TRUE STORY: In 1974, while I was in Bible college, I was the full time Youth Pastor at a United Methodist Church in Springfield, Missouri. I was the first full time Youth Pastor the church had ever had. The church had a congregation of about 400 people. When I became Youth Pastor, there were only 10 youth in the UMYF (United Methodist Youth Fellowship). One day the Pastor, who was 65 years old and had been there 17 years (which is unusual, because the UMC usually moved the Pastors from one church to another every 2-3 years), told me that he and his wife were going on vacation and that he wanted me to take care of the church while he was gone and preach the upcoming church services, which would be four services (two Sunday mornings and two Wednesday nights). Well, the first Sunday morning service was almost full. People wanted to hear the new Youth Pastor preach. Jesus told me to preach John 10:10, “The thief (the devil) has come to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come to give life and life more abundantly.” I preached my heart out. I was almost sweating I was preaching so hard. Then, I gave an altar call for anyone who wasn’t sure they had been saved or born again (now, you have to understand, these terms are not usually used in United Methodist Church circles; some of the congregation didn’t know what I meant, so I had to explain what these terms meant). Within seconds, the altar was full of people, the elderly, middle age and youth! One by one, I prayed the sinners prayer with each person, helping them receive Jesus as their Savior! At least 30 people were saved or born again! It was the first time in many years that an altar call had been given in that church! The rest of the congregation was pretty stirred up, not knowing what to think about all this! After the service, I stood in the vestibule and shook hands with the parishioners. One middle aged gentleman, who was the editor of the Springfield News Leader, the only newspaper in Springfield, came up to me and handed me an offering envelope and said these words, “I drew it exactly as I saw it!” I didn’t know what he meant. I put the envelope in my suit pocket and continued to shake hands with the people. Later, after arriving home to my 12X60 mobile home, while I was removing my suit clothes, I remembered the offering envelope. I took it out of my pocket, unfolded it and drawn on the envelope was the entire altar, platform, communion table, everything! I was at the pulpit preaching and at the communion table was Jesus, leaning on the table and shaking His head “yes” to everything I was saying! This was confirmation to me that Jesus was with me and was approving of my ministry! I immediately felt better about myself, my ministry and Jesus’ plans for my future! The other church services were the same, people coming up to receive Jesus as Savior, receiving healing and even deliverance from evil spirits (which is unheard of in UMC circles)! After the Pastor got back from vacation, he called me into his office! I was anticipating positive approval of a job well done! Instead, he sternly wanted to know what I had been preaching! I gave him my sermon notes to look at! He looked them over and said, “There’s nothing wrong with these sermons!” I said okay, great! He told me that at least half of the congregation wanted me removed as Youth Pastor, and the other half were thrilled to have me and wanted to hear me preach again! But, as time went on, I was never asked to preach again! But, over the next few months, the church bought a house right behind the church building, and I turned it into a Youth Center, reaching street kids who were addicted to drugs and alcohol! We reached so many teenagers that the Youth Group grew to just over 100 youth! Jesus was surely with me! By the end of my 1974-1975 college year, the District Superintendent asked me if I would consider Pastoring a Methodist Church just south of Springfield between Ozark and Nixa! While in prayer, Jesus told me to accept the church! I Pastored it for three years! When I took the church, it had 30 people! When I left, it had 155, with standing room only!!!