Can you hear Jesus asking His
disciples these questions – "Where is your faith?" "How is it that
ye have no faith?" "Oh, faithless and perverse generation ... If ye
have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,
Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove." "If thou canst
believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."In this day when
much of the work of God looks wilted and Christianity looks awfully pale, it
is no time to retreat, but a time to retrench and retread and rewind, and
even though we must be living in the days of the final apostasy, where faith
has faded into form and lost its fire, I believe there can be something
genuine when Jesus comes again. With Jesus interceding above and the Holy
Spirit indwelling and abiding in our heart, there is no excuse or reason for
failure. I keep hearing that song, "The thing that you have prayed for is on
its way and paid for, so hold on a little longer, hold on." Yet, I've come
to the place where I've had to confess to God that I couldn't hold on. He
would have to hold me on. And my faith is unswerving and unwavering. I'm
fully persuaded that what He has promised, He is able also to perform,
Romans 4:21.
Brother Roloff's Testimony
Now, let me bear a personal testimony that I trust and pray will
encourage God's people. My life of faith began one Wednesday night as I lay
a very sick young man in the hall of that old ranch house in Navarro County
in Central Texas. About ten o'clock that night I said, "Lord, if you're
calling me to preach, I'll preach," and God gave me a real taste of peaceful
sleep that I had not known in months. It was during the Great Depression and
the times seemed impossible. After staying out of school a year following
high school graduation and picking cotton in West Texas, I went off to
Baylor University. I took my old milk cow to furnish milk for my board and
room, and I had to guarantee three gallons a day. That was a step of faith!
My body was weakly and sick and one of the outstanding doctors in Waco
recommended that I beat it back to the farm. However, my real ministry of
faith did not begin until about eighteen years later when I began to take
the Bible literally and believe that it meant what it said for today. It was
about that time that I started reading it through each year on my knees and
started believing God for my physical needs as well as the needs of the
ministries into which he had led me.
Faith allows many tears and testings, but never puts up with a
compromise. Faith constantly cuts away temporary pilings and is continually
settling us on the pillars of eternal truth. Faith permits loneliness and
heartaches and many misunderstandings. Faith is a pioneer. It keeps its
subject constantly in the new ground. Faith is the Marine leathernecks
making new beachheads. Faith demands a tough hide and a tender heart and a
saw log for a backbone. Faith longs for only one thing, and that's the
vindication of the Word of God.
We went on a two hundred and fifty watt radio station and got kicked off
a few months later because we preached against liquor traffic, but the next
day, we went on a fifty thousand watt station. Our church building burned
down, known as the Park Avenue Baptist Church, six months after we bad been
in Corpus Christi, and through much pressure and misunderstanding, we
purchased the Furman Avenue site for fifty-five thousand dollars and built
the Second Baptist Church.
There was a big corner of the property that belonged to the Sinclair
Refining Company and we were hoping at a later date to get that when one
morning my men came into the study and said, "They have started drilling
holes for a Sinclair service station on the corner of our property,"
suggesting that it was too late to do anything. I said, "Let's pray." After
prayer, I called New York City to Mr. Harry Sinclair's office and told them
how disappointed we were and how much we had desired to have that property.
At eleven o'clock, the men walked off of the job. And we bought another
piece of property for fifteen thousand dollars and traded even with them for
the property for which they had asked twenty-two thousand dollars. Oh, that
was a real answer from heaven!
The old Park Avenue site that I was sincerely hoping to use for a day
school was sold one night at the deacons' meeting while I was speaking at
another church in town. When I went back to the deacons' meeting that had
just concluded, one of the deacons told me that he knew I would be
disappointed, but that the property was sold because they needed the money.
The property consisted of 150' on Park Avenue, 250' on King Street with two
houses, a two story garage, and a nice building that we called the
Brotherhood Building. It had been sold for fifteen thousand dollars. But the
next fall, through the kindness of Dr. Logan, we fixed up the old
Brotherhood Building and started a Christian Day School with a kindergarten
and first grade and, over a period of years, bought all that property and
built the big brick building, over a hundred feet long, which housed the
school and the Enterprises offices. It all seems like a dream and yet,
simply a work of faith and labor of love.
