By Sam Templeton
CAMBRIDGE, Ohio--Will Ruttencutter, who had not attended WCG services for the past four or five years, returned to our fellowship.
Will wrote me a long letter, explaining his trials during that time. His trials would have overwhelmed any one of us, as they did him. In the past years his father died and he lost his wife and family in a divorce.
Then, a friend offered him back issues of The Worldwide News that explained the doctrinal changes. Will read and reread each article and spent a great deal of time studying his Bible.
Will told me "the Bible has come alive again," and although eager to return to the WCG, he said: "God did not allow me to immediately return to the WCG. The door was repeatedly closed, and I began to ask him why."
During this time he was moved to attend a Baptist Church near his apartment and attended with them a little more than a year.
Will added: "In the year's time I worshiped with them I served on community projects, went on a highly successful mission project in Alaska, spoke before them repeatedly, taught a Bible study class and came to deeply love them as true brothers and sisters in Christ."
When Will told the pastor he was returning to the WCG, the pastor asked him to give a farewell talk to explain the incredible journey of the WCG these past few years.
The elders of the church "asked him to kneel with them, and they laid their hands on him, in front of the congregation, seeking God's blessing on the WCG and Will's part in serving God." Will said, "Their love is beyond my understanding."
This winter he went to Haiti on a mission project he told the Baptist pastor he would help with before leaving them.
Will is on fire for the church, and my big "problem" is to find ways to direct his energy and zeal. But it's so good to have that problem, rather than trying to light a fire under those who don't care to do anything.
I've asked God repeatedly to show me how to best use Will, for the benefit of his work in the Cambridge area. There is no other way to express it, than to say, Praise God!
Sam Templeton is a nonsalaried pastor in Cambridge, Ohio.
May WN page 20
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