SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE • WINTER 2011 Pay It Forward Pay It Back Also in this issue: Extension School’s Correspondent begins on page 14! Go Plant a Seed and Grow a Preacher t was a long time ago, and “I really don’t know what I am doing. I’m afraid I may be I was very young, but I telling these people the wrong things. I’m either going to have Iremember it like it was to find out how to do this right, or I’m giving it up.” yesterday. Our local preacher Kay wisely suggested that I should get a Bible education announced that he was at some school. We went to talk with her Dad who was going to begin a young men’s an elder in our congregation. He showed me an article training class, and he asked me in the Firm Foundation about a new school of preaching to participate. I was a teenager and had no thoughts about in Lubbock, Texas, started by a former missionary named preaching, but he taught us how to lead singing, lead prayer, Cline Paden. I called the number listed and listened for an serve communion and how to give a talk from the Bible. hour as Cline passionately spoke of the need for preachers After a few classes, our preacher, Charles Lemons, put his and the relationship between ability and responsibility, hand on my shoulder and said, “Son, you have the ability to before I finally surrendered and enrolled. More seeds were become a gospel preacher.” A seed was planted. planted. Before leaving Phoenix, I After Kay and I were “I’m either visited my old elementary married we attended the school homecoming and young married couples’ class going to talked with my former sixth at our congregation, the grade teacher, Mrs. Turner. Eastside Church of Christ have to I said, “You’ll probably faint in Phoenix. Our teacher, a when I tell you that I’m businessman named Jack find out going to school to become a Calvin, told us that he preacher.” would “lead” the class, but how to do “No, I’m not surprised,” we as young men would she said. She opened a big learn to “teach the class.” He this right, filing cabinet and pulled went on to say that he had out an old file and showed volunteered me to “give a or I’m me her predictions for what Sunday sermon” at a small everyone would be when congregation in Wickenburg, giving it they grew up. Mine read Arizona, in a few weeks. My “I predict that Truitt will feeble attempt at a sermon up.” either be a circus clown or was complimented by a a traveling evangelist.” An benevolent congregation. (Pictured, the Country Parson speaks in a early seed was planted that I Our teacher said, “Truitt, didn’t even remember. (Some with more practice you have skit at Homecoming Hogwash) might say, however, that I the ability to become a good missed my real calling.) preacher.” Another seed was planted. I hope those who read this will plant some preaching seeds in the hearts of young men. God provides the gifts, I preached several more times at small congregations in the abilities, the power, and the message, but we must plant Arizona getting my sermons from a sermon outline book seeds, provide encouragement, support, and training. Go loaned to me by my brother-in-law. After one sermon I plant a seed and grow a preacher. confided in Kay, Lifeline is a publication of Sunset International Bible Institute. Publication and mailing address is 3723 34th Street, Lubbock, Texas USA 79410. Phones: 800 / 658-9553 or 806 / 788-3259. Editing: Bob Jackson • Design & Layout: Jeff Rader Mailing: Linda Wagner, Diana Pettyjohn Volume 34 • Number 1 www.sibi.cc / www.extensionschool.com / www.aimsunset.org / www.sunsetonline.org Address Changes should be sent to above address, attention Janet Brumfield or to [email protected]. Go Plant a Seed and Grow a Preacher Look among those in your church family who have a heart for serving others and sharing the love of Jesus. Can you see a future for them in ministry? Tap them on the shoulder and send them to Sunset. Sunset is looking for the best from your congregation. Talk to Someone Today Pray with Them Send His/Her Name and Phone Number to: Speedy Hart, Director of Admissions [email protected] or call 806-788-3237 “Who Am I Not to Forgive You?” “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” - Ephesians 2:8 osh Floyd understands the word “Grace” in ways that many of us never will. Josh grew up in Kaufman, Texas, living with his dad and grandmother. He attended church. He knew who God and Jesus were, but at the age of 12, life Jchanged directions for Josh. Josh began to use drugs. Not long after that he began to steal. It was part of a lifestyle that he enjoyed. At the age of 20 he and Amanda married. Their lifestyle consisted of drinking, drugs, and parties. In 2004, Josh was working at Intermodal Cartage as a trailer inspector. Using his job to gain access, Josh and two friends stole a truck loaded with $300,000 worth of motorcycles. Josh had hidden from Amanda the extent of his drug use and the things that he had stolen. It was not until the police broke down the door of their home to arrest Josh that she knew he lived a different life outside of their home. The Vice President of the company was there when Josh was questioned. Josh had never met him before, but Josh cursed him as the police led him away. Since some of the motorcycles were recovered and this was his first offense, Josh’s sentence was ten years probation and $78,000 in restitution. He escaped a more serious sentence, but God wasn’t through getting Josh’s attention. Josh and Amanda began to change their lives. In an effort to stay together, they began going to church and stopped living the lifestyle that had caused so much trouble. Josh became a union foreman for building sprinkler systems. Things appeared to be getting better, but there was no way he could keep up with the payments of over $650 per month for the restitution. Finally, he was pulled over and was found with marijuana. Now that he had violated his probation and was behind on his restitution payments, he had to go to court again to be resentenced. It was then that Josh saw God working in his life. The day before his sentencing, the Vice President of his former company, Lynn Parrish, an elder of the Great Oaks Church of Christ near Memphis, Tennessee, called to ask the prosecutor how Josh was doing. Lynn did not know about his probation violation; he just wanted to talk with Josh. He asked how things had changed, and Josh told him about his job and that he was going to church. After verifying what Josh told him, Lynn called the court and asked that the remaining restitution be dropped completely. In complete amazement, Josh called Lynn and asked him why he would do this. Lynn told him, “I have a God who sent his Son to forgive my sins. Who am I not to forgive you?” This was the same man that Josh had cussed out when the police took him from his home. Josh experienced mercy that he did not even know existed. Josh quickly began to learn all he could about God. Josh could not stop telling about how great God is. Not only did Josh and Amanda attend church, but Josh began preaching. Josh had been baptized with Amanda about four years earlier, but it was to show Amanda that he was serious about changing his marriage. In 2008, after preaching for a while, Josh decided he needed to be baptized for the remission of sins. Soon after, Ozzy McDaniel, a ‘08 graduate preaching nearby, encouraged Josh to consider attending Sunset to strengthen his faith and keep the fire alive that was inside of him. When Josh applied to come to Sunset, he had to appear in court to ask the judge to change his place of probation from Dallas county to Lubbock. To his surprise and in an unheard of decision, the court forgave the remaining seven years of probation. He was given forgiveness and freedom. Josh and Amanda moved their family to Lubbock and started classes in January of 2009. Josh completed all of his courses in December, 2010. The family has moved to Sturgis, South Dakota, where Josh will preach full time. They are both growing in faith and knowledge. They have peace that only comes through serving God and are raising their children to know and love the God of perfect grace, forgiveness, and freedom. Josh said, “Don’t ever give up on anyone who has a problem like I had. My grandmother prayed for me every night. She never gave up hope that I would find God. If you have a chance to attend Sunset, come now! The things I have learned have grounded me in faith and love.” -Linda Wagner • Sunset International Bible Institute The Floyds, Josh, Amanda, Alexis, Joshua, and Leigha The Adventure of Retirement he first Senior Adventures class met in January 1995, with four couples from the Sojourners program who were used Tto traveling and dealing with new experiences.