first preached in Seattle in the 70's, and over the years I found the people of Seattle to be
open and receptive to the gospel; therefore, I was very happy to return. Seattle is
teaming with people from every culture and nation of the Earth. It was a great mission
field. It was easy to share the gospel with hundreds of people every day.
I arrived in Seattle and started preaching like in the good old days. The police left
me alone, and the people heard the gospel and received Bible booklets. But wait, things
are never this easy. And if you think serving the Lord will cause the angels of heaven to
make everything easy for you, I suggest you stay at home. I got to Seattle all right, and
the preaching was good. I found a good job, but I could not find a place to live! I was
living in a tent in a campground many miles from town. My employer had a tremendous
backlog of work, so we worked seven days a week. But my heavenly Father had souls
to win, so I also preached 7 days a week.
My typical day went as follows. I woke up around 5:30, cleaned my tent, and started
driving to get to work by 7:00. I worked till 3:30, cleaned up, and went to downtown
Seattle to preach. After preaching, I ate dinner, then went back to my tent and went to
sleep. I never was so exhausted in my life. Finally I found an apartment next to the
interstate. It was so noisy that I always wore earplugs, but it was nice to be out of the
rain.
When the Apostle Paul knew that his time upon the earth was coming to an end, he
spoke of his ministry in the 20th chapter of Acts.
Paul said, “I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves
know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with
me. I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak,
and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed to give
than to receive.'”
Starting in 1974, I have shared the gospel from Vancouver B.C. to San Diego to
Boston to Miami. I have shared the gospel with a lot of people, and I paid my own way.
Today my family and I still share the gospel. We have never accepted an offering.
One time we ministered, and the people demanded we receive their offering. I said, “If
you give us an offering, we will never come back.” They decided not to give us an
offering.
If my ministry ever becomes greater than the Apostle Paul's, perhaps I will consider
the possibility of receiving an offering, but until then, I will labor night and day like Paul
did and pay my own way.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
--2 Timothy 4:2