In 1975, I was a former Hippie on my way to hell, I didn’t need a preacher to tell me that. My sister, mother, and brother had become Christians, Pentecostals, whatever that meant. My brother coerced me to attend an evening church service to accompany him on my guitar and said I could then leave after two songs. What I didn’t know was the Pentecostal church was fasting and praying for lost souls to be saved.
The meeting seemed normal until the pastor introduced two ladies who were speaking, Betty Baxter and Faye Penland. When Betty said,God bless you, it’s so good to be here, something happened supernaturally! I know now the presence of God had filled the building. One man ran to the altar and screamed, “I want to get saved.” I headed to the back to exit the church feeling guilty as a murderer then I heard God call my name.
God said “this is your night to receive me.” My brother led me to the altar where I said a short sinner’s prayer in between my sobs of joy. God’s presence hit me like a bolt of lightning and my life was forever changed. Fast forward, God called my wife and me into full-time ministry and we were ordained missionaries with IPHC
World Missions Ministries Board and called to reach those behind the Iron Curtain. Betty and Faye continued to minister in whatever country we were in, coming to England, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Romania. In every country they poured out their love on the people and God used them to bring healing and salvation to the lost. Over the years, Betty continued to speak into our lives, often encouraging us in the direction God was leading. Sometimes she would just call us to tell us how much she loved us and pray God’s anointing to be upon us.
My wife and I had the privilege of visiting Betty in the hospital two days before her home going. We reminisced about our ministry trips and Betty was still intent in walking out of that hospital and holding healing services. As Betty, Faye, my wife and I prayed a final prayer, Betty began to pray for God’s healing of my vocal chords and for blessings on my marriage. As she laid there close to heaven’s home calling, she still ministered to us before we left her room.
Betty, we will miss your sweet voice and words of encouragement and feeling God’s presence as you prayed! I can still hear you and Faye singing “This is just what heaven means to me” as you join your love ones and crown Christ forever, Heaven has gained another precious saint but we will miss your smiling face down here.
[Editor's comment: What a fantastic testimony about the prevenient grace of God, the grace that goes before saving grace. I love your story about Betty Baxter.
I often think of you and Rose.
I will never forget the Retreat for Missionaries to Europe that John Parker had for the missionaries in the late '80s, and Melvine and I were invited to attend and be the guest speaker/counselor. That was held in Escorial, Spain, near Madrid.
The highlight of that trip was our visit with you and Rose in Cologne, Germany following the retreat. I shall never forget our walk one evening along the Rheine River near your home there. You shared your God-given vision for Europe. I became aware that God had given you the five-fold ministry gifts which included an apostle. That was a divine (karois) moment for me. And, today after all those intervening years I still believe in you and God's call upon your life. You have impacted my life.
I have lost contact with you. Our lives have taken us on different paths. I was the pastor of Tarkenton Memorial Church in Athens, Georgia for 9 years, and after that I was the pastor of the Richmond First Pentecostal Holiness Church for 2 years. We continued living in Richmond for another 2 years where I evangelized, and made a trip to Romania to plant a church. I taught in the Eastern European Bible College for six days on the subject of Pastoral Care and Counseling to the seniors in the college. Then, I traveled to Ocna Mures, a large salt mining community to plant a Pentecostal Holiness church near there.
It was on the way back we were in Budapest and there was Rose to meet us. She took us to a shopping mall called Szentendre and a very good Hungarian Restaurant. They had the best Hungarian Goulash in the known world. I had been to Budapest when our son, Greg, was a tent maker missionary for two years. We love the city.
By the way, Rose is an excellent hostess and travel guide. She has an excellent spirit and is generous and kind.
What are you doing these days?
Would love to hear from you.
My email address is: hugh@hughsnews.com
My website is: www.hughsnews.com
God loves you and Rose and your family. He has great things for you to do. I know you hear that a lot, but I am saying it from my spirit of love for you and my experience as a Christian brother
Thanks for writing.
I wait to hear from you.
I know you are a good musician and love to sing. Here is a song that will captivate your heart. The title of the song is, "What the Lord has done for Me." Here's the link:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2218045325096033
Your friend in all seasons,
Hugh H. Morgan
May I leave you with a blessing that was written by the late Billy Graham:
"May your troubles be less, your blessings more; and may nothing but
joy, peace, and happiness come to your door. Life without God is like
an unsharpened pencil: it has no point." (Billy Graham)
Your friend in all seasons,
Hugh H. Morgan
Founder, CEO, Editor of Hugh's News, Inc.
