Commentary

Tribute to those who helped me along the way

I would like to pay tribute to several special people in my life who have helped and encouraged my ministry.

First, I am thankful to God, that He has blessed me and been with me.

Secondly for my wonderful wife, Mary, who has stood by me through the thick and the thin. I believe God had us destined for each other. Although we grew up 1600 miles apart, we knew some of the same people and had just missed meeting each other on several occassions. Then one day Helen, who played piano our singing group, called and said she was going to be the organist for a revival at a black church in downtown Los Angeles. She invited this young lady who had just moved to L.A. from Arkansas to come with her. After the service I was introduced to Mary Ruth Fox. After praying for the revival to keep going for 3 weeks, I finally got the nerve to ask her out and our first date was on my birthday and we went to church. In fact the vast majority of our dates revolved around church and ministry. We have now been married 42 years, have two fanstastic daughters who married two great guys and have two of the best grandsons any one could want.

My parents, Lee and Ahloween Unger for raising me in a Christian home and teaching me about the things of God and encouraging me to do what God called me to do.

Rev. Willard Peachee, who gave me my first opportunity to preach at a skid row mission in downtown Los Angeles. My first sermon was 12 minutes and 6 of them were God Help Me. Subscribing to the theory, “if you fall off the horse, get right back on” he asked me to preach again the next Monday night. Several years later I would become his assistant pastor at Faith Assembly of God in Whittier, CA.

Rev. S.E. Bruce, who called me for my first revival to a little church in Lowell, AR in 1962 and was then kind enough to have me back in 1964.

Mrs. Jean Balch, founder of Youth Gospel Crusades to Mexico, who listened to the voice of God as He directed her to go to the church were I attended and tell the pastor that God had told her that someone there was supposed to go on a mission trip to Mexico with her group. She introduced me to missions.

Rev. Walter Barnard, father of well known Pastor-Evangelist Jerry Barnard, who invited me to be his associate pastor in 1971. He taught me a lot about being a pastor. It was on leaving his church that the foundation for what has become The Lord’s House Fellowship was established.

Dr. Robert Turner and Ruth Turner, pastor, friend and former board member of our ministry. He and Sister Turner were always supportive of our ministry. I could always count on them for prayer and advise. When we met the Turner’s we had just left pasturing a church that had caused us great hurt.

I also want to acknowledge Dr. Ivan York, who I first met as my Sunday School teacher in 1957. He and his wife Cookie have been good friends over the years.

Mel Young, who guided us and taught us as we began our radio ministry in 1975. He was a valued part of the ministry for over 15 years.

I also want to acknowledge Pastor Chan Chottu, pastor of Better Hope Assembly of God in Better Hope, Guyana. Pastor Chan went to his reward in December 1999, just a few weeks after the last time I had spoken with him. He helped us with our ministry in Guyana.

A special thank you to J B and Jaunita Fox, (Mary's parents) for instilling in her the values she has. You helped to make her a special person.

Of course there were many others who played a part in this ministry along the way and I am thankful to them as well.

Most of the folks mentioned have gone on, but whatever this ministry accomplishes, they have a part in it.

Thank all of you for believing in me.