see Glacier National Park for the first time. However, the only Amtrak routes going through Fargo arrive in the middle of the night. That presented problems when I wanted a friend or family member to take me to the train station or pick me up there.

There are other reasons why train travel is not so great in America. Some cities such as Nashville, Montgomery, Columbus, Des Moines, and Tulsa don’t have Amtrak stations. The Amtrak route network is also very minimal. Let’s say I want to take a train from Tampa to Dallas. I’d have to make a three-day trip going all the way up to Washington, DC and then over to Chicago before heading down south again. Amtrak used to have a route near the Gulf Coast until it was damaged by Hurricane Katrina and hasn’t yet been restored.

Too many government regulations make simple things like train travel more frustrating than they need to be. In January 2004, I went from Richmond, Virginia to Tampa by train. I had found a “Rail Sale” special on Amtrak’s website for only $37. Initially, I felt uneasy about buying the ticket perceiving the Lord told me to wait. I went ahead and bought the ticket not sensing any danger plus I didn’t want to risk losing that special price. There was a divine reason why I should’ve waited. 

Partially due to bad weather up north, my train arrived in Richmond over three hours late and the ride lasted an extra day! Federal law prohibits train employees from working 12 consecutive hours. Three times my train sat still on the tracks for hours, as we waited for different crews to be brought in. A couple of weeks later, I took a train from Tampa back to Richmond. That train arrived at my destination two hours late.

Then this past Thursday, I prepared for what ended up being another delayed train ride from Richmond to Tampa. Throughout the day while in Ashland, I monitored my train status to verify it would be on time at 9:34 p.m. It wasn’t until arriving at the Richmond station an hour in advance that my train’s estimated time of arrival had been delayed an hour. So my driver from Calvary Campground dropped me off at a nearby McDonald’s. While drinking coffee, witnessing to other customers, and doing stuff online with my laptop, I continued monitoring my train status. The ETA kept getting postponed even more. By 11:00, I had to leave McDonald’s because they were closing. So I walked back to the Amtrak station and found out my train was delayed another hour. It finally arrived around 1:15 a.m., almost four hours past its original ETA.

Although I got a requested window seat, the conductor assigned an overweight woman to sit next to me. Her big butt took up part of my seat making it harder for me to relax and get any sleep. I privately went to an Amtrak employee asking for a different seat. I was told that would be taken care of after the next stop but they didn’t follow through on that. A couple of hours later, I went back to the lounge car where the Amtrak employees had gathered. They suggested I hang out there temporarily. Although I had seen many open seats in other cars, I was told they would be taken by customers boarding in other cities. After a stop in Charleston, the two seats in front of my assigned seat had opened up. I moved there for the duration of my trip, finally arriving in Tampa at 9:00 p.m., over five hours past my scheduled arrival time.

One might ask, “Why not get a sleeper car?” Private rooms on Amtrak are very expensive. Even for one night, they can cost several hundred dollars. I’d rather spend that money on a hotel room for a week without the shakiness. Once I took a train from Perpignan, France to Madrid, Spain that included a bed for me to sleep on. I hardly got any rest because of the constant vibrations.

At least in Europe, the trains I rode were almost always punctual. In contrast, Amtrak isn’t reliable when you need to get somewhere on time. The tracks they use aren’t even their own. They are rented from other railroad companies. Often Amtrak trains have to stop to let other trains pass by.

Years ago, an American railroad company popularized the slogan, “Next time take the train.” Back then, train travel in the U. S. was far more efficient. But until I get my own car again, I’ll probably take a plane instead. At least the airlines offer compensation when flights are delayed too long. Right now, the only reason I’d consider using Amtrak again is they have a more generous luggage policy than the airlines. Except in selected cities, passengers are allowed to check two bags for free plus bring two carry-ons and two personal items. In recent years, I’ve brought along extra bags filled with gospel tracts and Bibles. In the future, I might have them shipped instead.

I’d heard people talk about wanting to see America by train. I suggest making alternative plans unless Amtrak gets their act together or a better train company starts up.

“Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.” - Proverbs 4:15

Take Your Place

Standing by a river in central Germany

I was temporarily living in Toronto in 1996 when the Lord revealed He was calling me to go to Germany. Initially I wasn’t excited about the idea. But by the time I made my third Germany trip in 2003, I would have been content to spend the rest of my life there. Instead God directed me to visit other parts of Western Europe until I returned to America. Since then I’ve mostly spent seasons living on the East Coast and in the Upper Midwest. 

