Spiritually influential people in your life?
 

Thought I'd start a thread on the spiritually influential people in your life. Who has influenced you spiritually, in your walk with God? Who mentored you? Who taught you things which greatly benefited your life and (most importantly) helped shape who you are today?

I put them into two categories - those who you personally knew, and those who you only knew through their writings, audio, video, music, etc.

I'll go first.

Brother X. I call him brother x because honestly, for the life of me, I cannot remember the dear brother's name, it's been a long time since I knew him. Anyway, here's the story -

We started attending a UPC home missions church years ago, VERY small church (pastor, his wife, two or three other people, that's it. When our family arrived the church population doubled overnight! lol) I asked the pastor 'do you guys have all night prayer meetings?' See, I had been reading a lot about revival histories, Bartleman, Azusa Street, The Phenomenon of Pentecost, etc etc. I was very much on fire for God at the time. But, I admit I was very inexperienced in the subject of prayer. I had prayed through a deliverance when I first turned to God, but I had never been TAUGHT about prayer beyond 'confess the word and believe God and give thanks'.

My prayers up to that time were actually pretty weak. What I mean is, I would always pray barely above a whisper, I would always have to force myself to 'stay focused', my mind would wander, I would get tired and sleepy, I often had no idea WHAT to pray or how to pray. But I knew the revival saints of old were 'prayer warriors' and I wanted to do my part.

So there I am, new guy at a local church, asking the pastor about 'all night prayer meetings'. I was put out by what he said - 'Well, that's just an old tradition.' However, he did direct me to Brother X (Lord, help me remember his name, please!) and said he has the keys to the church, lives right down the road, he loves to pray, get with him.

So I did. Now, Brother X was an elder. Not 'officially' (this was a UPC) but he was much older (in his 60s I think) and far wiser than I. He was also in bad health and couldn't see worth a hoot. Had THICK glasses. Had trouble walking around. Had heart trouble, but was trusting God and using some herbal extracts, didn't trust any doctors.

Anyway, I met him at his house (he was very poor, lived in a seriously ramshackle little shack). We talked for a good while, sharing testimonies. I told him what the pastor had said about all night prayer meetings being an 'old tradition' and he said 'well, it's a traditon we need to get back to! He was an incredibly interesting man, had seen a lot, lived through a LOT of hardships, but was as holy as anyone I've ever met. If I ever met a 'true christian' this old brother was undoubtedly one. He had a heart of gold and did nothing but pray and read his Bible, all day, everyday. He loved everyone and anytime he opened his mouth about ANYTHING he would fit Jesus or a Bible verse into it somehow, and it fit perfectly.

So we go to the church building, and it's time to pray. It's just me and him (nobody else from the church bothered to come for a prayer meeting). Now remember, I really did not know how to pray effectively.

First thing he does is plop down on his knees at the altar. And spent about 20-30 minutes praying for nothing else than the ability to pray aright! He confessed his (and my) inability to pray 'as we ought to'. He confessed our total dependence on God and His Spirit, our utter lack of innate ability to understand what needs to be prayed for and how it ought to be prayed for. Every other sentence was a quote from Scripture, claiming the promises of God to help us to come boldly before His throne. He then arose and began walking the floor, praying up a storm. I had never before heard such powerful, anointed, authoritative, fervent prayer in my life. I now KNEW what REAL, holiness, Pentecostal prayer was about. I NOW understood what the old writers - even going back to the Quakers and Methodists - meant when they described earth- and heaven- shaking prayers of saints, pleading the mercies of God, storming the gates of hell in the name of the Lord...

I persevered, I learned, his prayers for me helped me, and his prayer itself taught me, encouraged me... I persevered in seeking GOD'S HELP to help me pray aright.... and then it happened....

True, fervent, spiritually directed prayer is PROPHETIC in a sense... the Holy Ghost takes over and gives us wisdom - and authority - and power... the spirit of prayer, the spirit of travailing prayer, the spirit of effectual, fervent prayer, the spirit of POWERFUL prayer...

I learned one must get past the flesh... it was revealed to me by the spirit that night what 'pray without ceasing' actually meant. It means to not CEASE praying, ie do not let the flesh determine it is time to stop praying, do not MAKE THE DECISION to stop or end prayer-time, but let God have His way.

