Harry Nelson

I am thankful for the love and mercy of God. As a young boy it was my privilege to grow up on a farm in North Dakota in a home where my dad had found the Lord. We did not have many things, but one priceless heritage we did have was a father who knew God, feared Him, and tried to serve Him the best he could. My dad was not ashamed to tell what God had done for him, and he strove to bring up his children in the fear of the Lord. He spoke often of the coming of the Lord, and I knew I was not ready for that event. I admired and respected him, but there was something in my heart that would not allow me to pray.

I was considered a good boy. I did not have some of the habits other young people had; I didn’t drink or smoke or go to dances, and my language was ordinarily very clean. But I didn’t have any trouble with self-righteousness. I knew I was a sinner. I had a preacher tell me one time, “You are not doing what the world is doing, you must be a Christian.” I knew better. In those days God would many times strive with me. I went to church sometimes and often I would be under conviction when I went, but my heart was rebellious against God, and I wasn’t ready or willing to pray. It was so hard for me to give in.

My dad called the Apostolic Faith his church. He had become affiliated with it through his brother who lived in Portland, Oregon. When my eldest brother was a baby, he got a rupture. Dad wrote to Portland for an anointed handkerchief and for the prayers of the saints. When the handkerchief came and was first put on the boy, nothing happened, but Dad held on to God. It was a little trial of faith. After a short time, God answered prayer; my brother was completely healed without an operation.

There was another time when my dad was very sick with appendicitis. For twenty-one days he didn’t eat, and he lost sixty-five pounds. Again God delivered; he recovered without the aid of man.

When I was twenty-nine years old, I went to Portland on vacation, and during that time, I began attending the Apostolic Faith services. After attending for about two weeks, I finally got up enough courage to go to the altar. It was the first time in my life I ever went to an altar of prayer. I did not get saved the first time I prayed, but when I repented with all my heart, God made Himself real to me. Before the week was out, God gave me the assurance my sins were forgiven. It was February 15, 1951. The song in my soul the next day was, “Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.” Victory was mine, and I could write to my family in North Dakota that God had saved my soul.

I went back to the farm for a year and did well financially, but God dealt with me and made me willing to leave the farm. I rented out my land and moved to Portland to worship with the Apostolic Faith people. On February 28, 1952, the opportunity was given me to work in the Apostolic Faith printing plant. A short time after, I was given the opportunity of visiting the merchant ships in the Portland harbor and inviting the seamen to church. I have enjoyed the privileges God has given me. I want to do what I can to help spread the Gospel to others.

I don’t have to date back to only that first day when God did something for me, for His blessings have been mine since then. I have a strong hope and a wonderful God-given peace in the depths of my soul. I am glad the Lord led me from my North Dakota farm to Portland and brought me to repentance. I am glad to give my life and my time to His service. I can surely say the Lord has rewarded my efforts as I try to please Him in all that I do.

Harry Nelson worked in the Apostolic Faith printing plant for almost thirty years. In all that time, he never took a salary.  Instead, he lived off of the income from his farm.