WHEN Rev. Leonard Davis had three church members die within a days of each other, he knew he’d be officiating a few funerals. He didn’t anticipate, however, what resulted from such a difficult stretch of time.
One 89-year-old gentleman who attended Hickory Corners Wesleyan Church in Hickory Corners, Mich., passed away at 11:00 on a Thursday morning. Three hours later, a woman from the church passed away. She was 96.
On Monday of that next week he preached at the elderly man’s funeral. Near the funeral’s conclusion, he clearly presented the gospel. Four attendees, including a grandson of the deceased gentleman, placed their faith in Christ after hearing the message.
Rev. Davis spent some time with friends, family, and acquaintances of the woman who passed later that same Thursday. He reports that three people connected to the woman, including a caregiver, placed their faith in Christ—this after weeks of spiritually-related conversations.
Just days later, a middle-aged man (age 49) suffered a major heart attack, and according to Rev. Davis, “he had been away from God for some time.”
He was in “very bad shape” and in an induced coma. One day, Rev. Davis had the urge to visit the gentleman in his hospital room. Although sedated, a nurse said the patient would be able to hear should Rev. Davis want to talk to him.
“I took him by the hand and told him that if he could hear me, squeeze my hand,” said Rev. Davis. He did so. Rev. Davis then said he was concerned as to whether the gentleman would go to heaven once his life was complete. He told the patient that he would pray with him if he wanted to place his faith in Christ.
Rev. Davis asked if he had prayed that prayer silently along with him and indicated for the patient to squeeze his hand if he had done so. The gentleman squeezed the pastor’s hand indicating that he had placed his faith in Christ. The patient died the next day.
The Michigan pastor was honored to be part of so many placing their faith in Jesus, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. Wesleyan Life
