• God's Detour

  Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 31, 2009 (message contributor)

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  Scripture:  None

  Tags:  Disappointment

  Denomination: Wesleyan

GOD'S DETOUR

The year was 1920. The scene was the examining board for selecting missionaries. Standing before the board was a young man named Oswald Smith. One dream dominated his heart. He wanted to be a missionary. Over and over again, he prayed, "Lord, I want to go as a missionary for you. Open a door of service for me." Now, at last, his prayer would be answered.

When the examination was over, the board turned Oswald Smith down. He did not meet their qualifications. He failed the test. Oswald Smith had set his direction, but now life gave him a detour. What would he do?

As Oswald Smith prayed, God planted another idea in his heart. If he could not go as a missionary, he would build a church that could send out missionaries. And that is what he did. Oswald Smith pastored The People’s Church in Toronto, Canada, which sent out more missionaries than any other church at that time. Oswald Smith brought God into the situation, and God transformed his detour into a main thoroughfare of service.