A Newfoundland pastor tells how seeing God
work in his childhood enabled him to trust God
without reservation.

By Rene Cassell

My blessings began when I was just one month old, when my mother was saved. Shortly after that, my dad was saved too, so from my earliest remembrance, my upbringing was Christian oriented. Nevertheless, like every person, I was born with a sinful nature. As I grew to the age of accountability, I began to do things I knew were not right. At eight years old, sitting in a Gospel meeting, the Lord started dealing with my heart. I did not know what the word “conviction” meant, but I knew that a drawing force was urging me to pray. At the same time, though, another voice said, “If you do, the other boys will laugh at you.” This created a war in my heart. When that service was over and I went outside, the drawing force seemed to leave. I felt good again, but it did not last long.

A few months later, a disease came upon my face, gradually spreading to other parts of my head and to my hands. Eventually I had to be taken out of school and isolated to a degree, because it was not certain whether or not my condition was contagious. As time went by, the affliction grew worse. The only part of my face that looked natural was my eyes. We lived in a remote community in Newfoundland where there was no doctor or nurse, so we relied upon the remedies suggested by the older people. Instead of getting better, however, the condition grew worse.

Prayer for healing

One Christmas night, my mother decided to take me to the church. There, I was seated on a chair that was placed in the center aisle. The pastor anointed me with oil, and the people began to pray for me. It was at this time that, in a childlike way, I gave my heart to the Lord. The next morning, instead of using medications, my mother said she would use only clean water to wash my face. As I was washed, it became apparent that the Lord had touched and healed me. After the Christmas recess, I was able to go back to school, with my face clean of that disease.

From then on, something registered in my heart that I wanted to serve God. I knew what it was like to feel the presence of the Lord, and my heart was blessed many times during my school years. At the age of twenty-one, I went to the capital city of our province, St. John’s, to help with the music in the church, and I began seeking employment there. One day, after putting resumes at various locations, I received a call, offering me a job. However, when I went to the place, I found the position was with the Newfoundland Board of Liquor Control. I refused the job because I felt that it was against my personal convictions and against the church’s stand on liquor. I went back to the home where I was staying, and I prayed, asking the Lord to provide a job for me if it were His will for me to stay in St. John’s at that time. The next day I received two job offers and accepted a position as an insurance adjuster.

A deeper consecration

I kept active in church duties, assisting with the music and Sunday school. I really enjoyed salvation and became relaxed with what I had spiritually. In 1974, I heard a message that stirred my heart and helped me realize that I should be taking more time to seek for the deeper experiences. That night, I consecrated my life to the Lord, and He sanctified me.

I was then encouraged to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Being involved in so many things, I again did not really take the time to diligently seek Him. In 1978, I came to the Portland camp meeting, planning to get away from secular things and concentrate on the things of God. As I began to consecrate my life to the Lord, He showed me a picture of an empty pulpit and the unsaved people of my community. On the other side of the pulpit, He was holding out a white garment. The message was that if I were to wear that garment, I had to be willing to help those unsaved people. My first response was, “I cannot do that.” I began to bargain with God. I told Him that I would do a lot of other things in the church, but I did not want to be a minister. I was wrapped up in my job and the benefits it brought to me, and I loved the work I was doing. However, I could not bargain with God.

This went on for over two years. Sometimes I would seek and feel that I was close to receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many times I would be blessed, but I still did not receive this experience. In October of 1980, the desperation had grown to the point where I felt that whatever the Lord required of me, I was willing to give. He showed me the same vision of the empty pulpit and the unsaved people as He had shown me in Portland, and this time I said yes to God without reservation. My heart opened, and He poured in His Spirit. It was about 9:30 that night when I went to pray, and it was about 2:00 the next morning when we left the church. I do not know what it is like to be intoxicated with alcohol, but I know what it felt like to be intoxicated with the Holy Spirit. That is how I felt that night. I was not even stable enough to drive home.

A call from God

I had not revealed to anyone the call that God had placed upon my life, but the following Wednesday, the church District Overseer asked me to come to her office. Having sensed that the Lord was calling me to the ministry, she inquired if I had felt the call of God. I confirmed her thought, and she asked me to preach that Sunday night—just one week after I received my baptism.

For the next couple of years, I helped with the preaching in Bide Arm, and then I was asked to take on the pastor’s responsibilities there. I first responded that it would take about six months for me to taper off from my job, but I found it to be otherwise. One week later, I felt the urge to resign at once from my position. From that day to this, I have had no more love for that job, nor any intention of going back. I want to continue doing what the Lord has called me to do.

A trial of faith

Many times the burdens as a pastor have not been light, but the Lord has been there. Often my faith has been tested, but I am so thankful that God does not call us to something and then forsake us. One of my greatest trials began in 1986, when my assistant became ill. After only a few weeks, the Lord took her home. A short time later, our son was diagnosed with diabetes. Later in that same year, my brother, who was a musician and Sunday school teacher, was fatally injured. His sudden death, and the other occurrences of the previous months, were very hard for me.

The enemy was there, trying to tell me that I had made a mistake in becoming a part of the ministry. He told me to look at the trials I was now encountering. One night, despair seemed to have gripped my entire body. I got up from bed and went into my office to pray, but it seemed that no words would come. I reached for my Bible, and it fell open to the fortieth chapter of Isaiah. The first word I saw was “comfort,” and I realized that I needed to read on. As I did so, I felt strength coming back into my body. When I came to the latter part of the chapter, it said, “He giveth strength to the faint.” I realized that I was in that position. When I read the last verse, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,” the burden left, and I thanked the Lord for deliverance.

How grateful I am to the Lord for the many times He has helped our family. Almost six years ago, our two-year-old son was supposed to do the welcome greeting in the Christmas program. A little over one week before this program, he became ill and was unable to get his breath. We took him to the hospital at Roddickton, and they sent him by ambulance to a bigger hospital, where he was put into an oxygen tent. We were told later that the medical staff was unsure of whether or not he would pull through, but many people were praying. For more than a week, our son was in that oxygen tent in the intensive care unit. We held on in prayer. On the Sunday morning of the program, the doctor came by, and after examining our son, he marveled at the change that had occurred. He said to us, “You can take him home. He is okay to perform in the program.” We took him home, and that night he played his part in the program.

In recent years, my church responsibilities have become many, but I am so thankful for how the Lord gives strength and wisdom to deal with the various situations. Many times I have cause to marvel at how the Lord helps. I realize that I do not have the personal knowledge or wisdom to deal with some things, but when we wait upon God, He supplies our every need. I give Him the honor, and I want to serve Him the rest of my days.

Rene Cassell is Canada District Superintendent of the
Apostolic Faith work, and pastor of the church in
Roddicktown, Newfoundland.