Called down from the pulpit

This is more of a "called up" than a "called down".  When I was a freshman I was sitting on the front row at FBCH on a Wednesday night.  Yes, you heard correctly, the front row.  Dr. Hyles needed someone to illustrate a lamb being slain.  He looked around, pointed at me, and up on the platform I went. 

When I look back now I have to smile.  After the service I hurried back to the dorm, hustled to the phone at Baptist City, and called my parents to tell them of the wonderful event that had taken place in my life.  I had come to HAC from a small church in a farming community.  This was big stuff!  :)
 
On Sunday mornings I would usually have to leave during the invitation (yes, you heard that right) because the kids on the bus would kill each other or I would have to hustle off for another ministry I was in. I always tried to sit near the back and wait until his head was turned to get up and leave because I always knew what was coming. "Hey! The church service is not over! I can't stop you from leaving but I can darn sure make you uncomfortable doing it!" Heard that about 8 million times. The funny thing is that when I would get out in the hall I would see Dr. Evans, Ray Young, other college staff, Mr. Vogel, etc. Sometimes they were doing ministry stuff but sometimes they were just putting on their coats and leaving.
 
RAIDER said:
I was sitting in the balcony at FBCH.  Ray Boardway was leading a congregational song.  There was a couple sitting toward the upper part of the balcony near the middle of the auditorium.  They decided it was a good time to "make out".  Dr. Hyles spotted them, leaped from his chair, pushed Boardway to the side, and yelled, "Heeeeeyaaaa!!  Couple in the balcony, this is the church house and we don't behave like a bunch of barnyard animals!!  Now straighten up!"  Needless to say, the couple got up and walked out.  Classic Dr. Hyles!
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I tried doing that same thing once.......I was preaching for an athletic banquet for a local Christian school. There were (i was told afterwards) some 13 pastors & their wives present. While I was preaching a short message a couple in the back started lip-locking something seriously. I asked them to stop until I was finished. I had preached several times at that church & school including revival meetings in both.

One of the pastors called me the next day to tell me that the 2 kids I had called down were pastor's kids & had both grown up in that school. He said from the feedback he'd gotten that I would never be invited back to that school or church to preach & the same for the all the other except him. He booked me for a revival. He was right about all the others.....

I know I'm no Jackie-boy. I also know I may never have done that without his influence & example at FBCH.
 
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