What do angels do in heaven?
They worship God Revelation 4:11
They administer God’s government Psalm 103:18-22
What do angels do on earth?
They serve as guardians Psalm 91:11-12
They are warriors doing battle for God Daniel 12
They carry out God’s justice Acts 7:53, Galatians 3:19, Hebrews 2:2 Exodus 23:20-21
They give encouragement Acts 27:23-24
They strengthen people – ministered to Moses, Elijah and Jesus
They are messengers
They reassure us Isaiah 6:6-7
They warn us of danger
They show us to safety
They show us what we need, what is lost or unnoticed
They deliver things we need
They give us instructions
They guide us to important encounters
They watch over us Daniel 4:13, I Corinthians 4:9
They comfort the dying and bring hope Luke 16:22
Angelic Encounters
From “A Rustle of Angels”
by Marilynn Carson Webber
& William D. Webber © 1994
Mighty Warriors Dressed for Battle (pages 77-79)
John Patton and his wife were pioneer missionaries to the New Hebrides Islands. They tried to faithfully live out the Christian gospel and model a Christian lifestyle but were met with hostility. They returned insults with kindness, hatred with love. Soon it became apparent that their lives were in danger. They were threatened with murder and their home being burned, but they felt called by God to serve Him there. They prayed for divine protection and continued to minister in a spirit of love.
One night they heard noises outside their small missionary compound. They were completely surrounded by the chief and his men with torches and spears. The Pattons had no weapons or earthly means of protection, but they prayed fervently all night for God to send His angels to protect them. They also prayed that this warlike tribe would someday find peace with God.
The next morning, the tribe silently left. The Pattons were thankful and surprised. There was no apparent reason for them to leave. The Pattons felt compelled by God to stay. They continued to witness without any apparent results.
A year later the chief became a Christian. Finally, John Patton was able to ask him what they had been planning to do that night. He replied that they had come to kill them and burn everything they had, but they were afraid of all those men who were guarding their house. Patton replied that there were no men, but the chief insisted they were giants, awesome, glowing with a strange light, each with a drawn sword. John knew then that God had sent His angels to protect them. He read to him the account in 2 Kings 6:16-17, when the king of Syria sent his army to capture the prophet, Elisha. They surrounded his house during the night, and his servant saw the horses and chariots. He was afraid, but Elisha told him not to fear because “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha prayed that his eyes would be opened, and “he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire.”
Nightly Camping in Haiti (pages 79-82)
Kay Hallander, a missionary nurse at a clinic near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, shared a small house with another lady missionary. A low fence surrounded the property. Every night drums announced that voodoo rituals were taking place. Every morning, she saw evidence of blood, fragments of animal parts, and occult objects. She would always pray for those under the spell of voodoo. She often treated wounds incurred from the hysteria of the rituals.
Poverty was everywhere. Destitute people often broke into houses and stole anything of value. The two women only had modest belongings, but in that area everything they had was worth stealing, not to mention the potential harm to themselves. However, their home was never broken into, despite the nightly violence all around them.
One night a Haitian man with tooth pain came to the clinic. His oral surgery and repair work were extensive, so he stayed several days. When Kay helped him with pain management, she had a chance to ask him why there had never been a break-in at their house. He replied, “No one would ever enter your yard. Everyone knows about the guards you have on duty every night. There are four big, big, very dark men. One stands on each corner of your property. They are very frightening. No one would dare to come into your house. Lady, no one will cause you any trouble.”
At their house in Haiti, they had four angels who camped out every night. Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him.
From “The Crossings Treasure of Angel Stories –
Contemporary Stories of Angelic Encounters”
by Robert Strand © 2010
Chapter 2 (pages 5-7) – A Chocolate Cake Too
A pastor of a small church in Knob Noster, Missouri tried valiantly to believe that God was their source and would provide for his family. The economy was depressed, so the church suffered a great loss of income. Unemployment was everywhere. The parsonage cupboards were bare, the car had no gas, and no jobs were available. While looking at the empty shelves, his wife was writing a shopping list of the things she would buy when the Lord sent the money. He said, “As long as you’re making a list, write down chocolate cake! She wrote it down, but crossed it off, thinking it was a bit selfish and impractical.
Later that day a car arrived at the parsonage. One of the ladies from their church stood holding a large sack of groceries in each arm. “Here,” she said, “take these and come back. There’s more, and I’m in a hurry because I’m late for work.” Two more large sacks were waiting at the front door. She said, “I can’t talk right now, but God told me to share.”
That evening she stopped by after work. She and they realized they had participated in a miracle. The pastor’s wife had carefully marked off each item from her “faith” list as she unpacked the sacks. Every item was there, including the chocolate cake! The donor related how she had been told by a voice exactly what to load into the sacks from her own pantry shelves. While packing the specified groceries, the chocolate cake mix had fallen and hit her on the head twice. She put it back, and when it hit her on the head a third time, she thought, “Well, Lord, if they want chocolate cake that much, I’ll just give it to them with the frosting too!” With hearts overflowing in gratitude and full bellies all around, the family went to bed thankful for how much their heavenly Father loved and cared about them. Philippians 4:l9 And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Chapter 3 (pages 8-10) – The Money Angel
In Rockford, Illinois, in the early 1970s, Pastor Don Lyons led his church to buy farmland on which to build a church building and radio station. First, they built a small house. Ron prayed to be able to find the right person for this startup ministry. As he prayed, in his mind he saw a name spelled out: “Tietsort.” Later, at a special pastor’s meeting for all the churches in Rockford, Pastor Lyons was greeting guests when a young man walked up. His name tag read RON TIETSORT. Pastor Lyons soon learned that Ron had a radio/television background before he became a pastor in Sioux City, Iowa. Pastor Lyons told Ron his story and offered him the job of station manager. The Tietsorts soon moved to Rockford. His wife Millie became the bookkeeper, receptionist, and sometimes programmer.
By winter 1975, despite all their efforts and a growing audience, they needed over $3,000 to catch up on their bills and keep going. They had already exhausted all possible avenues for fresh revenue. Millie prayed, “Lord, we really thought You wanted the station to succeed. Did we misread You? Please tell us what to do now.” Just then the front door opened and a middle-aged man walked in with a sealed envelope. Millie was startled because she hadn’t heard a car or footsteps on the porch. The man said quickly, “Give this to Ron. Use it for the station.” Before Millie could offer him a tax receipt, he turned and left without saying anything else. Millie quickly brought the envelope to Ron’s office and put it on his desk. Ron was surprised but opened it. “Millie, look!” They counted the money inside and it contained $3,250! Ron leaped up and raced outside to thank the man, but he was gone. There was no car in sight, no tire tracks in the driveway, and there were no footprints in the snow on the porch! Ron and Millie never saw the stranger again, but Station WQFL and its companion WGLS are still operating today.
Chapter 5 (pages 15-17) – Modern Manna
Newlyweds John and Bonnie Eller had served at their first pastorate for six weeks. Their financial situation was difficult. Their small church in northeast Arkansas could not support a full-time pastor. John had looked for work at every business in the small town of 1,700 with no success. That evening Bonnie served the last of their food supply – pancakes made with water and sweetened with their last teaspoon of sugar. “This is all we have, John,” she said. “But don’t worry, God called us here, and He won’t let us down.” That night John tossed and turned for several hours. Finally, he went to the living room and sat on the threadbare couch, letting his Bible open where it would. He read, “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (II Samuel 22:33). That reassured him, and he went back to bed and fell asleep.
The next morning, an elderly man arrived at the doorstep holding two large grocery sacks. He wore a faded red flannel shirt and bib overalls. Thin, stopped and unshaven, he hung a walking cane from his elbow. “Here, preacher,’ he said in a hoarse and trembling voice, “you may need these.” John accepted the two heavy sacks and put them down. He turned around to thank his benefactor, but he was gone! John ran outside and looked up and down the street, but the man was nowhere in sight. John ran around the house and over to the church next door, but there was no trace of the man.
Returning to the house, John found Bonnie smiling with big tears rolling down her cheeks. She had opened the sacks and looked at the contents. Amazingly, they contained everything they normally bought – juice, sugar, flour, canned vegetables, meat, and even their favorite brand of coffee! “See,” Bonnie exclaimed, “I told you God would take care of us. He even knows what brands we like.”
After breakfast John went through the town’s tiny business district, describing the man who had brought the groceries and asking if anyone knew him. Everyone said no; no such man had ever been seen in their community. During the remainder of their time as pastors in that little town, the Ellers often inquired about the man who had brought help to them in their time of need. They never saw or heard of him again. Since then, the Ellers have never been in such dire circumstances, but they have remained confident that the Lord who helped them that time would always supply their needs.
Chapter 6 (pp. 18-20) – Chicken on the Doorknob
Leon Miles and his wife were new pastors in their first church whose people had many different needs. “We learned just how needy the church was when we received our first weekly paycheck of $3.85. We didn’t know how we would be able to support our little family. Discouraged yet optimistic, we thanked the Lord for the $3.85. We began to believe and pray on the promises of Proverbs 3:5-6 and Matthew 6:33.
God began to prove Himself the next day. Someone dropped by at 6am with cereal and milk. At noon, several steaks arrived to go with the vegetables that had been dropped off. The following Saturday, a weekly occurrence began that would last until the day we moved. When the doorbell rang, we shouted down the stairway, “Come on in!” There was no response or anyone downstairs, but hanging on our apartment door was the best fryer chicken hanging on the doorknob. For the next five years, the doorbell rang at different times every Saturday, and no one would ever be there, but there would always be a bag on the doorknob with meat inside. It happened whether or not we had guests, rain, snow or sunshine, during special meetings or regular services.
Inside the bag, always wrapped in butcher paper would be steaks, roasts, chichen, fish, etc. It always met the needs of our growing family plus any guests we were having that week. Who could be the angel delivering this beautiful package, and how could he or she disappear so quickly?
Finally, on our last Saturday at this parish, the doorbell rang. I ran down to look out the front door and caught sight of a taxi cab with no passengers pulling away from the curb. We looked at the last package to discover it had come from the town’s best meat market and had been sent “special delivery” by taxi. We then assumed all the meat had come from this source. We asked at the market, but they didn’t know anything about the mysterious happenings. To this day we have no clue as to whom God used to provide the meat. All we know is that He did, and we were sustained. We had been fed for five years, and we never went hungry!
I Kings 19:5-8 All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So, he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled 40 days and 40 nights.
Chapter 7 (pages 21-22) – The Skinny Little Angel
A pastor from near Springfield, Illinois had gone to Mexico on a preaching mission. While returning, their van broke down. He elevated it and crawled underneath, but the jack collapsed, and the van fell onto his chest. His companions tried to lift it but couldn’t budge it. With his last breath he cried out, “Jesus! Jesus!” Within seconds a short, slender young man ran toward them, smiling as he approached. He easily lifted the van as if it were a feather. The pastor felt his chest expand, and his crushed, broken ribs immediately mended! He crawled out without needing help. The young man lowered the van, waved and ran back where he had come from and disappeared on the horizon as they watched. No one knew who the mysterious visitor was or where he had come from.
Daniel 3:24-25 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors, “Didn’t we bind and throw three men into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, O king.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Chapter 8 (pages 23-25) – The Angel Promised
Samuel Doctorian, an Armenian Christian born in Beirut, Lebanon, has traveled the Middle East sharing his story of conversion in Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Greece and Cyprus. One evening his friends James and Liberty Osmand shared their sorrow about having lost three children, and because doctors had told her that she would not be able to have another child. Samuel prayed with them. Later as he was praying at bedtime, an angel of the Lord appeared before him. He had a glorious face and a wonderful smile, giving him a scroll which read, “Go and tell my daughter, I shall give her a son next year.” Samuel excitedly ran to share the message. They all rejoiced and praised the Lord for the glorious message He had brought. Exactly one year later – to the day – a son was born to the Osmands!
Eighteen years later Samuel was in England attending a “League of Prayer” convention with Jim Osmand, one of the special speakers. Jim and Liberty were excited to see Samuel, but their greatest joy was to introduce their son, the promised one, a very dedicated Christian. It was thrilling to meet him and praise God for the glorious and wonderful fulfillment of the message He had brought eighteen years earlier!
II Kings 8:14-17 So [Elijah] said [to his servant Gehazi], “What then is to be done for [the Shunammite woman for all her concern and care for us]?” Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!” But the woman conceived and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.
Luke 1:26-31 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to Mary, a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus.”
Chapter 10 (pages 29-30) – The Delivery Angel
My parents were struggling to establish a mission church in Evansville, Minnesota (population 750). As a pioneering pastor, Dad also had to work side jobs to support Mom, my younger brother Gene and I. We had a little garden and ate well when church farm families brought produce to the parsonage. However, one night there was nothing on the stove, in the refrigerator or cupboards, or on the table. We had no potatoes, flour or noodles to make anything with.
Mom said, “Let’s sit down and ask the Lord to bless our meal.” We bowed our heads as she said, “Dear Lord, we thank You because You are so good to us. Bless Dad tonight as he’s away working. And, Lord, thank You for the food we are about to partake of, in Jesus’ name I pray.” Before she said “Amen,” we heard a noise on the back porch. We ran for the back door and flung it open. There on the porch were boxes of groceries! We looked in every direction down our little dirt street and saw nobody, no car driving away, no one for quite a distance in all directions. We excitedly brought the groceries in and put them away until they overflowed the cupboards and refrigerator. Then we sat down to a glorious feast. We asked, “Mom, who do you think brought the groceries?” She smiled and said, “Let’s just thank the Lord for providing!”
We experienced other instances of miraculous provisions during those same years. Many times some anonymous giver would drop a plain envelope into our mailbox with $50 in it along with a note that simply said: “Let not your right hand know what your left hand is doing.” These envelopes always arrived when we were in the middle of a financial crisis. It was an ongoing event that happened many times during those years, and they were always delivered on the very day we needed them. Eventually my brother and I set up a watch over our mailbox to catch the person(s) who did it, but we never saw anyone put the envelopes in that box.
Rabbah, an ancient Jewish scholar, wrote: “Although the span from earth to heaven is a journey of 500 years, when one whispers a prayer, or even silently meditates, God is nearby and hears.” Psalm 37:25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
Chapter 23 (pages 70-72) – Could It Have Been?
In September 1939, Hitler’s blitzkrieg army conquered Poland. Even France couldn’t defend itself with an army of six million soldiers. In ten months Germany had marched across France and the rest of Europe. The Allied armies were demoralized.
On May 26, 1940, the battered Allied army was safely evacuated, thanks to thousands of volunteers with boats, and especially to God for sending a timely and unusually heavy fog and calming the waters of the English channel. Shortly afterward, Hitler called a surprise meeting of his generals, some of the best military minds in the world. He asked them to decide whether or not to invade England then or wait for a better time. That was the best time, because the Allies were on the verge of total defeat. However, according to Hilton Sutton [1924-2012], an air force officer, several divine interventions occurred. A strange ‘general’ also attended Hitler’s meeting. He was not German, nor was he previously known to Hitler’s staff. This ‘general’ persuaded Hitler and his staff not to invade England but to wait until the German army was stronger and victory was assured. The generals decided to invade Russia rather than England! Germany plunged into Russia ill-prepared and overconfident.
Meanwhile, General [Erwin] Rommel, the German ‘desert fox,’ had been pursuing General [Bernard Law] Montgomery in North Africa. Rommel’s troops were poised and ready to destroy the English army when Hitler again called a surprise meeting of his generals. Once more, this same visiting ‘general’ convinced them to recall Rommel to Germany and replace him with another general who was not prepared for desert warfare. This allowed Montgomery to recover and counterattack, resulting in a major victory. Then the Americans joined them, and Germany was in retreat.
Again, Hitler called a staff meeting to decide whether to produce jet aircraft or continue bombing Britain. Again, a strange visiting general convinced Hitler and his staff not to take the time to set up an assembly line to produce jet aircraft. By the time the Germans realized their mistake, the United States had gained total air supremacy and was able to destroy most of the German industrial complex. According to Hilton Sutton [prophecy teacher of World Ministries], nobody in the world could have pulled off such daring feats other than an angel. It could even have been “Michael,” the Chief of Staff of the warring armies of heaven!
Daniel 12:1 At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book – will be delivered.
Chapter 24 (pages 74-76)- The Angels of Mons
In this report in the London Evening News, Arthur Machen, a leading Welsh author, told how the tiny British expeditionary force, outnumbered three to one, was apparently saved by heavenly reinforcements at the Battle of Mons on August 23, l914. Arthur’s short story “The Bowmen” told the legend of the Angels of Mons.” While the British army was retreating from Mons, a unit of German cavalry charged after them. The British tried to run for sanctuary, but the Germans arrived first. The British army turned and was astonished to see a troop of angels between them and the enemy. The German horses were terrified and stampeded in all directions.
Later, a British army chaplain, C.M. Chavasse, wrote that he had heard similar accounts of the miraculous angelic deliverance from a brigadier general and two of his officers. A lieutenant colonel also described being escorted for about 20 minutes by a host of phantom cavalry. The Germans confirmed this account, recording that their men refused to charge a certain point where the British line was broken because of the presence of a very large number of troops. According to the Allied records of this battle, not a single British soldier was in the area. All officers and soldiers who witnessed this supernatural event wished to remain anonymous, lest their disclosures would hinder any possible future promotions.
II Kings 6:17 (When [Ben-Hadad II] king of Syria learned that Elisha had been warning [Jehoram/Joram] king of Israel about his military plans, Ben-Hadad surrounded Dothan, where Elisha lived. God sent a vast army of angels to surround the Syrian army. And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around.
II Kings l9:l4-l9 (When King Hezekiah of Judah was threatened by the Rabshakeh, the Tartan and Rab-saris sent by King Sennacherib of the Assyrians, God sent His angel through the enemy camp and destroyed l85,000 enemy soldiers).
Chapter 26 (pages 80-82) – The Bookstore Angel
Dr. L. Nelson Bell, who served in the hospital in Tsing Kiang Pu, Kiangsu Province, China, related an event that happened in a Christian bookstore in Shanghai, China, in l942. Dr. Bell bought his gospel portions and tracts to distribute among his patients. After the Japanese had annexed much of China, they imposed control. One morning a Japanese truck stopped outside the bookstore. It carried five Japanese marines and was half full of books. The bookstore assistant realized they had come to confiscate his inventory.
However, before they could enter, a neatly dressed Chinese gentleman entered the store ahead of them. The shop assistant knew all the customers well, but he had not met this stranger. For some unknown reason, the marines seemed unable to follow him into the store. They stood outside and milled around, looking in the four large front windows. No one else was in the store and no one else outside, yet each time they tried to enter the store they couldn’t. They stood around for more than two hours. The stranger asked what the soldiers wanted, and the assistant explained that the Japanese had taken books from the other bookshops and now wanted to take from his. The two prayed together, and this stranger encouraged him, and the invisible barrier remained across the entrance.
Finally, the marines shook their heads and left in their truck. The stranger left also. He had not made a single purchase or even asked about any of the items in the store. Later the owner, Mr. Christopher Willis (Chinese name Lee), returned. The assistant asked him, “Do you believe in angels?” “Yes I do.” “So do I!”
Chapter 27 (pp. 83-85) – The Angel Truck Driver
In a small town and church in a farming area in a midwestern state, the pastor led a thriving church and the entire community. When he discovered that one of his lay volunteers was committing adultery, he removed him from the position of worship leader. The man angrily threatened him twice for making him an example and falsely accused him of exposing his affair to the whole town. Later the man asked to meet him to apologize. The spot he named was at the top of a hill on a gravel road a few miles from town.
