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1. What do you feel is your greatest confidant and closest advisor for many
accomplishment? years. And he was one of the greatest
I think the most important thing that I Christians I’ve ever known.
accomplished was when I married the 6. The world has changed dramatically dur-
right girl and we were able to raise the ing your lifetime. How has your relevance
kind of family that I’m very proud of. It’s changed?
largely her doing because I’ve been gone If you go back to the Middle Ages or you
so much. go back to the old Roman days, they did
2. Have you ever been overwhelmed by the all sorts of things and they had all kinds
responsibility of your calling? If so, how of rules and regulations and they had the
did you deal with it? most horrible ways of killing people. I
I must say that it is only by God’s protec- think that in many ways we are just the
tion and God’s mercy and I give Him the same as they were; our hearts are the
credit and the glory and the honor for same. Everything comes from the human
it. But I would think that a great deal of heart, and our hearts have been cor-
prayer is necessary in this work and a rupted by sin. And the only answer to sin
great deal of humility and realizing that in my judgment is Christ.
you depend entirely on the Spirit of God 7. Has your relationship with God changed
and that’s the reason in our crusades we during your life and how has that affected
put all of the emphasis on prayer. your message?
3. How have crusades changed through I think it was the Lord that just gradu-
the years? ally changed me. As I began to study the
The first sermon I ever preached would Scriptures I began to see how much of
be about the same as what I preach the emphasis is on God’s love and mercy
today; that is the biblical content. But, and grace because I’m not going to
of course, in attempting to make it heaven because I’m good. I’m not going
relevant to the generation I’m preaching to heaven because I’ve preached to a lot
to which is different, or the age, or the of people. I’m going to heaven because
geographical location, it has changed of God’s grace and mercy in Christ at
tremendously. the cross. Grace means unmerited favor,
something I didn’t deserve. I haven’t
4. When do you feel closest to God?
worked for. It’s a free gift from God to
When (I) get through (my) devotions in me and I emphasize that now in my
the morning or in the evening or when- preaching.
ever, sometimes I take a long walk and 8. Your delivery style appears to have
pray or quote a few verses of Scriptures changed from one of ‘fire and brimstone’
or at night when I can’t sleep I’m pray- to one that seems to be of a quieter pas-
ing, the Lord seems to be right there, sion. If you agree, why did you feel the
very close. I don’t want anything else. need to change your style?
5. Who has been or is your mentor? I think there is a greater emphasis on
I didn’t realize when I married (Ruth) social issues, a greater emphasis on the
that I was getting such a remarkable love of God. D. L. Moody put a tremen-
family. Her father became my closest
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