THE SCRIPTURE UNION became a very strong force, particularly after the Civil War. A strong revival came out of the war in the East. People turned to God, people sought the face of God.
The revival swept through the South, got into schools and young people began to have tremendous experiences with God. This same thing began to happen in the FCS in the north.
That move became a nationwide thing. The baptism of the Holy Ghost was just coming on board then. Young people knew God, were hungry for God, and wanted to serve God.
Then, if you were a serious Christian, you were called SU. It was such a powerful move that many of the leaders in the church today are products of that SU revival.
That was when they met the Lord and the foundation for Christian service was laid. Then the revival moved into the universities.
THAT WAS WHEN the issues of doctrines began to come in right in the midst of the move. We had several teachers and so many messages that came in. It made people drop out of school because they felt Christ was going to come at such a time.
One of these teachers came to Nigeria. I attended some of his meetings; he was very strong on fasting. He had this book “Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer”. That was a classic book.
I don’t know whether the book is still available in print now but you know people had these ideas about wanting to fly, practising how to fly in readiness for the rapture. There were teachings on immortality.
I won’t say it was wrong, but the way people took it at the time, many went about teaching people how to smell Jesus, you know, seeing the Glory Cloud. Many funny things came in and caused some brethren to be carried away.
I tell you, people left school and wanted to go to America. People left and were going to meet Jesus in Phoenix Arizona. Even the extremes of the holiness message.
At that time you couldn’t sit beside a sister in a taxi. Sisters will sit this way in the fellowship (and brothers will sit on the other side). You couldn’t shake hands with sisters. Those were the kinds of things they were teaching then.
PA ELTON was just a different minister. He taught us what the kingdom is. He taught us the principles. He had a gospel that imparted society. He taught a gospel that was relevant. He taught us that the gospel can change things; that we can change our society. He taught about integrity, righteousness, and he prayed for the nation. He also taught on prosperity. He taught us about what mammon can do. He also taught on the manifestation of the sons of God, the gifts of the Spirit, and the authority of the believer.
He taught us to go to school. He told us to get higher degrees and one of the reasons I got my PhD was him. In those days, that was not necessary; but he said we should get into the profession, get the best training because we were going to need it in the future to change our society.
He was prophetic in his utterances. He had prophetic insight into what was going to happen in the country; coups and troubles the nation will come into. He said a lot about how the gospel will be promoted. He warned us about prosperity getting out of hand He warned about the American gospel.
He was open, and he was simple. He didn’t take money from us. He paid his own hotel bills. At 70 he was still driving himself. He never chanced anyone for anything. He was a man of means. He was blessed. He had funds.
He had money in foreign exchange but you wouldn’t know it. He supported people and ministries. He was a rallying point for all in ministry. He was a great father, he provided direction.