07.02.32. Enters Evangelistic Work

32. ENTERS EVANGELISTIC WORK

Three years after he was saved, Todd entered the evangelistic field. This step into the work of the Lord was not an easy one, for he had only one meeting to start with, and there was no one to boost for him, and for three years he served what might be called an apprenticeship, getting no calls from churches, yet keeping everlastingly at it, preaching in school houses, in old store buildings, blacksmith shops, under brush arbors, tents and some times out under the stars with only the trees for shelter. His pay was small, at one time receiving only forty cents for a ten day meeting and often getting less than ten dollars. It seemed he would never get before the people, but refusing to be discouraged he preached on until at the end of about three years, the struggle stopped instantly. He had just closed a ten day meeting in a school house for which he received twenty-five dollars, and the very next day a call came from a good church. This was immediately followed by another, and another until they finally came from all the states but four and others came from most of the provinces of Canada. In these evangelistic tours, he was able to go back to the old dance hall and for three weeks preach Christ where he was wont to dance. He went into the old pool hall where he had idled so many, many hours away and kneeling down gave thanks to God for deliverance He made his way to the hotel where he was paralyzed and thanked God for a face straightened and a character reformed. He walked down to the old water tank where he had caught his first freight, and there bowed his head in gratitude to God that he was now a passenger on the train for heaven.

Todd’s father and mother lived for some fifteen years after he was redeemed, but they did not worry about him any more, and when he would drop in between meetings, they would have delightful times around the family altar together. His sisters who had prayed for him so often saw their prayers fully answered, and his brothers regained their lost confidence in him. This story of Todd is written that those who have wayward brothers, that those parents who have erring children, may take courage and hold on to God, and mothers’ boys who have gone astray may know that there is hope for them, for the Christ who saved Todd is "the same yesterday, today and forever."

"When I was but a little child,
How well I recollect,
How I would grieve my mother
With my folly and neglect, And now that she has gone to heaven
I miss her tender care,
Oh! Savior, tell my mother,
I’ll be there.

Tell mother, I’ll be there,
In answer to her prayer,
This message, blessed Savior
To her bear, Tell mother I’ll be there,
Heaven’s joys with her to share,
Oh, Savior, tell my mother I’ll be there."