May I right here say that this venture of faith was made possible through
the patience, love, and confidence of Brothers Ben and Dale Davis. In
thirty-seven years, the Park Avenue Day School was responsible for leading
over a thousand people to Christ, teaching many precious children, and
furnishing a place of service for consecrated teachers.
After seven years of a glorious Gospel ministry in the Second Baptist
Church, and with a human desire to stay twenty years, the Lord, one night
under Evangelist B. B. Crim's tent at Cuero, gave the order to cut loose and
hit the trail of tent evangelism, a thing I had almost despised. And so,
without a house to live in and without any money, we launched into a new
ministry.
In just a little while, the Lord spoke to a layman in the Rio Grande
Valley and told him to send us four thousand dollars as a loan for a down
payment on a little frame home at 429 Naples Street in Corpus Christi. We
paid back the loan in five years. He spoke to the friends of evangelism and
our ministry, and in a little while, we had thirty thousand dollars worth of
vans, a tent, and portable equipment which we used for over ten years.
Faith will allow no competition to Christ or the Word. "It is not mine to
question the judgments of the Lord. It is but mine to follow the leading of
His Word." When one questions the Word of God, the wisdom of God, or the
goodness of God, he is immediately off of faith ground. When one begins to
whine and murmur, complain and doubt, he is off the good old faith line.
When one spends his time enumerating what he had to give up in order to live
by faith instead of what he got by living by faith, he has missed the trail.
In 1944, one night in the deacons' meeting, I asked the deacons if they
would be willing for me to launch out by faith on a fifty thousand watt
radio station, fifteen minutes a day, five days a week. They said they would
if I would have it understood that they would be released from any financial
obligation. God honored that step of faith and it was not long until we were
on six days a week for thirty minutes, and Sunday afternoon for one hour.
But after eight years of glorious ministry and the building of a wonderful
audience, we were told that we could no longer preach on this station
because we were controversial. This was the severest and most sickening
disappointment of our entire life.
Without a root of bitterness or a spirit of criticism, I relate this
incident because I can see that Romans 8: 28 had its plow in the ground and
also Philippians 1:12, "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that
the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the
furtherance of the Gospel," even though it looked like we were in a
complete blackout. Lifetime friends and schoolmates left us over night. This
decision of the brethren was made public by the associated press in the
newspapers and also in our church publications.
I was on the road in evangelism when the word reached me. I shall never
forget the day in Henderson, Texas, when I made the announcement to the
radio friends, with many tears. After the message, Mike Garcia, the
Latin-American friend who traveled with me and watched the tent for a number
of years, put his arms about me and pointed to the heavens and in broken
English said, "Our Father will help Brother Roloff." I knew full well that
He was the only one who could help me in that time of darkness.
Two years later, the station was sold and an unbeliever in Christ came
and asked me if I would like to go back on to which I said, "Yes." So, for
two more years we preached the Gospel, to be disappointed again by a letter
saying the station was going to "total programming," which left the Gospel
off. More time elapsed and I walked into the office of one of the owners and
made request to go back on.
Now, in the meantime, I had to go to Alice, forty-five miles away, and
Sinton, twenty-eight miles away, in order to have a radio ministry in my
home town. The friend said they would like to have my contract and I agreed
to borrow the money for a year's time in advance, but after weeks of waiting
and no word, I walked into the studio and asked the reason why. I received
this answer, "I'm sorry, but we have four beer accounts and they all said if
you went on they would go off, therefore we must have their accounts instead
of yours."
As I walked out of the studio that day, the Lord impressed me that He
would give us that station. I walked rapidly to the my office and called my
lawyer. I asked him to offer three hundred thousand dollars for the station
to which he said, "Are you kidding?" I said, "I was never more serious in my
life." I told him to offer just one thousand dollars as earnest money,
cautioning him not to tell them who was buying the station.
