Pastor's Saturday night phone call

[Dennis M. Scott]

A pastor was at the church office working late one Saturday night, when he decided to call home. He let the phone ring several times, but there was no answer. Finally, he hung up the phone, waited a few minutes, and called again. This time, after just a couple rings, his wife answered. He asked why she hadn't answered the first time, and she said the phone hadn't rung. They decided it was just a something strange, and forgot about it.
The next Saturday evening, the pastor was again working late in the office when the church phone rang. The caller asked why someone had called his number the previous week. The pastor didn't remember, and at first insisted that he hadn't called. When the caller said it had rung for a long time, the pastor remembered. The caller said, "Well, I owe you my life. I had decided to commit suicide, and said to the Lord, 'If you want to stop me, you're going to have to send me a message.' At that instant, the phone began to ring. When I looked at the caller ID, it said, 'Almighty God,' and I was afraid to answer it."

The name of the pastor's church was, "Almighty God Tabernacle." :eek:

Nazarene pastor Dave Speicher, of Hastings, NE, COTN, says he isn't positive the story is true, but that it does illustrate a pretty good point.

[Carsten Schermuly]

I did know a Lady, named Miss Latinski, did tell exactly this - it was around 1970, 71 or 72.

She was a physician and psychiatrist, worked in the christian hospital "Klinik Hohe Mark" in the little town Oberursel, not far away from Frankfurt / Main, I lived for two years in Frankfurt. The hospital was founded by a Dr. Koch (father of the present Hesse Ministerpresident, CDU), in Germany well known - looking for new ways to get together christian counseling and psychiatry. In his books he told why - as we do know, only the Lord Jesus Christ can take off sickness, physicians can not help.

We both have been members of the same bible circle. We had some common mysteries. What to pray people do not share public also often not in a larger group. We both have been not married and we did ask us, we should make the rest of life in common.
But then we have been lead on other, different ways.

We have been best friends. She was a very sensitive soul and her job was a hard burden for her - made her sick. She every morning had a bloody stomach. Her wish was to end the job and to do any other thing.
But she told this short story.

On an evening she had an "alarm service" (she must be present to help once needed - during leisure times and over nights - after time plan that turned - every doctor had to do such "firebrigade - jobs", it does not mean it was the same like her "over day - jobs"). She was allowed to go where ever she want - inside the wide ground of the hospital, in its park and small forest, in what building she liked to go. Once her beeper did call her, she must look for the next phone - no more to do.

So she was free to take part on an evening service in the hospitals chapell. After service she watched a youg lady (if I remember well, she should have been 16aged) in first bench - praying. She only onetimes has seen her before, but did not know her. She thought, "Why I should not join her prayer?" and sat down quiet and carefully byside her. The young Lady did say nothing, but her tears did drip, so my friend touched her arm and asked her what her heart was moving.

The young Lady has said, "I just have prayed - Dear father in heaven, I do no more see a way for me. Once today does not come someone to speak to me, I will end my life tonight."
And my friend told a bit more about.

Because this story she decided to stand in that hospital.
Because her braveness she got my extraordinairy respect.
She did carry the burdens of others - her body did not like that - but she did not make one little step backwards.