I was brought up going to church. In my teenage years, I got away from it. Whenever I started dating Lois, she got me going back to church. You know, she did a lot of praying (along with Elmer Hall). They were a big influence in my life.
Lois and I were married, and Lois kept attending church, but I didn’t. Eventually she persuaded me to start going. I went with her to the Shippensburg Church of the Brethren. When our first child, Lisa, was born, I almost lost both Lisa and Lois during childbirth. I then realized that God was helping us during the complications Lois had with the pregnancy. Looking back also at the finances to pay for that birth, I realize that God was at work there as well. Pastor Ron and Elmer went with me to approach the union about the medical bills, and my employer agreed to pay for everything!
During the next 20 years of our marriage, God provided for our needs; food and a home to live in, and a beautiful family. Thanks again to Lois for her prayers. Yes, I prayed, but not like Lois. She’d come out to the living room chair in the middle of the night and pray while I’d be sound asleep in bed. Sometimes I’d wake up, walk out to the living room, find her, and ask what she was doing. She said she was praying, so I’d give her ‘her space’.
In February of 1993, my brother Rich died unexpectedly. I’m not sure what happened, but at the funeral, I felt very close to God. I seemed to open up. Lois even said, “I see a change in your life. What happened?” Lois convinced Pastor Alan to talk with me. We discussed my walk of faith and the possibility of being baptized. Several days later, in my living room, I had a talk with God. “God, I’m here . . . accept me for who I am . . . save me from my sins.” My son, Tony, found out what happened, and made the comment that he wanted to be saved and baptized too. We were both baptized on the same day, June 6, 1993.
When I was saved, I felt at peace. I felt happy. I felt I was a part of life, and that life was better. Praying became easier. I started to better control my temper and my angry outbursts. I knew God was in control. And where was Lois through all of this . . . she was right there – praying. She certainly had a lot of influence on me.
On October 20, 2007, Lois passed away. I still have Lois here [pointing to his heart]. Painful as her passing was, I still felt God’s presence. I felt God’s arm around me. It’s one thing I will never forget.
Since her passing, my faith walk has been very hard. I have my good moments and my bad. I didn’t know how I could handle being alone or how I could handle the finances without having God’s help. To this day, there is no way I would be surviving without God. Every time when I think I have money or other problems, the money is there. My needs are met. I don’t understand why he’s helping me like he is, but he IS.
Lois had a very strong prayer life, and those prayers still are working! I believe Lois and God are in cahoots! I know at times she is telling God up there, “Hey, that’s my husband down there. Please take care of him.”