I remind you that I didn't have any money at the time. Many of you will
remember that we had just finalized a contract for one hundred thousand
dollars for a broadcast on a Mexico border station which covered most of our
nation and was being blessed of the Lord. (Mexico has since outlawed all
religious programming.) This, of course, was a tremendous step of faith in
itself, having to put up twenty-five thousand dollars every three months.
But, oh, the letters and the testimonies!
In a few days, the lawyer said that he had a tentative contract for the
50,000 watt station for three hundred thousand dollars, with twenty-five
thousand dollars earnest money. In no time at all, the Lord put into our
hands the twenty-five thousand dollars, and in turn, it was put up for
earnest money. The die was cast, the shore lines clipped, and the bridges
burned. Another hundred thousand dollars had to be raised in three months
and then the F.C.C. permit had to be given from Washington, D.C. God spoke
to our friends.
The only thing personally I put into the station was five hundred dollars
for five shares, and they were given to the Roloff Evangelistic Enterprises.
The Enterprises could not buy the station. Other Christian friends bought
the remainder of the stock and we named the station K.C.T.A. (Know Christ
The Answer). So, on October 23, 1959, at five o'clock in the morning, we
went on the air singing "In shady green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God
still leads His dear children along." For two hours we testified and bragged
on Jesus and praised His wonderful Name.
I feel like saying with Brother Paul, "O the depth of the riches both
of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and
his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who
hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be
recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all
things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." Romans 11:33-36.
The Alameda Baptist Church was a real project of faith. Some friends and
I put up twenty-five hundred dollars on seventy-five thousand dollars' worth
of land, ten and four-tenth acres, without a church, without an
organization, and months later we started just a plain simple Bible church.
In our first meeting that Sunday afternoon, October 24, 1954, under a tent
at 3401 South Alameda Street, a little band of Christians gave hundreds of
dollars to missions, which was their first offering. In a few weeks we
started the Good Samaritan Rescue Mission, the first rescue mission in
Corpus Christi, spending some five hundred dollars a month for the
down-and-outs before we ever had a church building of any kind. But God gave
us a beautiful brick building with a seating capacity of sixteen hundred. I
preached grace and we majored in evangelism and God blessed.
Another work of faith was the City of Refuge, which was begun as an
extension of the Good Samaritan Rescue Mission. It was a farm-type home for
alcoholics, narcotic addicts, and people who needed spiritual help. Some
friends who lived near Lexington, Texas let us use some property they owned
there in the sand hills of Lee County. Without a stick of lumber or barbed
wire fence or well of water or any sort of improvement, this city came into
being. God vindicated this worthy cause, and some former alcoholics and drug
addicts are now preaching the glorious Gospel of Christ that will deliver
from alcohol, drugs and any other sinful habit. Since its beginning in 1956
this "City with a soul" has been moved three times, ending up in Corpus
Christi on the People's Baptist Church property in 1979. Many men have come
to this Home and have been taught the way of life and have "gone back
another way."
The greatest step of faith concerning the ministry of the City of Refuge
was when the Lord led us to move it to Culloden, Georgia. A friend in
Atlanta, whose father-in-law had been delivered from alcoholism under our
ministry, took me to see the place which was a beautiful 273-acre estate
with a magnificent old antebellum home, a log cabin, a few other buildings,
a lake and many stately pine trees. When I first saw it, I told my friend
that it was "too rich for my blood." The selling price was $185,000. But the
Lord reminded me that the greatest interest in our ministry at that time was
from people and preachers who were located in that area of the country. I
was traveling a lot and preaching in churches in Florida, Georgia, Virginia,
Tennessee, Alabama and the Carolinas. I could see it being used, not only
for the alcoholics and narcotic addicts, but also for a beautiful place for
preachers and friends and supporters who lived east of the Mississippi to
come and join us for Bible Conferences and Camp Meetings. They would also be
able to see that phase of the ministry firsthand.
