Charlie Hunt

Thank God for the privilege I have to be in the house of God. This morning, the Sunday school lesson was about the power of Jesus, His love, and His mercy to my never-dying soul.

Before I was old enough to go to school, Jesus began to talk to me about things eternal. I did not know the Voice of God when I heard my dad sing a hymn in a wagon going across the sagebrush flats in Eastern Oregon where he had taken up a homestead. He sang “The Old Rugged Cross.” I did not know anything about God except to hear the name of God taken in vain. We had never gone to church or Sunday school, but I thank God that He began to talk to my heart right then. Something stirred in the depths of my soul.

In the fall of 1913, we moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon, and my mother began to take us to church and Sunday school. There I heard about God. That song my father sang would well up in my soul every once in awhile. When I hear it sung today it thrills my soul. It is one of my favorite hymns. I am thankful for God’s faithfulness down through my life. He kept talking to me and dealing with me.

We went to different revival meetings taking place in Klamath Falls. I remember very well that at the end of World War I, a man named George Bennard came and held meetings. He was the one who wrote “The Old Rugged Cross.” He was the first person that I ever heard say that God had saved his soul. He knew that his sins were forgiven, that God had sanctified him, and that he could live a holy life. That was something new and different from what I had been hearing. Something stirred down in my soul, and I wanted what I heard. He left town and for some years I struggled along trying to live for God, but not knowing how. God would speak to my soul and say, “What about eternity? What about when you leave this life?” There was that constant fear about the judgment of God.

I did not go very far into sin, because I hated it. I wanted to make Heaven my home. I tried to live right, but didn’t have victory. I wanted something that would satisfy, but I couldn’t seem to find it.

In the early spring of 1923 a few of the Apostolic Faith people came to Klamath Falls to hold some meetings. I did not go into town, but my folks went because my uncle had been to a camp meeting and was interested.

One day, as I was plowing with horses, an accident happened. Somehow, I got my foot caught in the middle disk of the plow, and the plow came out of the ground like it had run over a rock. I feared to pull my foot out because I just knew it had been cut off. However, it was not, it was just crushed. I went with my folks to Klamath Falls where the ministers anointed me with oil as the Scripture says, and God healed my foot. The next day I was back working in the field.

That was my introduction to the Apostolic Faith Church. I went to a meeting and went forward to the altar of prayer. I didn’t pray through that night, but I kept on praying until God gave me victory. I thank God that He made a change in my life that has stood the test down through the years.

About sixteen years ago I was sick all winter. I was encouraged to see a doctor because my condition was such that I could pass away at any time. The doctor told me that I must have an operation at once. He said that I couldn’t possibly live without it. I asked him what my chances were if I had the operation, and he said 50-50.

I thank God I could tell him that I had put my case in God’s hands for the past thirty-five years and that He had taken good care of me. If He was through with me, I was ready to go.

I got on a plane and went to Medford, Oregon where my family lived. I thought if it was my time to go, it would be good to be where my family was. But God had different plans. In six weeks I was back home in Yakima, Washington working as a building contractor.

I thank God that He has been my helper and my stay through these years. I’ve gone through some hard places and experienced the hard knocks of life, but down in my soul my anchor has held. I’m glad He put something in my heart that wants to see the end of this Christian race. I am looking forward to that day when the trumpet will sound. Thank God for victory.