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Intro: My Adventure
About 1980, Pastor Mendel Daningburg, and family, came to
the Ransomville Free Methodist Church in the Hamlet of
Ransomville, Niagara County, WNY. For me, this was the
beginning of a new chapter in my Christian Life and my
relationship with God!
Mendel, an excellent preacher, had a special goal: to
earn a doctor of ministries degree, a huge undertaking. I
was blessed to be invited to serve on his special committee
for this degree. As a school administrator with a master's
and two years of seminary, I felt at home with Mendel and
the Committee. I suggested a dissertation title: "the
transference of wholeness," what God does through his people
to bring healing and sanctification to others! Mendel liked
it. Mendel maintained an active church and community mission
and had a wonderful family.
My wife and I had the great privilege to have Mendel
dedicate and baptize our infant daughter. (For those who
believe only in adult baptism, Jesus said: "Let the little
children come to me!" At 22, when walking down Madison
Avenue on her way to a job interview at Calvin Klein, she
stopped at an unlocked church to pray. She had her first NYC
job on the Monday after a Friday graduation!)
Then the word struck: Mendel had cancer! Mendel inspired
much prayer on his behalf. He was admitted to Roswell Park
in Buffalo for intense chemotherapy.
Now my personal story: God used the events in Mendel's
life to reach me as He had not before. I had been working
with a very troubled student at school and wanted Mendel's
advice and help. Frustrated by his physical absence, one day
I drove to a deli and in the car I "yelled" at God, "I need
Mendel!"
God - within a nano second - "yelled" quietly back to me,
"I need him where he is! You do what you need to do!"
Shocked, I nearly fell out of the car. This was the first
time in which God had told me off! I will never forget it.
God was using Mendel at a Cancer Institute.
Prayers continued, and Mendel achieved remission - but we
did not know the extent of the damage caused by the strong
chemo!
In victory, a stage full of conference pastors came one
Sunday and appeared around Mendel. I went down front to
join. While there, I felt something filling my feet, ankles,
legs, and body. I had a peace beyond any gun being pointed
at me! The Holy Spirit!
A very short time later, we had to let Mendel move on to
the Kingdom.
As God had told me months before:
"I need Mendel where He is; YOU do what you have to!"
God bless you, Mendel, in your timeless work!
See you soon.
Amen.
IXTHUS
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