The pastor agreed and went to the spot to wait. The man slammed to a stop by the pastor and got out, but at the same time, a brand-new Chevrolet water truck stopped next to the pastor and his adversary. The angry man took one look at the red truck and hastily departed. The pastor watched him leave, then turned to talk to the driver of the truck, but both had disappeared. For miles in both directions there was no tank truck or driver to be seen!
Later the pastor asked the water delivery man if he had bought a new truck, but he still drove the old one. A few days later, the adversary called the pastor and asked, “Why did you have that other truck come when I was to meet you?” The pastor replied, “I don’t know who it was or where it came from. He just drove up.” The man then confessed that he planned to meet the pastor on that hill to kill him. He eventually apologized and asked forgiveness, repented and became a part of church life again. To this day the pastor has never seen a red truck with a stainless-steel tank.
Chapter 40 (pages 123-125) Changing Tires
Pastor George Greer was driving alone from Mabank, Texas to Dallas for a special ministers’ meeting. On the long and lonely stretch of highway, he realized he had a flat tire. He pulled over and saw the rear tire was completely flat. He opened the trunk, but there was no jack. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a Jeep pulled up and two young men got out. One of them said, “We see you have a problem, and we have come to help you.” They got out a jack and tire tools and went to work. When the pastor offered to help, they said, “No, sir; you would get your clothes dirty, and it’s our business to help pastors.”
George went to the front of the car to check both tires. While he was kneeling, the young men finished changing the rear flat. He stood up to thank them, but no one was there. Both the young men and their vehicle had vanished. He looked up and down the highway, but no one was in sight. Hebrews 11:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Chapter 42 (pages 129-133) – Angel on a Tractor
In August 2003, DuWayne Paul was part of a group of 20 volunteers from Shaminou International to teach at an English language camp in rural China. Along with about 40 Chinese people, children, guides and drivers, they started out in three 20-person vans. On the way, in a rural area about 20 miles south of Hailar, they found the road closed for construction and a detour through a nearby field. However, it had been raining for two weeks, so the field was now deep mud and sticky Chinese clay. All three vans became hopelessly mired and the wheels couldn’t turn. There were no signs of life for several miles in any direction. The American leaders gathered in the front van to pray and ask God how to proceed. They considered walking back to the nearest village for help and then trying to find another place to hold the camp.
While they were praying, a man in the group looked up and said, “We can stop praying; our answer is here!” They opened their eyes and saw a brand new 7000 series four-wheel drive John Deere tractor approaching. The driver stopped and cheerfully offered to help them. He pulled the vans out of the mud, one by one, and onto some nearby grass. He smiled the entire time, and when he was finished, he suddenly left in the same direction from which he had come. They formed a circle and gave thanks to God before resuming their trip.
They watched the man on the tractor slowly drive over the crest of the hill until he was out of sight. They followed him in the vans over the same hill, but when they came to the top, the entire landscape was empty – the tractor had vanished! They decided the man was an angel, because it was grassland country, and there was no trace of farming or agriculture in the area. Second, all other tractors they had seen earlier and later were like small garden tractors, nothing like the 7000 John Deere in newness or size. Third, there was no mud on the tractor tires. Fourth, the kindly Chinese gentleman on the tractor refused to accept any money for his efforts – definitely very un-Chinese-like.
Later, one of the Chinese missionaries who had served as their guide saw the photos from the trip. The tractor that pulled the vans out of the mud in Hulun-Beier was marked ‘Di-Er Tian-Tuo. Di-Er is a transliteration for Deere, and Tian-Tuo is a shortened version of Tian-Tuo-La-ji, which means “Tractor from Heaven!’ God was with them that day and did not want them to turn back. The events of the two weeks at the camp and the impact on so many young lives would never have happened if they had turned back because of the mud. They actually met an angel driving a “John Deere Tractor from Heaven” in rural northeast China!
Chapter 47 (pages 149-151) – Just In Time
In the late l880s, Queen Victoria was a passenger on an express train heading toward London, England. Suddenly, in the engine’s headlights, the engineer saw a strange figure in a black cloak standing in the middle of the tracks and waving its arms, signaling the train to stop. He put on the brakes and stopped the train. He and his men climbed down but couldn’t find any trace of the strange figure. On a hunch, he walked a few hundred yards ahead and discovered to his horror that the bridge ahead had been washed out and fallen into the flooded river below. If not for the mysterious figure, the train would have fallen, and the passengers killed.
While the bridge and the tracks were being repaired, the crew continued searching for the ‘flagman,’ but the mystery was finally solved when they returned to London. At the base of the engine’s headlamp the engineer discovered a huge dead moth. On impulse, he wet its wings and pasted it to the glass of the lamp. Climbing into the cab, he switched on the light and saw the ‘flagman’ in the beam. As He knew the answer now – the moth had flown into the beam seconds before the train would have reached the washed-out bridge. In the fog, it appeared to be a phantom figure waving its arms.
When Queen Victoria was told of the strange happening she said, “I’m sure it was no accident. It was God’s way of protecting us. He sent an angel in the form of a moth to warn us.” God, quite possibly through the ministry of His unseen angels, had placed the moth on the headlight lens exactly when and where it was needed [and facing upright rather than any other position]. Truly, “He will command His angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:11)
Chapter 55 (pages 173-175) – Heavyweight Angels
Pastor and Mrs. B. C. Heinz, the ministry family at a small church in North Dakota, were heading home at night with another couple from their church after an all-day fellowship in the town of Dickinson, where Pastor Heinz had spoken. They headed north on State Highway 85 toward Williston, and about that time it started to rain, sleet, snow and freeze all at once. They started into the valley, and the icy mixture became even more intense, accumulating on the highway, making driving treacherous and the visibility near zero. They had no snow tires or chains because it was late spring, and they hadn’t expected any more snow. Mrs. Heinz began to pray: “Help us, Lord, help our car, keep us safe.” As the road began to climb up from the valley floor, the car began to lose traction and soon they stopped completely. No matter what they tried, the car would spin out of control. They thought they would have to spend the night huddled in the car, waiting for the snowplow or other help to come their way. Spending the freezing night in the car would have risked death from exposure.
Just then, a car drove up behind them with six husky young men in it. They stopped and asked if they could help. Pastor Heinz said, “A push would help us, but we really need more traction on the rear end. Perhaps more weight would help us make it to the top.” The pastor started the car, and five of the young men pushed the car up the steep snow-covered road while the sixth drove their car behind. As soon as the car began rolling, the five men all jumped up on the trunk. Two sat with their feet over the sides, and two sat facing the rear with their feet on the rear bumper. With this help, the car easily made it to the top of the hill. The pastor immediately stopped the car and got out to thank the kind heavyweight strangers, but they had all disappeared! No trace of them nor of their car that had followed them to the top of the hill was visible – not even a tire track! Billy Graham once wrote: “Reports continually flow to my attention from many places around the world telling of visitors of the angelic order appearing, ministering, fellowshiping, and disappearing.”
Hebrews 12:22-23 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect.
Chapter 56 (pages 176-178) – Angels in the Snow
In late August one year, J. D., Agnes and their kids were heading home across Red Mountain Pass from Durango to Grand Junction, Colorado. This mountain pass was called the “Million Dollar Highway” because of steep grades and hairpin turns with few guardrails. As they crossed over the summit and began descending, they encountered a late summer snowstorm, but they weren’t yet equipped for winter travel. Wind blew the heavy snow, which froze into an icy glaze on the roadway. Visibility was poor, but they had nowhere to turn around or stop. Conditions worsened quickly. As J.D. drove, Agnes and the kids prayed.
Despite J.D.’s precautions, the car began to slip and slide. They came very close to the edge of the road, which had no guardrail, and a drop of hundreds of feet to the valley below. Suddenly two men appeared running beside the car. One had his hand on the left front fender, and the other on the left rear fender. The car straightened out of the skid and the two men continued to run alongside the car until J.D. had maneuvered it through the last treacherous, icy hairpin curve to enter the town of Ouray. J.D. pulled over and stopped to thank the men who had come to their rescue, but as he got out of the car, no one was found! There was no place for the men to go but up or down the mountain road, which was clearly seen in both directions. The family looked but didn’t even see any footprints in the snow! Safely down the mountain, they gave thanksgiving to the Lord for His protection and care in sending the two men who had come to their rescue. Psalm 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.
Chapter 57 (pages 179-183) – A Highway Angel
In October 1979, Vincent J. Kern of Snellville, Georgia was heading south on Merritt Parkway, a two-lane highway in southwestern Connecticut. While passing a slow-moving vehicle, his car hit a large puddle, and his car stalled. Several other drivers wouldn’t let him pull back into the right lane, so he had to stop facing oncoming traffic. His car wouldn’t start, so he turned on the four-way flashers and jumped out, standing on the narrow left-hand shoulder and motioning for approaching cars to pass. Many drivers got angry and shouted obscenities at him. After half an hour, his car battery died and the flashers ceased.
Just then an older vehicle approached from the rear. Vincent motioned it to pass, but the driver slowed and stopped, saying he was going to help him. The man was clean shaven, mid-thirties, with light blue sparkling eyes and dark blond hair, wearing a sport coat. He said, “We’ll have to get your car over to the right-hand shoulder and out of the way of traffic.” He pulled his car around to the front, attached a heavy chain and pulled Vincent’s car to safety on the right shoulder. The entire time he was helping him, they had encountered no traffic coming from either direction. Not only was this highly unlikely, it was virtually impossible!
The man removed the chain, and Vincent tried to start the car, but it was hopeless. He asked, “Is there anything else I can do to help you?” Vincent replied, “Yes, would you please drive me to the next exit so I can phone a friend to come pick me up?” He obliged, and in a few minutes they pulled up at a phone booth near the ramp. Vincent noticed that his new friend was soaking wet, and his sport coat was a mess. Vincent insisted three times that he accept a $20 bill to cover the cost of dry-cleaning. Each time he refused the small reward, with an odd look on his face. He looked directly at Vincent and said, “Don’t thank me for being here; thank God for sending me to you.” With that, he drove away, and he and the car simply vanished as Vincent watched. He was nowhere to be seen up or down the highway for two or three miles in either direction. Vincent’s friend arrived and drove him back to the stalled car as he explained what had just happened. When he opened the door, he noticed the dome light was brightly lit. He tried one last time, and it started immediately. The previously dead battery was now fully charged. This was far from normal.
During the next ten years Vincent retold this story several times to friends. One day at a church conference a middle-aged African American walked up to him, looked him in the eye, and told me that there were three separate times in his life when the Lord had sent angels to protect him from imminent death by putting His hand of divine protection upon him. Then he began to laugh! He continued, “The man who so graciously rescued you on the highway was an angel sent by God, and both God and the angel found it humorous when you tried to offer him $20 for his sport coat to be cleaned!” Then the African American disappeared. Vincent inquired about him to thank him for those words, but no one knew him, or had seen him, or even knew where he could have come from! Proverbs 2:7-8 He holds victory in store for the upright; He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.
Chapter 60 (pages 192-194) – The Blessing Angel
One day, as a man was driving home from work on Interstate 70, he saw a white-headed elderly gentleman carrying a large old suitcase. The driver felt compelled to stop and ask where he was going. The man replied, “Illinois.” The driver lived in Elkland, Missouri, but he invited the man for dinner and a special service in a nearby town, and said he’d bring him back to the highway later. The driver and his wife had four small children, but his house only had two bedrooms.
They said an unexplainable feeling of peace surrounded the man, who spoke with wisdom and gentleness. The wife said, “It brought goose bumps upon goose bumps just to be near him.” Two of the boys accidentally knocked the old man’s suitcase off the bed. It opened to reveal one item – a very large, worn, old Bible. The host asked the old man many questions, who would speak to God as if He were sitting right there beside them, and then answer the host. While the old man was speaking, the family felt an overwhelming powerful presence in the room.
The next morning, they woke early to find the man blessing their house. He blessed every room in the humble home, then each of the kids individually, and both parents, and even the old worn-out car. The father drove him to the bus station and bought him a ticket to Illinois, and gave him everything he had left – $80, a large sum for them. He was a truck driver, and his wife stayed home with the kids instead of working. The man thought, “How am I going to feed my family this week? That was all of our grocery money.”
Later that afternoon a check arrived in the mail for more than $200 from a totally unexpected source. From that point on, circumstances changed for the family. The father kept on getting better and better jobs. They moved into larger houses and drove nicer and newer cars. Their family was even healthier. The little old house the old man had blessed was later converted to a church where many people became Christians. From that time of blessing, the parents and their children and families all lived for the Lord and used their talents to glorify God. All of those blessings can be traced to the stranger who stayed a night with them. They are convinced that it was an angel who came to visit and bless them. Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have entertained angels unaware.”
Chapter 62 (pages 198-200) – Heavenly Phone System
One night a church pastor was working late in his office. At 10 pm he called his wife before leaving for home. She didn’t answer, so he let it ring. He thought it odd and called again after finishing up. This time she answered immediately. He asked her why she hadn’t answered the first time, and she replied that the phone hadn’t rung all evening.
Two days later he was in his office again when a man called, wanting to know why the pastor had called him previously. The pastor said, “I didn’t call you; I’m sorry.” The man said, “My phone rang twelve times, but I didn’t answer.” The pastor realized that he must have misdialed, and apologized for disturbing him. The man said, “That’s quite all right. Actually, I was planning to commit suicide, but first I prayed, “God, if You’re up there and You don’t want me to do this, give me a sign NOW!” Just then my phone began ringing, and kept on until I checked the caller ID. It said, ALMIGHTY GOD, and I was afraid to pick up the phone to answer Almighty God, so I let it ring.” The pastor said, “It showed that on your caller ID because I pastor a church named ‘ALMIGHTY GOD TABERNACLE’!”
The man was overwhelmed, and the pastor prayed with him, and later counseled him and helped him get his life back on track. But that important night, it was very likely that the pastor had dialed the correct number, but God chose him and rerouted the call to the man at that particular moment. A man in need experienced a revelation of the love of God in a spectacular way with spectacular timing! Daniel 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants!”
Chapter 63 (pages 201-203) – Be Prepared
One day Jack Tibbitts of Meadow Lakes, Texas had a distinct thought, as if a voice had told him he was supposed to prepare to preach a sermon in the North Bend, Wisconsin church where he had grown up and attended church. He had never even thought of speaking from a pulpit, and was not comfortable with the idea, but the message was repeated. When it came again, he was told to use John 15:13 as the basis. The text said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he should lay down his life for his friends.” He said, “Okay, Lord,” and prepared. The message said to visit his parents’ home in North Bend over Memorial Day weekend. The trip involved driving over 600 miles each way with four young children, but his wife agreed they should go. When they arrived at his parents’ house, he asked who would be preaching the next day. His mother replied that the regular pastor had been called to another church, and seminary students would fill in. The next day at church a neighbor mentioned that the supply pastor hadn’t shown up. Instead of offering to speak, Jack thought to himself, “Lord, You have gotten me this far, You tell them, “and sat down with his family. The church elders decided to have Jack’s mother lead the service but omit the sermon. Jack was sitting by the aisle, and as she passed him she asked him if there was anything he could possibly say. He replied, “Yes, I would be glad to.” He gave the sermon he had prepared, with a sense of fulfillment instead of anxiety. He didn’t know if it had an impact on anyone else, but it was a mountaintop experience for him!
Although no angel appeared visually, Jim heard an angel’s voice giving him the messages after God directed them to guide him to speak at church that day. God also meant that particular message for at least one person at church. The Lord works in mysterious ways indeed!
Chapter 70 (pages 224-226) – Angel Bodyguards
Christians in China during the Communist uprising in 1927 were being persecuted. They endured looting, building burnings, executions, and more. Favorite targets were mission compounds, hospitals, orphanages, and anything Christian. A lady missionary recalls that “During a night of burning, looting and shooting, when anarchists ran through the streets, our compound, which sheltered hundreds of women and girls who spent the night in prayer, went untouched.” The previous night, the missionary in charge of this mission, which was dedicated to sheltering homeless women and girls, was laid low with a bad malaria attack and high fever. The neighbors asked, “What do you plan to do when the looters attack your compound? What about all those promises of protection you have been preaching to us? Who will you be trusting when the fires and robberies begin on your compound?” Along with all the women and girls, the sick missionary spent much time in prayer. She pleaded, “Lord, I have been teaching these people for many years to believe and trust in the promises of God. If You and Your promises fail in this time of disaster, I shall never again be able to open my mouth. Then I shall have to return home to America.”
The following night when the anarchists came to the compound, she immediately was well enough to get up and walk among the frightened refugees in her care. She prayed with them and comforted them while disaster was taking place in the neighborhood all around them. But the mission compound and all who were inside were untouched. The next morning, people from three different neighboring families asked, “Who were those four people – three were sitting and one was standing – who were quietly watching from the top of your house at the front of the compound?” The missionary answered, “No one was on our housetop.” The neighbors refused to believe her. “We saw them with our own eyes. These men were awesome! When the looters came to the compound, they turned and ran because they became afraid. We saw it happen!”
Chapter 71 (pages 227-232) Sandwiched Between Two Angels
Frankie Walker is a missionary and speaker who has traveled extensively in the States and overseas. She has counted at least twelve special angelic visitations. Here are a few of them.
While driving home from the Ozarks in Missouri on side roads with no center strip or guidelines, many trees on both sides were overgrown, and the moon was behind the clouds. My visibility was low because of my bright headlights. She asked the Lord for His help. Right away a black car came up behind her and passed, staying a few car lengths ahead. Another black car approached and stayed a few car lengths behind. When she arrived at the city limits, the lead car moved into the left lane of the four-lane highway. She glanced back, but there was no car in her rearview mirror. The lead car was suddenly gone also. There were no exits or turn ramps, only four totally empty lanes except for her car.
Another time while staying on the Hilo side of the big island of Hawaii, she was returning to her upstairs apartment. Turning to thank her hosts, she tripped and fell, with no handrail to grab. As she fell, a hand or presence reached out and caught her on the chest and lifted her back to a standing position. Her host saw what happened and agreed that only an angel on duty could have prevented a fall that might have been fatal. They said they wouldn’t have believed it if they hadn’t seen it happen.
Another time, her husband was driving them home from town. He was upset and driving too fast. As they sped down the hill, a little boy on his bike came onto the road right in front of them. They had no time to react and no place to turn to avoid him. She only had time to whisper, “Jesus!” Her husband slammed the brakes, and the car skidded. When they stopped, the car almost touched the fender of the little boy’s bike. Her husband said, “There is no way I could have stopped in time. Something stopped this car!” The little boy was shaking and crying, so the lady jumped out and comforted him. Angels had been guarding all of them, in spite of the driver’s carelessness.
Chapter 72 (pages 230-232) – The Travel Agent Angel
Missionary-evangelist Melvin Jorgensen was scheduled to speak at a conference at 8:30 the next morning in Subotica, Yugoslavia, about 100 miles away, but the host pastor was not there to meet Melvin as his plane arrived in Belgrade. Melvin didn’t know the language, and wasn’t feeling well. How would he find transportation to his destination? He had no currency negotiable in Yugoslavia to buy a bus ticket. Melvin didn’t know that the pastor had already come to the airport and that Melvin wasn’t on the flight. So, he had returned home, wondering what to do about the conference the next day.
Melvin took a shuttle that brought him to the bus terminal but didn’t know how to find his way to Subotica. He felt anxious, lost and sick. However, he noticed a man who stood smiling at him. The man was average height and appearance, but he motioned for Melvin to follow him. The man stopped at one of the many bus ticket windows, talked to an agent, received a ticket, gave it to Melvin, and motioned for him to follow. At the bus-loading area, Melvin didn’t know which one to take, but the man motioned for him to wait for his bus at an empty stall. He refused any payment and left.
Melvin’s ticket showed it was for the bus to Subotica, but no bus appeared where he was standing and he began to wonder if he was in the wrong place. Then the special ‘travel agent’ appeared again, smiled, and motioned for him to continue waiting. Shortly afterward, the bus pulled into the parking stall. Melvin got on, showed his ticket to the driver, and they left for Subotica. He arrived safely, to the relief of the host pastor, and all went well at the conference.
Chapter 73 (pages 233-235) – Following Orders
One year Winifred Currie was on an evangelistic safari with Lucille Friesen and Martha Underwood, working with nationals being trained in the Ndeya School in Belgium Congo, Zaire. One morning the three women distinctly heard a message during their pirate devotions. They were not to go to a cotton sale as planned but were to specifically follow His guidance as to where God had a special person already prepared for their coming.
Their young guide disagreed with them about traveling to the village. He said, “All the people will be working out in their fields, and no one will be at home in the village.” But Lucille replied, “You will witness a miracle of grace today.” So, he reluctantly agreed to go along with them. They followed the Lord’s instructions exactly, and when they came to the village, they met an elderly lady sitting by a small fire. She had scars like raised welts on her back, which they later learned were from beatings she had received years earlier while being captured by an Azande raiding party. Apparently, she had remained a slave, unable to escape, and never saw her family again.
A boy in the village began beating the drum to call the people out of their fields to hear our presentation. Soon everyone gathered, and the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was given in the Bangala language. The former slave woman’s face began to light up as the name of Yesu (Jesus) was introduced as the name of the Son of God who had died for her sins. When the women asked for those to make decisions to believe in Yesu, she began to speak excitedly in the Azande language.
The night before, she was suddenly awakened by a very bright light. When she saw a person in a white robe, she became afraid and cried out, “Who are you?” He spoke calmly and so kindly that her fear left her. He said, “Don’t be afraid. Tomorrow I am sending My messengers to you, and they will tell you My name!” Then He disappeared. She continued, “Now I know His name. It is Yesu, and I want to believe in Him today!” The villagers were astonished and began to also respond to the Gospel message that day. The women were privileged to witness the greatest miracle among all the miracles they had seen in their ministry in the heart of Africa. That day, everyone in the village believed in Jesus as their Savior! Revelation 22:16 I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
Chapter 74 (pages 236-238) – The Messenger
A teenage girl was pregnant, penniless, alone, and afraid. Crying as she watched her baby’s sonogram, she knew an abortion was out of the question. She cried herself to sleep every night because she didn’t know how she would be able to manage. One night an angel appeared to her in a dream. He said, “Don’t be afraid. Everything will be fine because you and your baby will be well taken care of.” The angel gave her a look into the future. She saw her healthy, strong and beautiful baby placed by an angel into the arms of a wonderful, caring couple. The next scene showed the baby as a grown young lady, mature and happy. The angel also told her that God was concerned about the baby and would work everything out for good for her unborn child. Then the angel touched her with a light that seemed to give off a warm glow that stayed in her heart during the rest of her pregnancy.
When she awoke the next morning, she felt wonderful, loved, and at peace that everything would work out for the best. Later that day she was introduced to a lady who told her about a support group-home for unwed mothers, and she checked in the next day. There she found emotional healing and help with choices she needed to make about her baby’s future. She decided to give birth and place the baby with a Christian adoption agency.
While holding her baby for the last time in the hospital, she dedicated her little girl, blessing her with a long life, and giving her to the Lord for protection, care and keeping.
Matthew 1:20-22 But after he had considered this, an angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name of Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the LORD had said through the prophet.
Chapter 76 (pages 242-244) – A Black Angel in Hawaii
Frankie Walker related another angelic encounter in Hawaii. While based in Oahu, a friend invited her to a street music festival in downtown Honolulu. They found a large crowd, which continued to increase rapidly, so that bodies were being pressed against each other. The ladies began to panic and find a way out, but the crowd was from one sidewalk to the other. There were no alleys or cross streets in sight, and all the buildings were closed for the evening, so there was no way out.
They felt panic begin to grip the crowd. In the heat and the press, people began to faint and were carried along with the crowd because there was no place to lie down. Meanwhile, more people were trying to get into the festival from both ends, thus blocking the crowd from leaving the area. Frankie almost lost her footing; to fall in that crowd would have been disastrous. She began to pray that the crowd wouldn’t panic. She saw fear on many faces and felt that many people might have a breakdown. It was the worst mob scene she had ever witnessed. She continued to pray for help and a way out of the crowd,
All of a sudden she felt that she was no longer being pushed or jostled. Behind her was a tall, distinguished looking, clean cut, well-groomed black man, with peace and calm on his face. He stood head and shoulders above the crowd. He was completely relaxed and moved with wonderful grace. The jostling crowd didn’t budge him a bit. He acted as the ladies’ guard so no one brushed against them. He didn’t say a word, simply nodded and smiled and stayed behind them for nearly an hour until they came to a clearing and could escape. He never moved from being their guardian the whole time.
As they got clear of the crowd, Frankie turned to thank him but he was gone. Not more than a few seconds before she had looked at him. The ladies searched everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found. He wasn’t in the crowd, or they would have seen him, because he was so tall. Then Frankie knew he had been an angel sent to protect them.
Frankie asked a policeman standing nearby about the situation, and he said it was a miracle that no one had panicked to the point of screaming, or many could have been trampled. She asked him if he had seen their ‘guide,’ but he said, “Only you two ladies.”
Psalm 91:9-10 If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the LORD, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent,
Chapter 77 (pages 245-247) Angels on Guard
In East Africa, during the Mau Mau riots in 1956, a band of roving Mau Maus surrounded and massacred the village of Lauri, 300 men, women and children. Less than three miles away was the Rift Valley School, a private school for missionary children. Phil, son of missionary Morris Plotts, remembers the Mau Maus heading their way with spears, bows and arrows, clubs and torches.
The teachers and children had nowhere to flee, so their only choice was to pray. Soon a ring of lighted torches surrounded the school, as the Mau Maus shouted and cursed. Suddenly, when they were within a spear’s throw, they stopped and ran away!
When the army arrived, they searched for the rebels and captured the entire band, including the leader. At their trial, the leader confessed to the Lauri massacre and their intent to do the same at the Rift Valley School. When the judge asked why they didn’t attack the school, he said they had seen huge men dressed in white with flaming swords. (He had never heard of Christ or angels). Later, the schoolteachers and children said they had never seen their angelic guards, only the fleeing terrorists.
Chapter 78 (pages 248-250) – The Little Old Lady Angel
In 1990, a missionary and her friend were walking through the Arab Quarter in Jerusalem when a missile struck. Suddenly an Arab merchant running with a large, heavily loaded cart hit her in the back. She was knocked down, stunned, in pain and in shock. Another Arab merchant helped her and apologized. Finally, she stood and said, “Lord, by Your stripes I am healed.” Others were amazed that she could stand.