One of the greatest frustrations a believer can experience is not knowing where God wants them to be. Many times we need to take action on what we know before He gives us additional direction. In Genesis 12, Abram was directed by the Lord to leave his home country but didn’t receive further instructions until he started moving. You cannot steer a parked car.

Lack of provision can also be a sign we’re not where God has assigned us to be. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah was commanded to go to the brook Cherith where the ravens fed him. Later the prophet was instructed by the Lord to go to a widow woman who temporarily provided for him. By this time the brook dried up and the ravens no longer provided food. 

Sometimes spiritual warfare occurs even if we are in the right place. The Apostle Paul certainly went through that during his missionary journeys. While living in Pensacola, Florida, I went through all kinds of opposition even though I knew God called me there for that season in my life. As Winston Churchill once said, “If you are going through hell, keep going.” 

Don’t let fear or natural circumstances cause you to avoid going where God has assigned you to be. Take your place!

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” 

- Philippians 3:14

The Flesh Profits Nothing

Probably the most common reason people erroneously think they will spend eternity in heaven is for being a good person. Certainly, we are to be doers of God’s word. Yet Jesus did not base His worthiness on the good works He did on earth but simply followed the Father’s instructions. The gospel of John in particular has many Scriptures emphasizing this truth...

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” - John 5:19

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” - John 5:30

“When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” - John 8:28 

“If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.” - John 8:54

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5 

Jesus also said in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.” Many times people do seemingly good things out of their own strength without seeing positive results. One example in the Bible can be found in John 21...

3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 

4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”

They answered Him, “No.”

6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

Peter was called to preach the gospel but briefly went back into fishing after denying the Lord. Jesus still helped him make a miraculous catch of 153 fish. Peter was soon restored and later on the Day of Pentecost preached a sermon that resulted in 3,000 salvations (Acts 2:41).

A few times I’ve been in financial need on the mission field and attempted to do things to bring in money without success. One night I found myself stranded in San Antonio and tried contacting a friend who had recently offered to send a donation towards my next Germany trip. I wanted to use the money instead to get me out of Texas. Despite making several phone calls, I couldn’t reach my friend. To make a long story short, God kept me in San Antonio for a couple of more weeks to do street ministry there until donations came in from other sources that enabled me to leave town.

I’ve met fellow missionaries who were heavily in debt at the time the Lord instructed them to walk away from their jobs but eventually became debt-free. One of them is a former chiropractor who has carried a wooden cross in various cities (à la Arthur Blessitt). At one point this man briefly returned to secular work wanting to make payments towards his debts. None of those jobs he landed worked out. Not long after making a firm decision to resume carrying the cross, a couple approached him offering to pay off all his debts. In an instant, this missionary was cleared of a $167,000 debt load. 

Smith Wigglesworth once said, “You must come to see how wonderful you are in God and how helpless you are in yourself.” Philippians 4:13 tells us we can do “all things through Christ” who strengthens us. Colossians 1:10 says we are to be “fruitful in every good work.” So if your life isn’t progressing like it should, ask the Lord where you may be missing it. A simple act of obedience can bring the sudden breakthrough you’ve been believing for.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” - Psalm 127:1

Ministry Starts at Home

In 1985, I moved away from the Fargo, North Dakota area where I was born and raised.  After a brief stint in the army, I relocated to Minneapolis originally to pursue a secular music career.  Six years later I committed my life to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Ironically that happened in Fargo while visiting my sister and her husband. 

In recent years, God has sent me back to Fargo for lengthy visits.  A few times it appeared He wanted me to resettle there.  I wasn’t fond of the idea for I hate the colder winters up north.  Another reason was Jesus’ statement in Mark 6:4, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”  One day I talked about this with a pastor friend in Fargo.  He responded by asking me, “Are you a prophet?”  I answered “no” because I’m primarily called to be an evangelist.  Even so, God has continued sending me to other cities.

Many people in the Bible were sent to places far from home.  Abraham was called to start a new nation.  Jonah was instructed to go to Nineveh.  Even Jesus spent time in Egypt as a child before returning to Israel.  On the other hand, the delivered demoniac who wanted to travel with Jesus was told, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” (Mark 5:19)  There’s also Jeremiah who continued ministering in Judah despite experiencing much rejection from his relatives and countrymen.

