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Old Man Preacher Willingham: His Life and Legacy
Kidnapped, deprived, and beaten. In a life marked by trauma, could he find faith and a heart full of God’s love?Born in 1902, Wesley Frank Willingham was stolen by his aunt and uncle, who saw a chance to have a newborn baby. After their deaths, a neighbor grudgingly took Wesley into his home. For six years, Wesley was regularly abused, given scraps to eat, and forced to do chores barefooted, even in freezing weather. After he endures a brutal beating, he makes a decision that will affect the rest of his life.Follow the journey of Wesley as he finds shelter and safety with a caring family. Accepting Jesus as his Savior, Wesley’s love for God transforms him into a man who loved people and led many to salvation in Jesus Christ.In a deep dive into a man who overcame hardship and abuse, his daughter Frankie Willingham Wyatt and co-author Margaret Sorensen trace his humble beginnings as a stolen baby through a difficult youth and into a career as a born-again witness. Seeing Wesley’s love for God transform him and experiencing his testimony of hope and purpose will light a path for readers in their own journey with the Lord.Old Man Preacher Willingham is a moving Christian biography written as an endearing memorial. If you like real-life stories, inspirational accounts, and exceptional examples, then you’ll adore this heartwarming tale of redemption and faith.
91 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 31, 2022
This is a story that needed to be told and I am so glad his daughter shared it. Against the odds and despite a very challenging upbringing in the early 1900s, is this remarkable and incredibly heart-warming story of a man after God’s own heart. This is a story that takes you back in time to what life was really like over a century ago, with the hardships then endured, and it keeps you entranced; I could not put this book down.
Wesley Willingham, a man who never knew a stranger, is the type of person you can’t help but to love. He is sociable, hard-working, with an unwavering commitment to his family and God. Wesley was saved as a young person during a tent revival experience, and it was his mission thereafter to share the good news with all others who would listen.
Yet his childhood was anything but easy. His mother died when he was nine days old. He was kidnapped by his aunt and uncle until their passing. When no one would take him in (because it was an impoverished area and people couldn’t afford another child), he was brought in and abused by a family who made him sleep on the hard floor, and would not provide him with appropriate clothing or food.
Despite the trauma, Wesley was a fierce force for the Lord, obedient to his calling – whether it was his sewing business, store or restaurant, or preaching the good news. His passion for the Lord was highly contagious as he led many to Christ.
Some of the really touching aspects of this biography include when he encounters his former abuser, the miraculous story of his wife's son Junior who fell out of a window, as well as when his children would overhear him pray. One of his daughters loved it when she heard him pray her name.
I also loved how the authors shared a sermon from him at the end. We learned his story as we read this biography, and then we get to hear his exact words. How exciting is that!
This book encouraged me on several levels:
1. As a devout Christian, reading this made me want to be that much more passionate about sharing my faith. Why would we want to keep the good news to ourselves?
2. It reinforced to me how relationships often are the key mechanism behind leading people to Christ; I admire those who can share the good news with anyone like Wesley did.
3. The power and effectiveness of prayer. Are you praying for your family, loved ones, and/or for those who don't know the Lord?
4. It caused me to reflect on my role as a father. Am I fully devoted to God and my family? And just as Wesley’s father never stopped searching for him, we also serve a God and father who never stops loving us.
5. It reminds me that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. We serve an awesome God.
This was an extremely inspiring tale, and I am so thankful to have been blessed by reading it. I highly recommend this story to anyone who wants to relax and be inspired by taking a step back in time to immerse themselves in this captivating true story.
Wesley Willingham, a man who never knew a stranger, is the type of person you can’t help but to love. He is sociable, hard-working, with an unwavering commitment to his family and God. Wesley was saved as a young person during a tent revival experience, and it was his mission thereafter to share the good news with all others who would listen.
Yet his childhood was anything but easy. His mother died when he was nine days old. He was kidnapped by his aunt and uncle until their passing. When no one would take him in (because it was an impoverished area and people couldn’t afford another child), he was brought in and abused by a family who made him sleep on the hard floor, and would not provide him with appropriate clothing or food.
Despite the trauma, Wesley was a fierce force for the Lord, obedient to his calling – whether it was his sewing business, store or restaurant, or preaching the good news. His passion for the Lord was highly contagious as he led many to Christ.
Some of the really touching aspects of this biography include when he encounters his former abuser, the miraculous story of his wife's son Junior who fell out of a window, as well as when his children would overhear him pray. One of his daughters loved it when she heard him pray her name.
I also loved how the authors shared a sermon from him at the end. We learned his story as we read this biography, and then we get to hear his exact words. How exciting is that!
This book encouraged me on several levels:
1. As a devout Christian, reading this made me want to be that much more passionate about sharing my faith. Why would we want to keep the good news to ourselves?
2. It reinforced to me how relationships often are the key mechanism behind leading people to Christ; I admire those who can share the good news with anyone like Wesley did.
3. The power and effectiveness of prayer. Are you praying for your family, loved ones, and/or for those who don't know the Lord?
4. It caused me to reflect on my role as a father. Am I fully devoted to God and my family? And just as Wesley’s father never stopped searching for him, we also serve a God and father who never stops loving us.
5. It reminds me that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. We serve an awesome God.
This was an extremely inspiring tale, and I am so thankful to have been blessed by reading it. I highly recommend this story to anyone who wants to relax and be inspired by taking a step back in time to immerse themselves in this captivating true story.
February 10, 2022
I imagine this biography developed almost by itself through the love and respect of family and friends of Old Man Preacher Willingham. I enjoyed reading every bit of it and must credit all of the people involved in pulling it together.
The Preacher was a man in hard times with challenging life experiences who surely left this world with his soul intact to join our heavenly Father. And he will surely have many souls following him there.
I sincerely wish I had met him and now almost feel as if I had. I particularly appreciated the transcript of The Preacher’s sermon ‘What God Won’t Do’ included in the appendix.
The Preacher was a man in hard times with challenging life experiences who surely left this world with his soul intact to join our heavenly Father. And he will surely have many souls following him there.
I sincerely wish I had met him and now almost feel as if I had. I particularly appreciated the transcript of The Preacher’s sermon ‘What God Won’t Do’ included in the appendix.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews