Words Of Life

Words Of Life

You never know when someone’s words will change your life.

NAMED AFTER his grandfather, Casper Wyrtzen was born in 1913 in Brooklyn. Teased about his name in high school, he changed it to “Jack.” His family occasionally attended the Unitarian church, but Wyrtzen grew up ridiculing religion. He dropped out of high school, joining the National Guard when he was eighteen.

In the Guard, Jack became friends with George Schilling, a heavy drinker. To everyone’s surprise at camp their second summer, Schilling was a different person, reading his Bible and kneeling beside his cot every night to pray. Jack and the others made fun of him, but secretly Jack admired his friend’s courage. Schilling persisted in handing Jack copies of the Gospel of John, and Jack persisted in tearing them up. Finally one day he read one of them.

Schilling asked Wyrtzen to play a trombone solo at a gospel service one night, and Wyrtzen agreed. Jack was upset by the preacher that night—so different from the gentle Unitarian pastors of his youth. This preacher pounded out a message of hellfire and brimstone that infuriated Jack. He left angry, but he couldn’t stop thinking, What if there is a heaven and hell?

That night alone in his bedroom he realized that his anger was because of his pride and fear. He considered the possibility that Jesus did love him. Had Christ died for him? Jack finally slipped to his knees and committed his life to Jesus Christ.

The next morning when Schilling called to apologize for the preacher’s words the night before, Jack responded, “When I got home, I got saved.” He immediately followed his friend’s example of daily Bible study and prayer but for several months told no one but Schilling of his new commitment, afraid that it would affect his dance band, the Silver Moon Serenaders, which had some prestigious gigs coming up. He was also quite sure that his girlfriend, Marge, would not be thrilled.

Several months later he received an astounding letter, “Honey, I’m saved, and I want you to be saved. But don’t get saved until I get home because I want to save you. Love, Marge.”

Amazed and delighted, Jack immediately sent a telegram back, “Dear Marge, Praise the Lord! I’ve been saved for the last few months, but I’ve been afraid to tell you. I’m so thankful the Lord has saved you. Jack.”

Later that year a friend told Jack that his brother had died in a car accident two weeks earlier. Jack shared the gospel with him, but it was received with hostility. The friend said, “If you knew all about this heaven thing and that hell is for real, how come you never told me or my brother about it? If my brother had known, he might have believed. He could have been in heaven right now. But you never said a thing!”

Deeply convicted, Jack prayed that night, “Lord, never again will someone that I know die without hearing the gospel.”

With George Schilling and two others, Wyrtzen began holding Sunday night evangelistic services in Brooklyn. Their vision enlarging, they contracted for thirteen Saturday night youth broadcasts on a powerful New York radio station. The first broadcast was on October 25, 1941, from the New York Gospel Tabernacle. At 7:30 P.M. these words rang out: “From Times Square New York, Word of Life presents Jack Wyrtzen with words of life for the youth of America.”

The rallies grew until twenty thousand filled Madison Square Garden in 1944 and forty thousand filled Yankee Stadium in 1948. Wyrtzen opened Word of Life Camp at Schroon Lake, New York, in 1947, and from there camps were established throughout the world.

God wonderfully changed Jack Wyrtzen’s life in order to change the lives of thousands of others.

Reflection

Jack Wyrtzen was driven by the desire to have everyone with whom he came in contact understand the gospel. After one missed opportunity, he never wanted to miss another. With whom do you believe God would have you share your faith? The first step is to start praying for them and then be ready to share when the opportunity comes.

I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes.

Romans 1:16