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Russell DeLong
Russell Victor DeLong (August 21, 1901–April 1981) was an American Nazarene minister, evangelist, and college president known for his impactful preaching and leadership within the Church of the Nazarene. Born in Groveton, New Hampshire, to Rev. Leslie DeLong, a Nazarene minister, and Clara DeLong, he grew up in a parsonage with plans for a business career. However, a strong call to ministry led him to Eastern Nazarene College in Massachusetts for his undergraduate studies, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees from Boston University. He later received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Northwest Nazarene College (NNC). Ordained in 1926, DeLong joined the NNC faculty that year and was elected its president in 1927, serving until 1932. He returned for a second term from 1935 to 1942, during which NNC gained accreditation as a two-year school under his first term and as a four-year institution under his second. After leaving NNC, DeLong served as District Superintendent for the Northwest Indiana District Church of the Nazarene until 1945, when he became the founding dean of Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) in Kansas City, Missouri. In the 1950s, he expanded his reach through a successful radio ministry, "Showers of Blessing," which grew to a worldwide audience. He authored, compiled, or edited at least 33 books, blending scholarship with evangelistic zeal. Later, he served as president of Pasadena College (now Point Loma Nazarene University) from 1957 to 1960. Married to Ruth Stocking in 1926, with whom he had two sons, DeLong died in April 1981 in St. Petersburg, Florida, leaving a legacy as a fervent preacher and educator in the Nazarene tradition.
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Russell DeLong preaches about the radical commitment required to follow Christ, emphasizing that it is an all or nothing decision. Just like the popular game show 'Double or Nothing,' following Christ means surrendering everything to Him without holding back. Jesus Himself made it clear that we cannot serve two masters and that true religion demands our entire being. The call to follow Christ involves leaving behind our old ways, taking up our cross, and shifting our allegiance to Him, allowing Him to transform us completely.
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All or Nothing
Scripture: Matthew 16:24-27 One of the most popular radio programs is called "Double or Nothing." A contestant is given a number of dollars, then asked a question, and if he gives the correct answer this amount is doubled. But if the answer is wrong, he loses all -- so it is double or nothing. Following Christ is similar but even more daring -- it is all or nothing. As one has aptly put it, "Christ must be Lord of all or He is not Lord at all." Jesus himself said: "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt. 6:24). You must be one thing or the other. It is all or nothing. Jesus at another time said, "He that is not for me is against me." There is no halfway place. You cannot hold Christ in one hand and the world in the other. It must be one or the other -- all or nothing. True religion, genuine salvation, either means everything to you or it means nothing. It should erase the past, cleanse the present, give perspective for the future. Jesus in calling His first disciples said some pretty hard but all-important things. Listen! "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me" (Matt. 10: 37-38). Jesus spoke to Peter and Andrew, fishermen, and said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And straightway they left their nets, and followed him" (Matt. 4: 18-20). A rich young ruler came to Jesus seeking eternal life. He was educated. He had power. He possessed wealth. He held position. He was moral. He kept all the commandments. The fact is, he was better than most present-day church members. But that was not enough. Jesus said, "One thing thou lackest." In other words, the young man was willing to surrender everything but one. The terms of Jesus were "All or nothing." The surrender to Him must be complete and unconditional. There are no bargain counters and no reduced prices. Jesus told of the man who sold all that he had to purchase the pearl of great price. If you want real religion, genuine salvation, you must make the supreme gift yourself. If He has you He will have all you are and all you own. It is all or nothing. To the rich young ruler He gave this command, "Come, take up the cross, and follow me" (Mark 10: 21). We might well connect this to the call of the disciples when He said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Let us put a period after the "you" and let the two passages read, "Come, take, follow, and I will make you." Christ-made men are Christ-surrendered men and Christ-transformed men. Consider the three verbs-words of action: 1. Come -- A Change of Place Come always means leave. Leave the old life, leave the old places, leave the old habits, leave the old companions, leave the old ideals, leave the old pleasures, leave the old sins. Before one can come one must leave. That is step number one. 2. Take -- A Change of Activity Instead of pleasure and comfort take up thy cross. There are duties and responsibilities in the world as well as rights and pleasures. There is a task to be done that requires sacrifice and toil, but with it come the greatest of satisfaction and the thrill of achievement. 3. Follow -- A Change of Allegiance Before the call my loyalties are to self and Satan. When Christ taps me on the shoulder and I turn around and follow Him, my loyalties are shifted and my allegiance is given to a new Leader and a new life. One is never the same after that tap on the shoulder. It is life's supreme moment. If one rejects, life becomes miserable. If one accepts, life becomes happy. If one spurns the call of Christ, he becomes disloyal to the truth and murders his own best self. If he responds to the call a new day dawns, a new life comes, a new inspiration thrills. 4. The fourth verb is make. "I will make you." Jesus will change you so that your old environment will not be attractive any more. He'll change you so that your old habits will not control you any more. He'll change you so that your old companions will not dominate you any more. He'll change you so that your old ideals will not govern you any more. He'll change you so that your old loyalties will not bind you any more. Yes -- it is all or nothing -- but it is all. You'll be all new when you surrender your all to Him. The hymn writer expressed the truth of this sermon when she wrote: All for Jesus! All for Jesus! All my being's ransomed powers, All my thoughts and words and doings, All my days and all my hours! ALL OR NOTHING
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Russell Victor DeLong (August 21, 1901–April 1981) was an American Nazarene minister, evangelist, and college president known for his impactful preaching and leadership within the Church of the Nazarene. Born in Groveton, New Hampshire, to Rev. Leslie DeLong, a Nazarene minister, and Clara DeLong, he grew up in a parsonage with plans for a business career. However, a strong call to ministry led him to Eastern Nazarene College in Massachusetts for his undergraduate studies, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees from Boston University. He later received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Northwest Nazarene College (NNC). Ordained in 1926, DeLong joined the NNC faculty that year and was elected its president in 1927, serving until 1932. He returned for a second term from 1935 to 1942, during which NNC gained accreditation as a two-year school under his first term and as a four-year institution under his second. After leaving NNC, DeLong served as District Superintendent for the Northwest Indiana District Church of the Nazarene until 1945, when he became the founding dean of Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) in Kansas City, Missouri. In the 1950s, he expanded his reach through a successful radio ministry, "Showers of Blessing," which grew to a worldwide audience. He authored, compiled, or edited at least 33 books, blending scholarship with evangelistic zeal. Later, he served as president of Pasadena College (now Point Loma Nazarene University) from 1957 to 1960. Married to Ruth Stocking in 1926, with whom he had two sons, DeLong died in April 1981 in St. Petersburg, Florida, leaving a legacy as a fervent preacher and educator in the Nazarene tradition.