Doris’ interest in the promises in the Bible, and in the working of the Holy Spirit began to grow. There was a lesson in her Junior class she was teaching about two years ago on the Holy Spirit; therefore, her study from the Bible increased on this subject. Fearing she might be getting "way out" in her findings, she asked our minister to come over to discuss this with her. At the conclusion, she made a statement, because her intention was that this statement be confirmed in more than one person’s ears. "I am going to study this Book, and find out and accept all this teaches on God’s promises, and the Holy Spirit." Satan didn’t like that promise I suppose, because only a few days later (this was the last of November 1967) in turning her back she twisted a muscle. In a day or two it was very sore, and for the next two months she had much pain in her back. When it had gotten better, she came down with the flu. This flu bug and weakness following kept her pulled down physically until almost summer. During this time, though she studied the Bible, somehow she could not continue her study concerning the Holy Spirit.

During the time my wife’s back was so sore, the Lord began working with our daughter and son-in-law, about a thousand miles from us. He revealed unto them that there is now a greater working of the Holy Spirit than they had thought. They readily accepted this as from God, submitted themselves unto the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and God’s workings with them. They would send tapes home, telling how wonderful God was to them, but did not at that time go into detail as to what had happened, as they knew we were not ready to accept it.

They came home in June, and at the time Doris’ study resumed. She prayed continually that God would use her as clay—mold her as He would, and guide her study and mind. She refused to discuss this with Jim and Rebecca, as she didn’t want to influence her study. The Lord took care of all the details of this study. It seemed as though He took her through a series of "gates" or "doors." Just as soon as she was ready for another door in her study, God would open it before her.

One night, as my wife was up studying, about 11 :30 Rebecca and Jim (our daughter and her husband) came in. For the first time she discussed these things with them. She had been studying again in the 12th and 13th chapters of I Corinthians. As she studied I Corinthians 13:8-10, it became so clear to her that "that which is perfect" did not in this place refer to the completed New Testament, and that these workings of the Holy Spirit are not done away.

As she thought on these things other scriptures became so clear that had been a little clouded as to the meaning before, having to do with the manifestations that should take place "in the last days," also the signs that would follow "believers." Doris said to them as they discussed this: "If this is so, then all this in I Corinthians 12, including the gifts of the Spirit, should be right with us today, and where are they?"

Jim and Rebecca had planned to attend the following Monday evening meeting in Maitland where the believers believed in these manifestations, and Doris decided to go with them. They told her there was to be a Baptist preacher speaking, but not knowing him, this meant nothing to her.

As they started listening, this preacher told of his search concerning the working of the Holy Spirit, and how, less than a year prior to this time he and his wife had experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and how God was working in their congregation through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As he finished, my wife sat and cried. She knew this was God’s answer to her question, "Where are they?" As she sat, she wondered, "What have we missed!"

This was the beginning of how the Lord ultimately blessed us all with the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and has since shown us His might in signs and healings.

For over 26 years I preached and worked with the church in various places, studying outlines and compiling different thoughts in a good many sermons that have been preached in a sincere and deep love for the lost and those who are weak in the faith, and during this period debated in a small way the Pentecostal folk in their teaching of the Holy Spirit.

In the past five years I have had a periodical study of the Bible every day, both privately and in our family devotions. In the fall of 1967 and early part of winter in 1968, when Doris was fervently and diligently studying, praying, and literally crying unto God for a greater knowledge of His will for her, I asked myself several times, "Why am I not hungry for His Word ?" I am sure that God in His infinite wisdom and pattern for me was using her for my benefit. Her desire was so intent for this understanding, that through a very thorough study of God’s Word in the summer of 1968 she received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

When seeking the peace that was so complete in her life, and seeing the difference in her composure, and after giving her the third degree in the scripturalness of the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and seeing the wisdom and soundness in answering all my questions relative to this, I was very much impressed. My hunger for more knowledge grew with an intense desire to read everything that I could lay my hands on to verify the scripturalness of the Holy Spirit in my life today. For a period of time I studied and prayed and asked questions that could fill the void that I knew was there that needed to be filled.

In studying God’s Word the Holy Spirit became something more than an inanimate object but became "life-giving," literally thrilling in its reality in my life. Praise be to God, I, too, received the infilling of His Holy Spirit, and He has created in my life an intense desire to yield, honor and obey all His will, that I might be a greater fruit-bearing Christian.

These manifestations of the Spirit are part of that which God has provided that we may be complete, equipped for every good work. As this was a part of the church of the first century it should be a part of the church today. The Spirit has brought about a change concerning our church life, since we were no longer accepted in the Church of Christ where we were worshipping at the time. We were asked to quit going to prayer groups where God’s power had been so strongly manifested, and to quit telling them of the Holy Spirit. We only told those who asked. Finally we received a letter from that church withdrawing all spiritual fellowship, and are presently attending and worshipping with the local Church of God congregation until such time as God may lead us elsewhere. We felt a need to overcome denominational hang-ups that would hinder God’s working more completely through us. We do not know what the Lord has in store in the future, but we do not need to know. We only need to follow His leading and we know He will make it clear as He has in the past.