2 minute read
HEROES OF FAITH How God used a small church pastor to help a depressed teen
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common sense & grace
LINDA GARRETT
Depression just about overwhelmed me as a teenager. I felt ugly, and I envisioned a lonely future. One day, I saw a copy of the Good News for Modern Man Bible laying open on a side table. The contemporary line drawings made me wonder why an ancient book displayed modern art. I picked it up and discovered a Jesus who loved. I knew I was a sinner and desperately felt the need for grace. I prayed for forgiveness often, but I didn’t know if God could actually accept an introverted girl with Coke-bottle-thick glasses like me.
About that time, my family started attending a new church. The pastor, Bill Forrester, seemed really approachable. He preached one day from the book of Romans, repeating Paul’s arguments that God is just and forgiving. Somehow, a small faith—or maybe just enough hope—led me down the aisle.
Several weeks later, Brother Bill (as we called him) phoned to ask if I wanted to be baptized. My mom drove me to a counseling session in his o ce. I told him I wasn’t sure I could be baptized, since I wasn’t sure I could be forgiven. He sensibly opened his New Testament and read from Matthew 18:19 “whatever two or three of you ask in prayer ... will be granted.” He asked me if I believed God could lie. I told him, “No.” Then he led me in prayer for forgiveness with him, explaining that we had two in agreement there. Faith sprouted a bit more. He gave me a couple of discipleship books, which set me on a lifelong quest to understand God’s word.
Brother Bill will never be famous; he was just the pastor of a small church. But through him, God led a despondent girl to accept God’s favor and forgiveness. I’ll forever be grateful for a sensible minister who graciously cared.
LINDA GARRETT has served as a pastor and professor. She currently serves as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and Stephen minister and is an avid amateur equestrian.
