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2859 John Paul Kejick

Ojibwa Indian, Alcoholism, Suicide

John Paul is born in a small village near Ottawa, Canada. He and older siblings are sent to a church school and forced to learn English. At 16 he returns home, starts drinking at 17 and becomes a drunkard. He feels so hopeless he attempts suicide, is sent to a psychiatric hospital for nine months. Goes back to drinking. Then he passes out in a January snowstorm and loses three fingers to frostbite. A Christian couple takes him to a retreat and cares for him. As he studies the Bible, his thirst for alcohol vanishes. He is saved and baptized in 1985, goes to Bible school and is still serving Christ.

2871 Bill Marshall

Bill’s father is a cowboy whose drunken abuse drives Bill to drink and use drugs. A school counselor is no help. After his father yanks an earring from Bill’s ear and throws him out, Bill uses intravenous drugs and his life spirals down. He marries Pam and they have two daughters, but his drinking, drugs and neglect drive her away. A cousin who urges him to go to church and a couple that gives him a New Testament lead to his conviction and salvation. God restores his marriage, and he goes to Bible college. Now an evangelist.

2870 John Ruhlman Classic

John is a hopeless drunk with eight children, whose wife, Sophie, stands by him. Told through daughter Grace, who sees her mother pray against all odds, John goes to a revival one night, where his old drinking buddy leads him to Christ. John and Bob start a church, and John visits a Tuscarora Indian Reservation where he becomes pastor, serving for 27 years. He adopts orphaned Indian boys, serving until he dies at 75.

2869 Merlyn Dillow

Merlyn pretends to be saved when he is fifteen just to impress his girlfriend. He likes to drink and surf and does poorly in school. He works in a grocery store where a Christian witnesses to him, but Merlyn disdains the gospel. He meets Joyce and they marry while both are in different high schools. His drinking drives her away after their daughter is born, but they reunite. He works at a paper mill and goes out drinking after his shift. Through her job at a bank, Joyce meets a preacher having revival, and Joyce persuades Merlyn to attend. On the last day he is saved. He’s now in prison ministry.