World Renewal International

Last Sunday was a day of answered prayer in the little country church. The Cruse Brothers Band for years played in the local taverns, nightclubs and restaurants. But there they were in the little country church.



Steve Lindley grew up in a Christian home and attended that little country Rush Creek Friends church. Steve's mother would take me aside when I was a young evangelist in the area and say, "We need to pray for Steve." We would take a moment and pray.



Steve would come to services I preached. He would come with his pretty girl friend, Donna. Donna is now his wife. Steve walked away from the country church. Steve became the drummer for the Cruse Brothers Band. After years of the things that went with this lifestyle, Steve Lindley then walked away from the band and returned to Christ and the little country church.



Mike Cruse became so involved with drugs and alcohol he lost everything. He left the band. But others, like his family, left him because of the drugs and all that went with it. He found himself in jail, then under house arrest at his parents home. He had no where is to go. He was a middle-aged man living with his parents, no where else to go.



I remember the day Doug Newnum brought a new guy with him to sing in Renewal on a ministry trip to Deep Creek United Methodist Church in Virginia. As we stood on the stage I turned to my left, our new tenor was Steve Lindley. Many years had gone by but I remembered the prayers with his mom. I thought, "God is so faithful to prayers moms pray."



Everyone once and a while, Doug and Steve would talk about the Cruse Brothers and what gifted musicians they were. They longed to see these men that they had gone to high school with come to Christ and they could see a vision for them and their talents. We would talk and pray for the brothers they loved. They even asked me, "Could we bring Mike on a weekend of ministry? We think that is all it would take for him to come to Christ." It never happened. Mike's life was spinning out of control as I earlier described.



Then, kneeling by his bed in the early morning hours, still under house arrest, wearing the sheriff's ankle bracelet, Mike asked God to save him. Fire swept through Mike's body and heart. He was clean inside and out, washed by the blood of Jesus! He started a new life. God has slowly helped him restore relationships with family. Mike has a great heart for Christ. His passion seems next to none. Doug and Steve invited him to a weekend of ministry with us in Renewal. He has been with us ever since. He and wife Chris along with Doug and Steve and their families all attend the little country church. When they are not out as Renewal with me, they are one dynamic little country church worship team. Mike's brother Steve Cruse started attending the little country church several weeks ago. Last Sunday he joined them on the platform with his electric guitar. His solos on the guitar during "Grace Like Rain" and "Where Could I Go But To The Lord," were the sounds of both skill and the sweetness of Jesus. You see, I was there too. We all rejoiced at what Jesus was and is doing in our lives. The Cruse brothers parents were there along with their wives. God is good.



Doug and I were rejoicing after the service about God's faithfulness. Doug had been faithful to the Lord and His church all these years. But they, the four of them, had all gone to school together. He had always like them and respected their talents in music. Doug said with tears in his eyes, "Yeah, when my kids were little, I would tuck them into bed and pray with them. We would pray for the Cruse brothers." Doug's kids are mostly grown now but were in the service that day. They saw what we were all seeing. At one point in the service I had said, "If you want to see answered prayer, just look around the room." What a God!
[Outside the little country church last Sunday, Steve Lindley, Steve and Mike Cruse, Doug Newnum]
Thanks for Stopping by.

Praise The Lord. What an awesome story of the faithfulness of our Lord!!