"TRADITION, TRADITION" 59the song service I looked up and could hardly believe my
eyes. There were my mother and my father being ushered
to a seat just a few rows in front of the platform.
I thought, "This is it. I'm going to die."
My good friend Jim Poynter was seated on the platform
next to me. I turned to him and said, "Pray, Jim! Pray!" He
was shocked when I told him Mother and Dad were there.
A thousand thoughts flashed through my mind, not the
least of which was, "Lord, I'll know I'm really healed if I
don't stutter tonight." I can't remember another time that I
was so nervous during a service and anxiety always made
me stutter.
As I began to preach, the power of God's presence
began to flow through me, but I couldn't bring myself to
look in the direction of my parents—not even for a fleeting
glance. All I knew was that my concern about stuttering
was needless. When God healed me, the healing was
permanent.
Toward the end of the service I began praying for those
who needed a healing. Oh, the power of God filled that
place.
As the meeting was ending, my parents got up and
walked out the back door.
After the service I said to Jim, "You've got to pray. Do
you realize that in the next few hours my destiny will be
decided? I may have to sleep at your house tonight."
That night I drove aimlessly around Toronto. I wanted
to wait until at least two in the morning to get home. By
that time I knew my parents would be in bed.
I really didn't want to face them.