I had a graveside service this past Thursday for Beverly James, age 72.  She and her husband and four children moved to Pipe Creek near Libby in 1960.  Eight more children were born here. A couple, Lou and Nora May Auge, who  had been saved in Libby during the mid 1950’s at a Youth For Christ rally began  going up to the James’ home on Sunday afternoons to conduct a Sunday school.  They took their three daughters with them. Also joining in was a sister of  Beverly’s, Roberta Sichting, and her children, so they had a pretty good-sized  group!  One day, Nora May went up to visit with Beverly and shared the plan  of salvation.  Beverly trusted Christ for eternal life.

It was about  then that we moved back from Oregon to join Rocky Mountain Bible Mission and  work in Northwest Montana under my wife’s dad, Pastor Clarence Kutz. The Kutzes  had moved to Libby at the invitation of the Auges and others, to begin a church  which initially met in the Auges’ home. The group soon grew and rented the  Grange Hall and then purchased property to build Faith Bible Church. When Pastor  Kutz retired from Faith Bible, he joined RMBM and I came to be an apprentice  under him. We had Bible studies throughout the area and I had a youth group near  Troy and one with Pipe Creek and Faith Bible young people. So, I had several  Jameses and Sichtings in the youth group. One of the James girls, Brenda, went  on to join RMBM and has worked with them now for more than 30  years!  We also conducted vacation Bible schools up Pipe Creek, usually at  the James’ home or in their cow pasture!

Oh, there was  also a RMBM church started up Pipe Creek which held services for several years  during which a number of other folks in the area received Christ. The church  eventually had to close and the James family went in town to a baptist church,  where David, the dad, who then had cancer, also received Christ before he  died. So he and his wife have now been reunited in heaven, and it is largely due  to the faithfulness of a Libby logger (who spent most of his working career as a  sawyer in the woods) and his wife taking the time to conduct a Sunday afternoon  Bible class in a home up Pipe Creek. Lou Auge is also in heaven and I’m  sure was excited to see Beverly James. Nora May is still with us and she a  couple of her daughters were at the graveside service.

I will have to  say that I too am grateful to the Auges, because they are indirectly responsible  for my meeting my wife, since it was Lou and Nora May who were instrumental in  getting the Kutzes here to start Faith Bible Church, where I met Kathy!

I’m reminded  of something that the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Corinth. He  said, “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and  stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of  stewards that one be found trustworthy (faithful)” (I Cor. 4:1,2).   God primarily uses just plain, ordinary folks to do a very  extraordinary work. All He requires is faithfulness. The Greek word, “pistos,”  that Paul used means “trustworthy, faithful, sure, true.” Earlier in his  letter, Paul wrote this: “For consider your calling, brethren, that  there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many  noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and  God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are  strong, and the base things of the world, and the despised, God has chosen, the  things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man  should boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to  us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, that just as it is written, let Him who boasts, boast in the LORD” (I Cor.  1:26-31).

You don’t have to be a Bible school or seminary graduate to be  effective for Christ. You just need to be available and faithful, and have a  love for God, His Word, and for the souls of people. I praise the Lord for folks  like the Auges. They were new Christians, excited about the Lord, and were  willing to faithfully share Him with others. As a result, we see a lot of fruit  from their labors. May their tribe increase!

Never underestimate the importance and value of ministering to others, even if it is  just one family. Don’t forget what Jesus did with one sack lunch–He fed  thousands of people, with twelve baskets of leftovers!  Just be willing to  offer to Him what you have and watch what He can do with it. Just be faithful.  It is His job to produce the fruit.

So, what are you  doing for Jesus?  What do you have that you can offer for Him to use?

Forever Grateful,

Pastor  Dave