We prayed for several hours. Probably 3 or 4, maybe 5 hours. We did not stop until we BOTH felt in the spirit that the work was done, God had accomplished what he wanted to accomplish.

I had tried before to pray for extended periods - say 30 minutes or so, and usually felt SOOOOO tired, so scattered and unfocused. But not this time. This was like a fresh baptism with the Holy Ghost. It went on for hours and there was NO FATIGUE WHATSOEVER, no 'scattered intrusive thoughts', no lack of focus.

Brother X taught me how to pray - by going straight to Jesus, and saying 'Lord, teach me to pray, RIGHT NOW, TONIGHT'... and to keep at it until the answer came.

It totally changed my life. Totally changed my views on prayer. Totally changed my views on many things. I had a new appreciation for 'TODAY, if ye will, and not harden your hearts...' I had a new understanding of 'pray without ceasing'. I KNEW what 'the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man' meant.

I understood what Hebrews 5:7 really meant.

I thank the Lord for Brother X, and I know I will see him again someday, even if I can't remember his name.

Re: Spiritually influential people in your life?
 

Most of mine are know only through their writings, as they are no longer with us. The list would include John G Lake, Ress howells, EW Kenyon, Smith Wigglesworth, George Muller and a few others from the late 1800's, early 1900's.

In modern times, I have been privileged to have been able to spend time around some men that have impacted my life and ministry in significant ways. Men such as Dr. Larry Lea, Milton Green, Pastor David Bernard, Pastor Rodney Shaw and the late JT Pugh. All of these have helped me through their writings, messages, and personal example and counsel.

There have been others that have been more indirect through Internet contact. JN Anderson, Jason, Dulle, Dr. Donald Vestal, Dr. Claudette King, Garth Weibe, Curry Blake, and many others.

I like this Thread. It is helpful to pause and reflect of those who have helped you become who you are and helped you arrive at this point in life.

Re: Spiritually influential people in your life?
 

When I was not yet one year old in the Lord I met a young (then) Pentecostal Preacher. Altho I had received the Holy Ghost and was having manifestations thereof I was attending a Freewill Baptist Church. I had zero Pentecostal friends and the same knowledge of their doctrine.

He was about 28 I was about 21. We first met in a Baptist Church one night. He laid hands and prayed over me. I felt the great anointing of the Holy Ghost! He asked me to pray about "Fishnet". Not knowing what he meant or if I would even see him again I said sure.

We then happened to meet a few weeks later at a Wesleyan Church as we both were kind of following a certain singing group around. He asked if I prayed about Fishnet I said yes. He asked what did the Lord show you? I replied that he said he would make his disciples fishers of men.

He told me he was looking for someone to help him start a street ministry. Now it so happened I had been praying how I could more effectively share my faith. I told him I would help him. Immediately we became close friends. He had a dynamic testimony of being delivered from drugs and prison and had come to Dayton Ohio to attend Bible College.

Right away we met some other people who wanted to be a part and "Bob" launched "Operation Fishnet Reaching Out For Christ". He led us out to witness at the malls and airport. We passed out tracts on the streets of Dayton till sometimes 2am preaching Christ to hookers, pimps, drunks and whoever! We went to bowling alleys, high school sports events and Pizza Hut.

I can remember crowds of students gathering around as he preached the message of Christ! Then when we were finished on the street we would go back to his house and pray for those we had witnessed to and have fellowship. At times we baptized converts and prayed for others to receive the Holy Ghost. It was during this time I learned about fervent Pentecostal prayer.

Now Bob was a Pentecostal but he was more interested in getting souls delivered and to Christ than he was about preaching in Church in those days. I started attending Church with him at a Pentecostal Church Of God. They offered us little encouragement but the anointing was so great we didn't need it from them because the Lord was very close in leading us.

Bob was the first one to point out the error of pre trib rapture to me as we fellowshipped one night he shared how he had received the teaching that we would go through the tribulation. He convinced me mightily with the word that very night.

One night witnessing he had met a backslid Rabbi who had challenged Trinitarianism in favor of one God. I remember he shared with me what the man had said and it got me thinking about Oneness doctrine. Another time he pointed us to baptism in Jesus name altho it was still a while before either of us did it.

One thing that always stayed with me was how we all fellowshipped the things of Christ together. Altho this happened in 1975-77 I am still friends with a number of people from that group. Funny we all remember it as the best days of our lives.