While I’ve had the privilege of leading some of my family members to salvation, others haven’t been as receptive to the things of God.  Nevertheless, He has used me to minister to other people in Fargo.  This past Wednesday during another visit to my hometown, I felt led to do some street evangelizing there.  Eighteen people prayed with me to get born again.  During my outing, a man riding on a motorcycle noticed what I was doing.  He stopped to introduce himself and offered to buy me lunch after I was done witnessing.  Proverbs 28:20 says, “A faithful man will abound with blessings.”

Some Christians say they want to be a missionary on foreign soil but won’t share the gospel with their neighbors and co-workers.  Ray Comfort says, “If you are not concerned about your neighbor’s salvation, then I am concerned for yours.”  We must be willing to minister to those in our immediate sphere of influence before God starts sending us to other cities and countries.  Jesus said in the Parable of the Talents and in the Parable of the Minas that if we are faithful in little, He will make us ruler over much.

Many churches have a sign posted above their exit that says, “You are now entering the mission field.”  Have you entered yours yet?

 “‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant.  You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’” – Luke 19:17 (NLT)

Travel Tips for the Mission Field

For over a dozen years now I’ve mostly lived out of a suitcase as a missionary. I often traveled with all my personal belongings since I haven’t owned my own home (à la Corrie ten Boom). Along the way, I’ve learned a few things that I want to pass on to you. These tips should be beneficial whether you go on a short-term missionary trip or out of the country for an extended period of time.

For any trip it is wise to pack lightly. How many times have you brought things that weren’t needed at all? In July 1997 I flew from Minneapolis to Chicago with other evangelists for a weekend City Blitz. The pastor organizing the trip asked us to use only a carry-on bag so we wouldn’t have to wait for our stuff in the baggage claim area. Since it was summertime, I got along fine using a backpack containing necessary toiletries and very light clothing. Other advantages to using only a carryon bag is that it eliminates the possibility of lost luggage by the airline plus it can help you avoid baggage fees.

Speaking of which, baggage fees has become my biggest pet peeve when using public transportation. Most American airlines now charge $20 or more just for checking a suitcase. Allegiant and Spirit Airlines also charge money for carry-on bags! Fortunately, Southwest Airlines still allow customers two free checked bags. Therefore I fly only on Southwest whenever possible.

It’s wise to weigh and measure your luggage before leaving the house. Extra baggage fees will be accessed if a suitcase is too heavy or too big. I learned this the hard way in 2006 after a man in Virginia blessed me with a large suitcase and a plane ticket to Tampa. Before boarding that flight, AirTran weighed my large suitcase and I discovered it was sixteen pounds overweight. Because I didn’t have time to repack my belongings, I had to pay an extra $25. 

Another time, AirTran tried to charge me extra money for a suitcase that was “too heavy” (personally I believe their scale’s reading was fudged). To reduce the weight, I put on an extra coat and a pair of heavier shoes. Doing this can also help one save valuable luggage space for things such as Bibles and gospel tracts. Still I got hit with a $49 oversize baggage fee due to a recent change in AirTran’s size restrictions.

If you ever need to ride the bus, be aware their overhead bins are very small compared to those on trains and planes. Last year I took a Greyhound bus to Burlington, Vermont. My carry-on luggage included a gym bag given to me a few weeks before. I had a hard time fitting that gym bag in the overhead bin above me. Three days later before leaving Vermont, I placed some of my stuff into a backpack that fit inside my gym bag. Then when I boarded the bus, I removed the backpack from the gym bag and was able to fit both of them in the overhead bin without any problems.

Whenever leaving your home country, you may need to bring a voltage adapter kit if you plan to use electronic devices such as a laptop computer. One time in Germany, I accidentally used a battery charger from home but forgot to connect the voltage converter in between the plug-in adapters. My battery charger became permanently damaged.

Last but not least, always pack a roll of toilet paper in your luggage.  One of the worst situations to be in is going to the bathroom somewhere and there’s no toilet paper available. This has happened to me many times. I’ve learned to become prepared for such emergencies.

By being obedient to the Great Commission, you will not only learn how to be a more effective soul winner, but also gain wisdom to help you with practical things.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” - Proverbs 11:30