Memories & Testimonies

Dr. David S.Teaster of Knoxville, TN, is a practicing pediatrician who recently went to Haiti with a group from Knoxville. His daughter attends CAK Christian Academy, a school that helps sponsor an orphanage in Haiti, along with a group called OneVision. David and his wife, Shauna, and three girls, Ashley, Megan and Leslie attend the Park West Church of God in Knoxville where David recently spoke about his trip.

Before Missionary Robert F. Cook went to India he lived in Los Angeles, CA with a young wife, who had been having severe stomach trouble, and his two daughters. One day as Ann, his wife, lay at the point of death, it occurred to Robert that it might be advisable to telephone a pastor his father had told him about. The pastor came immediately to their home and prayed for Anna after talking to her about divine healing.

When Reverend Robert F. Cook moved to Travancore State, India, in 1922, he had a vision of a centrally located site for administration buildings and permanent missionary quarters. His facilities were located in Kalliserry, a village two miles from Chengannur in Central Travancore.

After arriving in Angola, Edmond and Pearl Stark secured the help of neighboring natives in repairing an old house for them to live in. Since many of them had never heard the Christian gospel, Stark was able to begin his witnessing even as he labored and studied their language. One day, a native of a distant tribe appeared in the wilderness clearing and asked to help with the work. Name Bembua, this native showed an unusual interest in the story of Jesus. Neither he nor any of his tribe had ever before heard the message. Despite the tremendous difficulty of communicating with him in his strange dialect, Stark led Bembua to a joyous conversion in Christ.

On August 22, 1938, the Gestapo struck full force. Fiercely they searched for missionary Hermann Lauster to arrest and imprison him. His wife, Lydia Lauster, wrote...

Suspicion and fear became almost like physical chains upon us. At this time we felt the strong hand of the Gestapo...That day when the Nazi officers came was like a nightmare to me. Helplessly I watched while they ransacked my house. They left to go after my husband and I wondered if I'd ever see him again.

On May 16, 1950, a Latin missionary was appointed to Costa Rica, Noel DeSouza, the young son of Bolivar Desouza. Noel, an exceptionally effective evangelist, was at that time conducting meetings in southern Panama. He arrived in Costa Rica in October, 1950, and began a fruitful ministry in the capital city of San Jose. With young DeSouza was his wife Concepcion, who was also an evangelist of unusual ability.

On February 4, 1920, Charles T. Furman and Thomas a. Pullin moved to Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala. They crossed the trackless mountains on horseback, with Indian porters carrying their scant belongings.

J.H. Ingram, who had twice gone as a missionary to Bermuda, was appointed Overseer of California and Arizona in 1929, an appointment he accepted in order to be near the border of Mexico. This urge to do missionary work had been uppermost in his mind since he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost in 1920. Due to the revolutionary situation of Mexico at that time, Ingram waited three years before crossing into the Latin land.

One important ministry S.E. and Joyce Arnold began was the establishment of a medical clinic. One evening God spoke to Arnold and said, "Build a clinic." The nationals supported the project and quickly raised over $11,000. The clinic was directed by Joyce who is a trained nurse and midwife. She designed the furniture, operating drape stands and screens. The clinic was approved by the government.

It was such a desperate time before my mother died. I needed to pray so badly and I just didn't have the words. I wasn't particularly discouraged, I just had no words. I had nothing to say. I had my computer on one day and I found a little prayer that I printed off to read. I realized that sometimes when you don't have a prayer you can just speak and God will hear.

I remember a particular time when I was almost in a terrible accident and just how powerful the Name of Jesus is. All you have to do is speak the word "Jesus" and He will answer.

One day J.F. Ard left his car in Siguatepeque and boarded a bus for San Pedro Sula for a meeting with his council members. While in route, the driver lost control of the bus, and several people were killed.

While attending a convention in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands...

On my way to Comar, France, to preach one Sunday morning..