He, the mysterious man,
was supposed to be talking to this particular group for the first time. That
afternoon upon returning home I read the newspaper. I came across a movie ad:
“Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory: anti-pollutionary, anti-establishment,
scrumdidiliumptious FUN!” The picture of the actor, Gene Wilder, looked just
like the guy whose real name I found out later was “Win”. However, I gave him
the secret nickname of “Willie Wonka” and only me and my sister, Linda knew it.
Luu, a friend of Mrs.
Gardener, drove us to the meeting which was at a different home. It was getting
dark when we got there. I was hoping this would not be like the meetings I
didn’t like. It opened with some singing and then a prayer or “sharing time”
when everyone shared an experience in Christ. The two guys in charge were Lee
and Steve. Win came in sometime during this part of the meeting and sat
quietly. Next, he went into a back room. We got into a discussion of the
difference between concern and worry. This was so boring that it got me settled
into a sleepy state of mind. Suddenly, Win came out and sat down again. The
other two guys were finished with talking and then Win asked them if he could
say a few words.
He then jumped up and
shouted: “What was Jesus the Man really like? What manner of man is this that
the wind and the seas obey Him? What manner of man was this who ordered evil
spirits out of a man and into pigs which ran off a cliff? Yes, the day of the
Lord is soon! And everyone in this room has great gifts! You will be able to
heal! You will be able to speak in other tongues! You will be able to see
visions and you will prophesy! God has chosen you, the youth, to carry out His
Word and to fight the forces of evil which are growing. A great man will rise
to power in America and if you want to buy something at a store you will need
his mark on your forehead! If you think this Vietnam War was bad, this nation
has not yet known the wars there will be in the future. I was a drug addict and
I dipped into witchcraft, sorcery, yoga, existentialism, sensitivity and ESP
but God was after me. Christ wanted me to do His work for the End is near.”
Everyone just looked at
him and a silence fell in the room. Then, Lee and Steve tied him down in a lengthy
discussion of misusing the gifts of the Spirit. Soon the meeting was over and Luu
came and picked us up. I felt scared by his sermon. A heavy weight of impending
disaster fell on me. But I couldn’t wait to return and hear him once again…
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