Born in the Heart of God

STUDY

Of late my wife reads aloud to the entire family while I am driving on long trips. At present she reads biographies of great people. These are thrilling and exciting. We often laugh and cry together as a family.

As outside studies over the years I have studied flying, ventriloquism (Graduate of Maher Ventriloquist School   a correspondence school.) I have attended numerous conferences and clinics, and I have read many books to continue my interests.

Since my family has been traveling with me I have not had the problem of sleeplessness or not getting enough rest. I am generally in bed by midnight, although I read sometimes until 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. I find studying easier, especially after the children are in bed and quiet.

This change of lifestyle during the time we traveled using a travel trailer had a wonderful influence on me. Generally, I slept on the same bed in the trailer each night or at the one at home if the revival is close enough in the Atlanta area. The packing of the suit case the day before I went off on a meeting and the sleeplessness due to the excitement of an adventure for Christ in a new place had now given way to a good night's rest. When we pulled into a church parking lot, the hooking up and setting up of the trailer was a new experience. At the time I much preferred it to unloading the car and unpacking the suitcase in a motel or hotel room. Also, the advantage of being at the church with the trailer saved between thirty minutes to four hours of driving back and forth to the church every day. (Not having the physical stamina to handle the trailer has changed this circumstance as I have aged)

On the last night of the revival, I would spend the night and drive during the daylight after a good night's rest. Since my family was with me, there is no rush to get back to home base, unless we had to get a newsletter out between meetings.

Church people granted us our privacy and did many acts of kindness for my family. Christian hospitality was wonderful. The people realized that my wife had to teach the children during the day, and they often brought meals to them. If there was a local attraction such as a cave, zoo, museum, or recreation area in that town, some fine Christian lady usually took my wife and children. In fact, travel was a part of their education.

Traveling in the trailer improved my study habits immensely. In fact, I began to seek more seminary training because of the change in my schedule. The Doctor of Ministry Degree seemed completely out of reach for me. I could not take six months out of my ministry to go to Seminary and complete the seminars, much less meet with an advisor once a month on a set day. The revival schedule just would not allow it. In years ahead this became possible, but not then. However, I discovered Immanuel Bible Seminary in Peachtree City, Georgia. Such notable men as Nelson Price of Roswell Street Baptist, R. G. Lee, and Hyman Appleman had Doctorates from there.

The Immanuel Bible Seminary had seminars at odd times when I could be present. When I was unable to attend, Dr. James I. Stewart, President of the school had videocassettes made for me so that I could sit under the professor by means of a videocassette player. He personally assigned my work and graded it. I spent an entire year studying science and the first eleven chapters of Genesis because I had a great personal interest in that area. They allowed three years of special treatment for me so that I might complete the Doctorate of Ministry Degree. They allowed payment as I went, and even waited on some payments until the heart of the revival schedule so that there was enough cash flow in the Keith Fordham Evangelistic Association to make the payments.

Mainly, the intense studies gave me mental and spiritual stimulation that has added to my heart. The Word of God is more real and true to me than it has ever been. I have a new interest in learning and feel that I am more teachable than I have ever been in my life. Furthermore, I have been privileged to sit at the feet of some of the finest Bible scholars on this earth. Immanuel is not the only school totally staffed by Southern Baptist men, who are willing to teach an evangelist without damaging his ministry, however, it is one of the better schools. I actually had to do more reading, and take more seminars, and do more paper work with Immanuel than were required at the six Southern Baptist Convention Schools. However, the flexibility of Immanuel made a great difference.

The Southern Baptist Seminaries are already beginning to videotape classes. By writing this book, I hope to encourage Dr. C. C. Randall, Dr. Roy Fish, Dr. Lewis Drummond, and others to make their classes available through the mail on videocassettes to Southern Baptist evangelists. A new generation of evangelism professors is taking over in our Seminaries. If they are all personal soul winners, who not only teach evangelism, but take their students out personally, like Dr. Tom Johnston does, Baptist churches are in for some great days ahead.

This study has spilled over into my personal devotional life. It strengthened our daily family devotions. By having the family with you daily, family altar is easy. My children were an active part of the ministry. Angela sang and played the violin. Sam became a ventriloquist and taught Bible lessons during hundreds of revival services before going off to North Greenville College. He has answered the call to ministry and is still serving the Lord through preaching and staff internships.

At the present time Shirley and I travel together. She has learned ventriloquism and uses her pal Joy to take some of the load off me. We generally have our devotion in the morning. We ride bicycles together most mornings. She is absolutely indispensable to me in every way. She is a true accountability partner. She is walking integrity.

The evangelist must lead a life of integrity. The fifteen affirmations of Amsterdam 83' are good guidelines for the evangelist to follow. Listed below are these affirmations as I have personalized them: