George Bennard
He wrote The Old Rugged Cross. He and his wife visited Emmanuel Mennonite Church of Downey, California in 1954, and they sang George's hymn, and then he preached the Gospel.
A fourth grade boy was sitting on the front row in awe. Just to think, that hymn I had sung so many times, and that nice old man wrote it. I was only a kid, but I still remember the moment, a rare epiphany for a young boy. My Dad took their picture, which you find [at right].
Many years later, the boy was a man and married, and he and his wife were on deputation speaking about their going to Ethiopia as missionaries. The church was Granville Bible Church in Michigan, just west of Grand Rapids.
After speaking in the evening service, Pastor Boger found me, and he had a very old frail lady in tow. He said she was the wife of George Bennard, and my jaw dropped. I had seen her back in fourth grade, and she showed the effects of over 90 years of her journey. George Bennard had died in 1958. She said she was so pleased to know we were going to the mission field, and she handed me a twenty dollar bill.
That was possibly the most precious gift I had every received. Some day, I will see them both in The Glory again, and we will sing The Old Rugged Cross for the Savior who died on that cross.
In one person's life, there are rare events that are beyond price. They are special moments God gives us that we never forget. They are given to us to fire our imagination, light the fire of passion, and send us on down the road feeling like God has been planning things so well for us. Do not let go of any of those moments. They are eternal, and all the actors will be there around the throne to welcome us to the eternal gathering in Heaven with our Lord.
- by Stephen Van Nattan
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Ephesians 5:18-19 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Hebrews 11:4 ...he being dead yet speaketh.
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