But not wanting to go into a heavy indebtedness, I gave up and then God
gave me the assurance that He did want us to have this place and assured me
that it would be paid for in cash. The price had been lowered to $108,000. I
went to the bank that was handling the estate and gave them five thousand
dollars as a down payment. A radio station in Atlanta donated nine hours of
radio time to tell of our burden and the need and by July 4, 1965 we lacked
$38,000. On July 5 we owed $10,000, which was due on July 16.
We were holding a camp meeting on the property and many precious friends
came with their tents, trailers and campers. I had asked the banker to bring
the note on the property to the meeting, because I felt the Lord would
provide the balance due so that we could burn the note at the noon meeting.
A man and his wife walked up to me and handed me a blank check that had
been signed and said, "This is for whatever you still lack." We were debt
free! I still remember what that dear couple said. "We believe this place
must be debt free to set men free."
This was another reminder of the truth of the Scriptures that we had
claimed so many times, "Now the just shall live by faith," and "Without
faith it is impossible to please God."
The home for ladies, which is currently the Jubilee Home, was at one time
a part of the City of Refuge. Even while it was located in Lexington, Texas,
ladies who needed deliverance from alcohol and drugs were allowed to come.
They were housed in separate dormitories from the men. At the time they were
transferred to Corpus Christi, they were called "The Help-Hers Home", and
later the name was changed to The Jubilee Home. Many of the ladies who came
to this home experienced miraculous changes in their lives.
The Lighthouse for delinquent and drug addicted boys was also a project
of faith that the Lord greatly blessed. It was started in the summer of 1958
forty miles down the Intracoastal Canal from Corpus Christi. The first few
years it operated only during the summer months, but due to the increasing
need of helping boys and young men on a continuing basis, it became a
full-time ministry. The Lord continued to bless as more and more young men
and boys came and were delivered from drugs and alcohol. Some were sent by
judges and brought by probation officers. Many of these fellows who came as
young men are now in full- time service for the Lord. Because of the wide
range in the ages of the fellows who came, this home was eventually divided.
The Anchor Home for Boys took in boys, age 9-17, and the Lighthouse
continued with the young men ages 18-25.
The Anchor Home, originally known as the City of Refuge for Boys, was
also relocated a few times, due to the donation of properties from friends
of the ministry.
The Peaceful Valley Home, which was located amidst the citrus groves in
the Rio Grande Valley of Texas was begun in 1964. This was a dream come
true, to be able to provide a place for older Christians who had retired but
had a desire to be in a community of other Christians and still be of use in
a ministry, if only to be a prayer warrior for the other phases of the
ministry.
One of the most well known and nationally-publicized homes the Lord led
us to start is the Rebekah Home for Girls. It was begun in September, 1967
in the home of some dear friends in East Texas when they took in a teen-age
unwed mother who had called us for help. More and more girls began to call
and come, and within four months the home was moved to Corpus Christi. It,
too, was in two locations before we purchased the property on Old
Brownsville Road, which was also another tremendous step of faith.
Realizing the need for a permanent location for the Rebekah Home for
Girls, we located a 79-acre tract of farm land a few miles out in the
country west of Corpus Christi. The Lord impressed on my heart that this was
the location He would have us purchase. The cost was $97,000. When our
friend, Alfred Edge, a realtor, was instructed to contact the owner of the
property, he asked me how we intended to pay for it. I immediately replied,
"Cash!" When he asked me when we would have the money, I answered "September
1!" The Enterprises put up $5,000 earnest money and Alfred Edge deducted his
commission. September was only three or four months away. We prayed. On
September 1, 1968 a check in the amount of $84,373.76 was written to pay for
the property where the first Rebekah Home dormitory would be built. Within a
few years the Lord added more sections of adjoining property, totaling 557
acres.