Altho we fell out with each other a few times over the years I always looked to him as my Pastor. The Lord used him to set a fire in me both for street ministry and New Testament Fellowship. He died in 2005 I believe it was. He was a great friend and my mentor.

Re: Spiritually influential people in your life?
 

Michael, man that rocked thank you for sharing! You have had quite the walk and when you share your story even though we see some things different it always builds my faith. :thumbsup

Re: Spiritually influential people in your life?
 

Looking back i'd consider My dad (John) as my spiritual mentor/hero.

He would wake up early in the morning pray, worship, read the bible before starting his day. He prayed for hours! Always talked about Jesus and what He had done for him

Even after his family fell apart, that caused my mom to loose her faith; and us kids to denounce our christian faith, he never lost his faith. He grew stronger in the Lord.

The Lord took him home in 2011

Re: Spiritually influential people in your life?
 

Michael had a cool life.

Re: Spiritually influential people in your life?
 

As far as more indirect influence very early on Dave Wilkerson was huge for me. One could say he was the one Jesus used to start the Jesus Movement. Many times he had strong words of love, faith and holiness that was assimilated into many of us.

In 1977 I met an Indian Pastor Joseph Arthungal. He was having meetings in his house at that time in Fairborn, Ohio under the umbrella of the Ceylon Pentecostal Mission. He was a humble man, very godly. We used to sit on his floor and talk about Christ and pray. He pointed me to their main Church in America The New Testament Church in Washington D.C.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pentecostal_Mission

He told me wonderful stories about this Church. I could not help thinking "Yea I've heard people build up their Church before". Well I went there and stayed 2 weeks in 1977 and I couldn't hardly believe the love and holiness and desire the saints there had. It made a real impression on me. I fellowshipped with them until 1980 when they put me out because I came to the truth of baptism in Jesus name.

About that time I heard about Hobart Freeman and Faith Assembly. He was (altho Trinitarian) baptizing in Jesus name. He also was teaching the head covering for women, faith in God for every situation, and at that time they had the most heavenly and beautiful Charismatic worship I ever heard! Bro. Freeman taught the strong message of discipleship and holiness.

Their Church was only about 200 miles from me in Northern Indiana so I was able to visit there every now and then. There were many Churches around the world at that time that met in homes and played the latest tapes of Bro. Freeman. Before he died in 1984 he was rejected by the Charismatic movement because of his very strong stand on healing and holiness.

Next around 1985 I met an old Evangelist from the Latter Rain Movement Maynard Howe. He had started a number of Churches in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Canada. He baptized in Jesus name and taught the head covering.

He had a strong emphasis on plurality of Elders and body ministry. They would gather in the meeting and "wait on the Lord". It was not assumed the Elders would do the teaching. Anyone could be used to teach, pray, prophesy, exhort, sing or whatever they felt the Lord was doing.

Late in his life, I believe he was around 90 years old he told me most of the Churches he founded were weakening in body ministry and had fallen back to one man rule. He himself dropped out of the Church system late in life and told me he could not find a Church worth going to. He met with a few people in the home till he died. I was blessed to have known him mostly through telephone and his missionary writings. I did meet him personally at one of his Churches conventions in 1985.

Re: Spiritually influential people in your life?
 

One UPC Minister had a tremendous influence in my life. his name was John Ekstat. Around 1980 I had seen baptism in Jesus name. Yet I was still struggling with the Oneness message. Not that Trinity was still binding me but there were just a few things I did not understand.

I had some fellowship with a Charismatic Pastor about that time who had baptized me in Jesus name. He said he was still Trinitarian and I moved on. A few months later we talked by phone and he told me he was now Oneness!

I stopped in at the Church one night and he taught on it. It was a marvelous revelation. I fully accepted it from that night on. He mentioned he had heard it taught by John Ekstat.

I remembered that name and about a year later I met someone who had some old tapes by Bro. Ekstat. I bought several of them and I can honestly say when he taught the message of THE WORD BEFORE MADE FLESH it was the most wonderfully edifying and faith building message I have ever heard even to this day!

It magnified Christ in my eyes more than all the faith teaching I had heard in my life. And it wasn't even about faith (in that sense). It was teaching the true understanding of his pre existence! Ever since then I have never heard such a glorious message!

John Ekstat was already dead at that time. He died I think in 1978. His son Nathan used to be a member of this Forum!