March Mercy Bonus

March 7, 2024

Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:6-8

3/7/2024

March Mercy

This is Bruce Wheeler who heard Aaron Keller, Field Missionary, preach last Sunday at church. After the service, Bruce found Aaron and shared that he had attended a Good News Club as a kid and had to let Aaron know since he had talked about Good News Club during the sermon. He even shared that the first Bible he ever had was given to him by his Good News Club teacher, AND he still had it! When Aaron shared this at lunch on Monday I asked him if he could ask Bruce to share his experience and get a picture of the Bible. Not only was Bruce willing, he came to the office yesterday and I just couldn’t wait until Monday to share his story.

Bruce’s Story – In His Own Words

A brief Testimonial from a “graduate” of the Good News Club, 1974, Redding, California…

I was critically injured in a bicycle accident/crash and had multiple neurosurgeries, which resulted in having a metal plate with five screws “installed/configured“ into my right frontal skull. This required 168 “steel- stiches” much akin to a guitar string, to hold things in place. However, the steel would get rather bloody & rusty, which then required removal and replacement, at 21-30 day intervals, to avoid serious infections.(a horrific experience for an 8 yr old!) Basically a modern day sort of “Humpty-Dumpty” story.

The gifted neurosurgeon was a Christian and helped guide me to our local Good News Club, knowing my insecurities and embarrassing “visual” condition at only 8 years old. With a shaved head to avoid infection there were many “bullies” whom greatly enjoyed the daily harassment of my very Frankenstein optics. This is when I was introduced to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ: March 28, 1974! Thanks to an amazing and devoted Christian Family for hosting weekly meetings of Good News Club for the local neighborhood kids, which resulted in my accepting Christ as my King of Kings and Lord of Lords! ( Best Bday Gift EVER!)

While decades passed and I became another everyday sinner, I ALWAYS knew just where to go , when the pains and pressures of life had the upper- hand upon me. With all of life’s many hurts, habits & hang-ups I was so very fortunate to always have my most beloved & prized possession…

My very first BIBLE, given to me a week after my birthday, from the Good News Club!

In conclusion, fifty years have now passed and I find myself now 59 years old!? Wow.

Two weeks before my birthday My best Gift is STILL my most prized possession and stands as the very first brick in my “Christian Faith-Foundation” built upon the ROCK, Gods Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ!

My Faith has never been stronger and after a half-century of faults & failures, I can say with certainty, that indeed, had I not been introduced to Christ at Good News Club, as a child, I often wonder when & where might I have learned of this “Free Gift of Eternal Life” without such a firm foundation laid out before me. All thanks to Good News Club! Praise the Lord and All Glory be to God, our Father in Heaven.

With a humble & happy heart,

Bruce Sinclair Wheeler

I hope you are moved as much as I was when I heard Bruce’s testimony. He shared so much more than this about how much he loved and honored his parents, about his love and concern for his four children today and how grateful he is that God sought him out and saved him as a young boy in Good News Club.

Did you catch the part about his neurosurgeon guiding him to a Good News Club?

His doctor was a Christian and even prayed with him in the hospital when his parents couldn’t be with him. The doctor didn’t teach in the GNC, but he cared enough for Bruce and his eternal future that he connected him to the GNC in his neighborhood.

If you zoom in you can read the precious note Bruce’s GNC teacher wrote to encourage him, and it has for 50 years!

Do you know that YOU can make an eternal difference to a child

by helping us with a March Mercy donation so more children can meet Jesus too?

Bruce had so much joy when he shared his story, even when I had tears in my eyes, as he spoke about the accident and the terrible things he suffered after months in the hospital and as a target for bullying at school.

Not everyone is called to volunteer in a Good News Club, but everyone is called to tell others about Jesus so they can experience eternal life when they believe in Him.

Will you help us by making a donation now?

Make Your March Mercy Donation

Please pray each day for the Lord’s mercy on this fundraising effort.

And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. Ezra 3:11