Then a little old lady stepped up to her, held her hands, and said “Peace!” with a look of compassion. Instantly her strength returned, the pain was gone, and the shock left her. The missionary turned to thank the kind Arab merchant, then back to thank the lady, but she had vanished! She had disappeared while holding her hands!
Malachi 4:2 But for you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.
Chapter 79 (pages 251-253) – Two African Angels
A Sudanese missionary couple with four children had often provided refuge for many other missionaries, especially the Sudan Interior Mission. The ruling Muslim government demanded their presence in the mission to divert attention from the foreign missionaries.
In 1989, the couple were preparing to emigrate with three of their children. Amir, their adopted son, age 4, was taken from them and placed with a Muslim family. (Both Muslims and Christians believe in angels.)
One of their other children was sick. The mother was overwhelmed with worry, anxiety and fear, and fell asleep one night praying. She awoke to see a light coming in through the balcony doors, and two figures stood in front of the closed curtains. They were tall and wore traditional African floral turbans matching their long elaborate robes. They spoke softly in Sudanese. One of them said, “Do not be afraid.” The other said, “We are sent to encourage you. God wants you to know this: You ARE NOT ALONE! She asked, “Are you angels? If you are, then come and stand behind the big chair.” To her amazement, they glided and danced their way to the chair. They were beautiful and silhouetted against the light they brought with them. She sensed a great peace from God. She asked, “Why are you dressed so?” The second angel replied, “This is how we were sent here,” clearly meaning to Africa where floral designs are very traditional. The other angel said. “You are loved, both you and your family. We encourage your faith because you encourage the helpless and insecure.” Then they disappeared gradually from her sight as silently as they had entered. She was alone again, but completely refreshed in body, mind and spirit. Now she could face the remainder of what was before them.
Daniel 10:4-7 On the 24th day of the first month, as I stood on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I saw a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it; but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.
Chapter 80 (pages 254-256) – What Big Guy?
Marvin Ellsworth, the pastor of an Indian mission church on a reservation in North Dakota, saw a teenage boy running down the road toward the mission. Marvin went out to meet him. The boy panted that a fight had broken out between two factions. He had called the sheriff, but he was out on another call and couldn’t come. About 35 people were involved. Since no one else was available, Marvin drove him in the van to the scene of the fight.
They all carried baseball bats, knives, clubs, lead pipes and guns. Marvin quickly and fervently prayed for protection and stepped out of the van. The fighting stopped immediately, and all the combatants turned their attention toward him. He spoke for about twenty minutes, saying things that he wasn’t sure where they came from, and quoted scriptures he didn’t even know. They all stood completely focused on him, still holding their weapons. They didn’t notice each other or care who their enemy was. The longer Marvin spoke, the bolder he felt. When he finished speaking, all the combatants quietly walked to their vehicles and drove away. There was no more fighting or even taunts.
The two leaders started talking to each other and motioned to Marvin, slowly walking toward him, as he backed up against the van. They stopped a few feet on either side of him, standing impassively, still carrying their weapons. They asked, “Tell us who is the great big guy who stood behind you while you were speaking and is now standing over there.” Marvin and the boy turned to look but didn’t see any big guy, then they realized that God had sent a guardian angel!
That incident marked the beginning of many good things at the church mission. Barriers were broken, and many of the Native Americans began attending the church with the pastor who had the “big guy” for protection!
2 Kings 6:16-17 ” Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Chapter 82 (pages 261-263) Does Anyone Care?
Arthur and Anna Berg were missionaries at Natsis-Rutchuru in the Kivi District of the Congo. For days, Anna and her daughter had been sick with malaria. Anna’s condition was so critical that Arthur called a group of Congolese Christians to join him in prayer for Anna. Later Arthur went outside and looked into the sky, wondering if anyone they knew in America knew of or cared about their predicament.
He went back inside, opened a hymn book, and began to sing “Was There Ever a Friend so True?” Suddenly the room was filled with indescribable music. He was no longer alone. Singing with him was a choir like none he had heard before or since. A strong presence was in the room. The Congolese Christians were still praying while the angels were singing in English about Jesus Christ, a Friend who was near.
The moment was interrupted by a Congolese who shouted, “Madame, anakufa! Madame, anakufa! (Madame is dying! Madame is dying!) Quickly Arthur ran to her bedside, not to witness her dying, but to see her hands raised in worship. The fever had broken! Her temperature had fallen. Their daughter, Agnes, was healed also! The next day both mother and daughter were able to resume normal activities. Later Anna said that in the middle of her suffering, what seemed like a ball of fire had touched her head and gone throughout her entire body.
Years later, after returning to America, a lady in Minneapolis, a friend of the family, asked him if they were in trouble at any time in the Congo. She had seen his face one time and was seized with a burden to pray for him. She did until she felt peace about his need. They learned that it was the exact night when Arthur had prayed.
All these events had taken place at the same time. When Arthur was out in the yard praying, when the African Christians were praying, and when the little lady in Minnesota was praying, the answer came. A choir of angels was sent to help a weary missionary and to restore a wife and daughter back to health. What an amazing God!
Chapter 91 (pages 289-281) – Angel Lookalike?
In 1969, Burt was driving with his family to Duluth, Minnesota. While driving along the Red Cliff Indian Reservation, Burt was strangely and strongly impressed to turn around and return to a small roadside park. They got out and sat at a picnic table to wait. Soon a man approached them, asking, “You’re Burt, aren’t you?” He had been crying. Burt asked him to sit down.
Bill, part Native American, told how his wife and daughter had died in a tragic auto accident in Oregon. He was so overcome with remorse and loneliness that he planned to take his life that day. Burt encouraged Bill to look to the Savior who could meet his needs, and shared God’s word with him. Burt prayed with him, and Bill opened his heart and invited Jesus Christ to come into his troubled life.
Then Burt asked, “How did you know my name?” Bill asked, “Don’t you remember? We were talking this morning in the lower park.” Burt replied, “I was a long way from here this morning.” “No, Burt, it was you. He looked just like you, except he was wearing a different shirt. And you told me to come to the upper park and wait for you.” Burt told Bill it couldn’t have been him, because he was visiting his mother in upper Michigan. Then Bill asked, ” Where are you from?” Burt said. ” I live in Springfield.” Bill replied, ” You told me this morning that you were from Missouri!”
Everyone who witnessed this unusual encounter is convinced that the person Bill had met that morning must have been an angelic messenger sent to keep Bill from his plans of suicide until Burt could talk and pray with him to invite the Savior into his life. Bill had been waiting all those hours for God’s human messenger to arrive!
Acts 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” |
The stories of angelic encounters was wonderful and encouraging to read. Loved it all!