Sam Wolgemuth’s Tribute

None of us would be here this morning if Grace had not said “yes.”

Grace Wolgemuth was born into a large God-fearing family, the 3^rd of 8 children. Tall and beautiful, she was a spirited girl who loved sports, especially basketball and track where she competed wearing a skirt and her prayer cap.

By her mid-30s, her life was almost idyllic. She had a loving marriage to the man of her dreams, a house on a hilltop, and four beautiful children ages 3 to 10.

Her husband, Sam, pastored a church and was the youngest bishop ever in his denomination. Together they were leading a community of faith and building a profitable business, since the church didn’t compensate pastors in those days.

All of a sudden, her world changed. Sam discovered Youth For Christ and an opportunity to take the Good News to young people all over the world. For him, it was a call from God and he was excited.

Mom was not. She too was called, but for her the call was to sell all she had and go to Japan, an unknown and frightening place—just 6 years after the war.

She was deeply troubled. This was not what she had dreamed of, not what she wanted. She resisted at first, pleaded with God and asked for a promise. He gave her the words of Psalm 91,

God shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

With confidence in a loving God, she said yes as an act of worship and that changed everything.

None of this would be happening today if she had not had the courage to trust God and say yes.

Because she did say yes…We are getting letters from all over the world, with comments like this: “We are what and who we are today, because of the tremendous love, sacrifices and resources that Aunty Grace and the late Dr. Sam invested in our lives and ministry.” The writer, from Sierra Leone, was one of the large crop of YFC leaders who were inspired and nurtured by Sam and Grace.

As she told it, saying yes to God at that time was one of the most difficult things Mother ever did. She chose to go into the unknown by putting herself into the loving arms of the One she could see only with the eyes of faith.

The decision Grace made to say yes has marked my life and that of my brothers and sisters by opening our eyes to the world, catching the vision of God at work everywhere, and giving us a life-long desire to be part of it.

There may be times when we are called to go to what appears to be an unattractive place with no idea of what lies ahead. But, by her example, Grace showed us that there is no greater joy than following the Master. We are deeply grateful for the lesson this picture of obedience is to us, to our children, to their children and to those yet unborn.

– Sam Wolgemuth, Son
March 26, 2010