Ruth Ashwell

My parents came to Portland in 1921 so that they could bring up their children in “the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” My father had told my mother, “There is nothing as important as rearing our children in a church that believes the whole Bible.” He had been disappointed in the failure of the church he had attended, and decided the time had come that there would be a famine for the Word of God, as the Bible prophesies.

It was because of an Apostolic Faith paper that my grandparents had received, that my father came to Portland to see what was happening here. After his first meeting, he said, “There is enough power in this church to convert the world.” I believe there is, if we would only exercise it.

“There is enough power in this church to convert the world.”

The next day, my father found a job and he sent for us. He said this was where we would be living. The tabernacle was being built at that time, and evenings he helped on the construction job. He taught us from infancy that the work of the Lord comes first, and anyone who knew him can attest to the fact that he proved it by his life. The happiest time of his life was when he retired from the railroad and could give full time to the Gospel work. I was only a little girl then, but I am glad that the love for God was planted in my heart when I was young. I am thankful for such a heritage.

I didn’t seek the Lord as a young girl as I should have. I remember the camp meeting just before I was saved. I went home to my little tent that night and told the Lord, “Is there no hope for me? Can’t I ever get saved and find real satisfaction?” I loved the meetings but I put off getting saved, and neglected God. But the Lord was longsuffering and merciful to me, and one Sunday morning the following September, He talked to my heart and made me willing to get down to real business for Him. I told the Lord I would give Him my life if He would give me what these people have. That morning I called on Him for mercy and He came down and put that real peace and joy in my heart and life, and gave me something to live for. He gave me a blessing I could never explain. Even though there weren’t a lot of outward sins on my life, the Lord made a mighty change down inside me. I lost sight of the things of the world.

One thing I remember from the days of my childhood was the testimony of a man who said he had been saved 50 years! Then came the time when my father had been saved for 50 years, then my mother. And now I have passed the milestone. I thank God from the depths of my heart for His presence with me for over half a century.

I am observing another anniversary—44 years in the church office. I would not exchange those years for anything in this entire world. The Lord has given me blessings above what I have ever been able to express. Just before I was 21 years of age, the Lord began to talk to me about my plans for my life. I knew what I wanted to do, and thought I could carry out my own plans. But the Lord began to tell me I must let Him choose the way I should go. It wasn’t easy. Through that year I would get down to pray with a hunger in my heart and would promise, “I will give You my life.” But when I would get up, I would say, “I didn’t really mean it, Lord.” I was afraid if I made such a consecration, the Lord would call me to something I did not want to do. I thank God that in His mercy and love He looked down and helped me make some choices that have given me the privilege to labor in His vineyard. I love the work I am doing. I think it is the most wonderful work in the whole world.  

Through that year I would get down to pray with a hunger in my heart and would promise, “I will give You my life.”

I remember well the Sunday morning when I knew I had to settle the question for time and eternity. That day I could say, “Lord, You choose my path.” And I meant it. I had heard a minister say, “Sign your name to the bottom of a sheet of paper, and let the Lord fi ll in the conditions.” That day I could do it. I knew I would have to keep whatever I promised. To the best of my ability, I have done so. There has never been a moment when I was sorry I made that commitment to the Lord. He has led me in wonderful paths. When I was just 40 years old, the Lord called me to take charge of the African correspondence that comes into our office. I thought it was asking me to do something far more than I could ever, ever do, but finally the Lord got me to the place where I said, “Thy will, not mine,” and I meant it. I’ll tell you, the steps that the Lord has brought my feet through are more marvelous than I could ever tell you about.

Many are the times when I sit over in the church office at my desk, look out that window, and I think, “Lord, it will take all eternity to thank You for what You have done for me.”  And it will. The Lord has been so good to me

We had always been a poor family, but I remember one time sitting in the King David Hotel
in Jerusalem with my brother, looking down over the city at night, and he said, “Ruth, did you ever imagine that the Lord would give us this privilege?”
We had chosen the things of God, and we are “rich” because we gave our lives to the Lord. My father didn’t leave us a heritage of money, but he gave us a heritage I wouldn’t exchange for anything in the world.

I thank God for the memories I have of Sixth & Burnside. The Lord saved me there; He sanctified me there. In 1941 He healed me of a very serious disease. I was broken out on my entire body, from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. I went to an ordinance service, the first Friday of November that year, and the Lord healed me instantly. I went in there all broken out, and I walked out with a skin like a baby. God healed me instantly.

I remember many things and as we were packing up and getting ready to leave Sixth and Burnside, the memories have crowded around. You think of the many blessings; the many battles that have been fought. I thank God for the privilege the Lord has given me. I am not looking back just to that. I love those memories, but we are looking forward to greater things, and we thank God for the way the Gospel is going forward with the hope of the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It will take all eternity to even begin to express the gratitude in my heart that the Lord ever called me, that He ever saved me, and I pray that I can be faithful to the very end.