Saving Souls

And, Lindsay, I thought that if people would do that, I ought to do something nice for them.  And something happened that was absolutely miraculous.  Sam Butcher, our friend

LR: Of Precious Moments.

RR:  who is the founder and creator of Precious Moments up in Carthage, Missouri, has created something that is based on something that happened after he read my father’s book.  Sam had come down to Tulsa to receive an honorary doctorate a year and a half ago from Oral Roberts University.  And Sam is a friend of Oral Roberts University

LR: Yes, he is.

RR:  and I want Sam to tell the story himself of exactly what happened.  We sent one of our crew up to Carthage, Missouri for Sam to tell the story of what he created and what we’re going to give.  And Sam’s made this possible.  In fact, this is the first time Sam’s ever done anything like this.  He’s made

LR: Let him explain.  Okay, let him explain.

RR: Okay.  Let me take you to Carthage, Missouri and let Sam Butcher explain to you for himself.

LR: Yeah.

SAM BUTCHER: Precious Moments is very down-to-earth.  I believe that whoever honors the Lord that the Lord will bless, and especially He’ll bless His Word.  And a lot of the figurines certainly declare His Word.

I had an opportunity to visit the Oral Roberts University for a special occasion, and it was there that I met Oral Roberts.  And he presented me with this book, and I happened to be on my way to Asia to work with a company over there and he had dedicated this book to me, so I took it and read it on the plane.

And the thing that really struck me was the life of his parents and how very simplistic they were and how very sweet their faith was in the Lord, and especially his mother and how completely dedicated she was in her faith in dedicating him actually before he was born.

And I just thought of other mothers like her and especially her act.  And I thought to myself, you know, everyone knows Oral Roberts, but what about the mother?  She was truly a dedicated and wonderful Christian.  The thing that touched me so much was how he said as a child he could hear them praying, and they would be talking to their heavenly Father as though He was there close as breath.

And I thought, how beautiful this couple, I mean, here these people don’t even realize that someday they’re going to have a very famous son.  So I just wanted to show her not only as carrying the burden of his burden through her prayers, but also carrying this one on her back because she loved him.