Lon Woodrum - Page 2

Lon felt that he should have stomped out by this point, and consigned all such crack-pots to the nethermost regions of the damned, but something was happening to him. He was gripped by a strange hunger for something, but what?

He became acquainted with the urge to know God! He wondered, "Is this the thing my tormented soul has longed for all these years?" Was it possible there was help from a higher world for the anguish of soul he had known so long?

A stranger noticed Lon's struggle, and said, "Let's go and do it, buddy!" Lon was stunned that his yearning was visible, and for reasons he could not understand he went forward; "But, nothing happened," he said.

He was embarrassed to be in such a place, and wondered what he was doing there among this rag-tag outfit of "unthinking truth-seekers!" He turned in anger and walked out, still an unbeliever, but he would never again be free from the hunger to know God. He was staying in the home of his friend Dave Adams, a mechanic, who loved Lon's poetry; and Dave was a Christian. Lon arrived back at Dave's where he found him waiting to congratulate him, and welcome him into the family of God. He, too, was at the tent meeting and saw Lon go forward. "This is wonderful," Dave said.

Lon felt in his heart that if he didn't flee immediately, he would end up as crazy as old Psalm-singin' Dave! "I have to get out of here," he told his friend. When he realized Lon was still not in the fold, Dave's eyes revealed his sorrow; and Lon found that difficult to bear. He left the house intending never to return to Dave or his religion, again. After walking around awhile, he found himself right back at Dave's door; and this time, to stay.

In spite of Lon's aversion to religion, and religious people, and his determination to shake the shackles, something was still happening in his heart. There was an awareness of his need of help from someone more powerful than himself.

Finally, in desperation, he dropped to his knees at Dave's place, to pray. "Just what my prayer was I don't recall, but I think it was something like this: 'Okay, God. If You're up there and listening to me -- here I am! I'm sick of myself and the life I've known. I'm ready to quit it all right now. In fact, I'm going to quit! From now on, I'm a believer!"

There had been no flashing lights, no ecstatic utterances, no leaping with joy, or holy laughter; no singing angels, (Not that he could hear); still, an indescribable change had begun. As he sat on a Kansas City bus three nights later, he turned to one seated beside him, and said, "Hey, are you a Christian?" The stranger shook his head 'no', and Lon said, "Look, man, you ought to be one!"

Thus began a seventy year walk with God; seventy years of telling people what God had done for him, and how He could change them, too. God used Lon to win more than 100,000 souls to Christ. Missionary statesman Dr. Bob Pierce of World Vision, told one audience in Toronto's Massey Hall, "Lon Woodrum has done so much in helping to shape my life and commitment to the Lord."

World Vision and Samaritan's Purse, both started by Dr. Bob Pierce years later, were two of the ministries begun by a man whose life was turned on to a purpose higher than self-seeking, through the sterling example of Lon Woodrum. Earth's starving and desolate people who were provided food, clothing and shelter by World Vision and Samaritan's Purse, will never know the impact the poet-preacher Lon Woodrum had, even in their lives.

He was known as "Kansas City Red," when he was a young man, and later spoke of his life in a message titled, "MAN FROM THE SHADOWS."

He preached in 48 states, and every Canadian province, traveling more than a million miles, holding thousands of evangelistic meetings in more than twenty denominations. He lectured widely in schools and colleges.

He was a religious teacher, recognized by the National Council of Christian Education. He was director of a radio program, "The Little Church of the Fireside", in Longbeach, CA., and was the writer of poetry for the Alladin Lamp Man, Smilin' Ed McConnell, of CBS Radio.

He wrote syndicated columns for Sunday School Publications, and a newspaper column, called, "MEANDERINGS". He also had a religious column titled, "CHAPEL RHYMES."

His work appeared in Masterpieces of Religious Verse, Principal Poets of the World, and in many other anthologies.

He has written fiction, poetry, and articles for more than two dozen religious periodicals, including, WAR CRY, published by the Salvation Army - and the PENTECOSTAL EVANGEL official organ of the Assemblies of God.