Harold Kasper

I was born in Lookout, California, on September 24, 1919. When I was about three years old, my dad, who was a rancher and cow puncher, lost his sheep ranch and moved our family to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he could find work. There, he became broken through a series of troubling events. Among other things, he injured his back and was unable to work and support his family. Also, my five-year-old brother became gravely ill with tubercular meningitis. During that time, I can remember climbing up on my dad’s lap and helping to light his cigarettes. Soon, though, everything was changed in our home, including my dad’s behavior.

In May of 1923, Clarence Frost and a band of Apostolic Faith workers knocked on our door to invite us to tent meetings that were about to be held in town. My dad was so discouraged that they asked if he wanted to pray right then. He said yes and got down by a chair in the kitchen and prayed through to salvation. Then Brother Frost and the workers prayed for his back, and he was instantly healed. After observing my father for a few days, my mother also prayed and was saved. In September, my brother did die, but the Lord was with our family through that time and comforted us.

Within a year, an Apostolic Faith church was formed in Klamath Falls, and my family began attending. I received salvation as a young boy. Then I wanted to learn to play an instrument, so I acquired a used trombone. Before long, I was asked to play in the church orchestra. As I got older, I served the Lord in the music department, playing in church services and at outdoor meetings.

I quit high school in the tenth grade to help support our family along with my dad who was now a stone mason and brick layer. This was during the depression, and times were difficult.

When I was about eighteen, I met Carolyn Joli, who was twenty, during a camp meeting in Portland, Oregon. We married in 1940 at the Cass house near the campground. Then we settled down to married life in Klamath Falls, and attended church there.

At some point, I got side-tracked and did not feel that I was where I should be spiritually. Not knowing what to do about it, I just continued in the church work. As time when on, I became bitter at different things I saw around me, and the Lord began to talk to me about my attitude. He showed me that I needed to do something about it. I realized that it wasn’t everyone else who was wrong, it was me! I admitted that I was not right with God and started over, praying through to salvation.

In the next meeting, I sat in the back of the sanctuary, and when the ministers and those on the platform got up from praying before the start of the service, I looked over at my wife and said, “Isn’t it beautiful?” To me, they looked like angels. She asked, “What is beautiful?” To her everything looked as usual, but I had a completely new outlook.

Soon after we were married, my wife and I had two little girls. World War II was being fought, and even though I had a family, I was drafted into the United States Army. In June of 1944, I was sent to serve my country after completing boot camp and basic training.

It was hard to leave my family and go off to war, but I gave my life completely over to the Lord, and He protected me through many harrowing experiences. I was sent to the Philippines and served on the front lines. There were many close calls where my life was in danger, and many times when I felt the protecting hand of the Lord. Later, I was sent to Japan as part of the occupation of Japan. I returned home in January of 1946, grateful that the Lord had brought me through safely without a scratch and had taken care of my family while I was gone.

In June, it was decided that the Apostolic Faith Church in Klamath Falls would close after the Portland camp meeting. However, a new branch was opening in Eureka, California. In the fall, I went with a group of men from our church to look for work among the lumber mills in Eureka. We did find jobs and began working. My wife was pregnant, so she stayed behind. In December, our son was born, in February, the new church was dedicated, and in March, I moved my family to Eureka.

There were many opportunities to help in the church work in Eureka. It wasn’t long before a choir and orchestra were established, and jail and street meetings were being held. My wife and I became Sunday school teachers, and then in about 1956, I was asked to be a youth minister. I preached in the young people’s services at first, and then later in the regular services.

In 1969, I was asked to be an assistant minister in Grants Pass, Oregon. My wife and I still had one daughter at home, but we willingly went to be of service in the Lord’s work. Tearfully, we packed up and made the move, leaving behind our older children and grandchildren.

We have had many years now to serve the Lord in most every phase of the work. There have been some hard times, but the Lord has brought us through each of them.

Harold Kasper went to be with the Lord on September 20, 2011.