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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Trust and Obey (don't write about the song) (05/21/15)
THE MUDDIED SUIT


One never knows what's on the other side of obedience. And one can never know if he doesn't obey.

My sister, Janet, and her husband Elwood are testimonies to one man's whole hearted embrace of bringing the gospel of Jesus to the rural areas of East Central Minnesota. This man was Ellsworth Moritz.

Elwood and Janet were farmers and times were tough with little cash to go around in the 1950's. There was some sunshine, but, they did not know they were lost in the darkness of sin and heading for hell.

Elwood was drawn to booze by a hand of darkness, which had been passed down from generations before him. It led to utter devastation.

Janet often sat up late at night while the children slept, waiting for the bars to close and for Elwood to come home. She was another wife who felt betrayed by a husband addicted to alcohol.

Reverend Moritz began his ministry around Pomroy township by knocking on doors. Some opened those doors, and others slammed their doors in his face.

Janet and Elwood lived in an old double garage on the homestead. Her parents, Tony and Carol Liesinger's door was open to anyone, and that included Reverend Moritz. This made Janet a little uncomfortable and she would disappear into the back bedroom whenever the minister pulled into the driveway.

With the vision of God burning in his heart, Pastor Moritz was able to obtain permission to hold Sunday School in the little Pomroy school house . At first only a handful of people came, but Reverend Moritz believed God would soon fill the place.

It had been a very wet spring. The meadows were mucky. Even the milk cows remained stuck in the barn.

While Elwood stayed in the bars drinking, Janet would be home milking cows, throwing hay down the hay mow, and yelling down the chute at the kids to stay out of the way. Cows were on both sides of the barn, filling the gutters with manure until it was seeping over the huge slab of walkway. Janet admits to being pretty darn mad at Elwood. And she hadn't been talking to him either.

Wearied of the huge dung piles overflowing from the gutters, Janet hiked to the neighbors, asking for help. Vern, a country gentleman, came over and harnessed up the horses to a sled. Repeatedly he loaded the sled with manure and then shoveled it out in piles on the field.

Days later, Janet was shocked to see Elwood come home early instead of staying at the bars until they closed. Elwood hooked the manure spreader to the jeep in an attempt to spread the manure, but he got it all mired in the mud. Sheepishly, he came to Janet asking for help. It was while they were
there in a muddy field with a stuck jeep and a manure spreader filled with dung, that Reverend Moritz came driving down the driveway. There was no place for Janet to hide.

With suit on and good shoes and no boots, he trudged out into the muddy meadow, not wanting to miss an opportunity . Reverend Moritz wasn't afraid of getting dirty so long as he could point some soul to the Light of Jesus.
After they got the jeep out of the mire, Janet invited Reverend Moritz to stay for supper and he invited them to come to an evening service that night at the Pomroy Sunday School meeting house.

They went to church and Elwood and Janet both accepted Jesus Christ into their lives. Janet said when they walked out of the chapel that night everything, including the stars seemed more beautiful and brilliant, and the air seemed so pure and clean.

Their lives were changed forever. Elwood and Janet became pillars in the church, and faithful servants of Jesus.

Today, my sister is a widow. She misses Elwood very much. But she knows where he is. He is not at a bar. He is at his heavenly mansion. And, he is waiting for her there. She continues to be thankful that Reverend Moritz obeyed the Lord and was willing to get his suit muddied to bring the light of Jesus into dark and dirty places.

Reverend Moritz left a legacy, a harvest of souls, because he obeyed and followed in the footsteps of Jesus, who came to seek and save those who are lost.

This true story has been told in many places.
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This article has been read 491 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Brenda Rice
05/28/15
This is a lovely story about one of God's faithful servants.

I enjoyed reading very much.

You did a good job of describing the muddy meadow and the by product of the cows.

You are right on topic, too.

Thanks for sharing.
Loni Bowden-Horn 
05/29/15
This story illustrated hoe important it is to never give up on someone and are willing to meet them where they are at. The story flowed off the page. It seemed like you may have been raised in a farming community. Excellent job.
Amy Gaudette 
05/30/15
I really enjoyed this story. I could see it, and wanted to read it all the way through. My heart cheered for the pastor and his faithfulness.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
06/04/15
Congratulations on ranking 2nd in your level and 17 overall! The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.