The People's Baptist Church was organized in 1969. The first building
that was built on the property that had been purchased for the Rebekah Home
was a two story red barn for a cow, some goats and other farm animals. The
second story was used for a hayloft. Since the Rebekah girls were living in
house trailers at the time, there was no place for the church to meet, so
the hay was cleared out, some carpet put down, and chairs put in the second
floor of the barn. The People's Baptist Church met for services in the
"Heavenly Hayloft" until the the last of June, 1970, at which time the first
dormitory for the Rebekah girls was dedicated. Other dormitories were later
built on the property, along with a church building, cafeteria, school
building, and other buildings. Radio friends and supporters from several
states came during their vacation times to construct the buildings. By the
summer of 1979 the City of Refuge, the Help-Hers (now Jubilee Home for
ladies), the big Lighthouse dormitory, and the Anchor Home for Boys were all
located on this property.
Due to the restrictions of the State Welfare Department regarding taking
care of unwed mothers in Texas, they were eventually moved to Hattiesburg,
Mississippi to a dormitory we built there on property donated by a Christian
friend in that area. This home was named Bethesda, which means House of
Mercy.
The last big step of faith that I would like to share with you is the
starting of Regeneration Reservation which ministers to and works with the
American Indians.
In 1981, Mrs. Ann Murphy, a missionary who had worked among the American
Indians for many years, had heard of our Homes in Corpus Christi and the
Lord had used the ministry of the Homes to transform alcoholics and drug
addicts into responsible citizens as they became Christians and submitted
their lives to the Lord's leading. A majority of the people she had been
working with were alcoholics. She came to visit and to see this work
firsthand. After sharing her burden for these desperate people with me, I
accepted her invitation to go and visit her mission field. Upon seeing these
people, many of whom were in jail or were lying around on the ground drunk,
I made the statement to her, "May God forgive me; I never knew this existed.
We can and we must do something!"
I returned to Corpus Christi with a definite burden for these desperate
people who are precious in God's sight. In February of 1982 the Roloff
Evangelistic Enterprises made a down payment on nearly 70 acres of land near
the Apache Indian reservation at Fort Thomas, Arizona. This was named
Regeneration Reservation and they continue to minister to all tribes of
American Indians.
The radio ministry, the Family Altar Program, had also expanded to as
many as 200 stations across the nation at one time. Again, I remind you of
the wonderful way the Lord blessed the radio ministry and used it to raise
up friends who were inspired to also trust the Lord by faith as they
invested in lives by helping to provide the funds to build and operate the
homes for people in trouble.
I do not know of a work in this land that is more worthy of your prayers
and support than this ministry. We would like to say more, but it would take
another book to write the glorious story of all the Lord has done through
people and with people who have submitted to His leading by faith.
In closing, let me suggest that if you want to live by faith, don't run
with infidels and people who question the Word of God. Second, read the
Bible through every year. Third, practice and exercise your faith. Don't
attend a cold, modernistic church. Keep your eyes upon Jesus, the Author and
Finisher of your faith. Memorize much of the Scripture and praise Jesus and
testify for Him every day.
I find it as hard to stop writing as I did to start writing, but if this
book has been a blessing to you, pass it on or get another one for a friend.
Four
times in the Bible – Habakkuk, Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews, we are told
that "Now the just shall live by faith." Please read Hebrews 10:32 -
12:4 for this is the Pike's Peak of the Book. As I sit here and write this
chapter, it looks to me like every door is closing and this is the most
unusual experience in my twenty-six years of preaching. Yet inside there is
a calm and a peace and an assurance. "My confidence in Jesus grows stronger
every day, His grace I find sufficient to lead me in life's way." Therefore
I cannot live under the circumstances or on what it looks like or seems
like. That song keeps coming to me, even in this trying time and testing
time – "The thing that you have prayed for is on its way and paid for." Oh,
may God bless this chapter to my own soul, as well as yours, for the sake of
the cause and the many ministries God has given us. 