Email: hugh@hughsnews.com
Website: www.hughsnews.com
The meeting seemed normal until the pastor introduced two ladies who were speaking, Betty Baxter and Faye Penland. When Betty said,God bless you, it’s so good to be here, something happened supernaturally! I know now the presence of God had filled the building. One man ran to the altar and screamed, “I want to get saved.” I headed to the back to exit the church feeling guilty as a murderer then I heard God call my name.
God said “this is your night to receive me.” My brother led me to the altar where I said a short sinner’s prayer in between my sobs of joy. God’s presence hit me like a bolt of lightning and my life was forever changed. Fast forward, God called my wife and me into full-time ministry and we were ordained missionaries with IPHC
World Missions Ministries Board and called to reach those behind the Iron Curtain. Betty and Faye continued to minister in whatever country we were in, coming to England, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Romania. In every country they poured out their love on the people and God used them to bring healing and salvation to the lost. Over the years, Betty continued to speak into our lives, often encouraging us in the direction God was leading. Sometimes she would just call us to tell us how much she loved us and pray God’s anointing to be upon us.
My wife and I had the privilege of visiting Betty in the hospital two days before her home going. We reminisced about our ministry trips and Betty was still intent in walking out of that hospital and holding healing services. As Betty, Faye, my wife and I prayed a final prayer, Betty began to pray for God’s healing of my vocal chords and for blessings on my marriage. As she laid there close to heaven’s home calling, she still ministered to us before we left her room.
Betty, we will miss your sweet voice and words of encouragement and feeling God’s presence as you prayed! I can still hear you and Faye singing “This is just what heaven means to me” as you join your love ones and crown Christ forever, Heaven has gained another precious saint but we will miss your smiling face down here.
[Editor's comment: What a fantastic testimony about the prevenient grace of God, the grace that goes before saving grace. I love your story about Betty Baxter.
I often think of you and Rose.
I will never forget the Retreat for Missionaries to Europe that John Parker had for the missionaries in the late '80s, and Melvine and I were invited to attend and be the guest speaker/counselor. That was held in Escorial, Spain, near Madrid.
The highlight of that trip was our visit with you and Rose in Cologne, Germany following the retreat. I shall never forget our walk one evening along the Rheine River near your home there. You shared your God-given vision for Europe. I became aware that God had given you the five-fold ministry gifts which included an apostle. That was a divine (karois) moment for me. And, today after all those intervening years I still believe in you and God's call upon your life. You have impacted my life.
I have lost contact with you. Our lives have taken us on different paths. I was the pastor of Tarkenton Memorial Church in Athens, Georgia for 9 years, and after that I was the pastor of the Richmond First Pentecostal Holiness Church for 2 years. We continued living in Richmond for another 2 years where I evangelized, and made a trip to Romania to plant a church. I taught in the Eastern European Bible College for six days on the subject of Pastoral Care and Counseling to the seniors in the college. Then, I traveled to Ocna Mures, a large salt mining community to plant a Pentecostal Holiness church near there.
It was on the way back we were in Budapest and there was Rose to meet us. She took us to a shopping mall called Szentendre and a very good Hungarian Restaurant. They had the best Hungarian Goulash in the known world. I had been to Budapest when our son, Greg, was a tent maker missionary for two years. We love the city.
By the way, Rose is an excellent hostess and travel guide. She has an excellent spirit and is generous and kind.
What are you doing these days?
Would love to hear from you.
My email address is: hugh@hughsnews.com
My website is: www.hughsnews.com
God loves you and Rose and your family. He has great things for you to do. I know you hear that a lot, but I am saying it from my spirit of love for you and my experience as a Christian brother
Thanks for writing.
I wait to hear from you.
I know you are a good musician and love to sing. Here is a song that will captivate your heart. The title of the song is, "What the Lord has done for Me." Here's the link:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2218045325096033
Your friend in all seasons,
Hugh H. Morgan
May I leave you with a blessing that was written by the late Billy Graham:
"May your troubles be less, your blessings more; and may nothing but
joy, peace, and happiness come to your door. Life without God is like
an unsharpened pencil: it has no point." (Billy Graham)
Your friend in all seasons,
Hugh H. Morgan
Founder, CEO, Editor of Hugh's News, Inc.
Email: hugh@hughsnews.com
Website: www.hughsnews.com