A CON TEM PO RARY P A L L
By Margaret Anderson
leaders of Norway, who is also an author of renown, having written several books that have been translated into the Eng lish language and are widely circulated.
1 ^ \ R . ROOD,” a tall young man 1 began, as he stepped forward •*-'* to greet the guest speaker at the close of the gospel service, “Did you know that you were my grand-dad?” “ Come now—you must be mistaking me for someone else!” “ Oh, no, I’m not! You said in your message that you were the spiritual father of our pastor. Well, I consider Pastor Wally my spiritual father. Doesn’t that make me your spiritual grand-child?” Similar experiences have been almost everyday occurrences to Dr. Paul Rood as he has traveled from place to place. His greatest delight has been to meet those whom it had previously been his privilege to win for Christ. Dr. Rood’s life-long passion has been to preach the Word to every nation. “ I want souls with me from every part of the world,” he declares. In. this desire he has succeeded to a great extent, for in his travels here and in other lands, he has proclaimed the salvation of Christ in Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Belgium, Sweden, Norway and Denmark; in Can ada and Alaska; in Panama, Costa Rica and Jamaica; and in our own country in all but four of the states of the Union. Dr. Rood has made two trips to Eu rope. On his first trip in 1946 he traveled under the auspices of the Mission Coven ant Church, which, next to the State Church, is the group that has the largest number of members in Sweden. While in Sweden it was his unique privilege to attend the Sodertalje conference, a con ference similar to the Keswick Confer ence in England. Here Dr. Rood learned to know Prince Bernadotte, then 96, who was the conference leader. This humble man of God preached the gospel and dealt individually with people about their relation to God. When Dr. Rood visited the Covenant Church in Nassjo, he examined a large bound book called “ Spiritual Birthday Book,” which contained the testimonies of many prominent Christians. Prince Bernadotte had written: “ Saved in the Norwegian Sailor’s Church in Amster dam in 1885. It was a Sunday service and the text was Matt. 8:1-13. Thank you, Lord, for Your wonderful grace!” His wife, Princess Edda Bernadotte, had written: “ Jesus met me in England during the spring of 1884 and saved me. He has been faithful and has kept me all these years even though I have often failed Him.” These testimonies were dated November 7, 1945. The two interviews that Dr. Rood cherishes most from his visit to Norway are especially significant. One was with Professor Hallesby, one of the spiritual APRI L, 1 9 5 2
“ From Dr. Carl Hanson, professor of logic and philosophy at North Park Col lege, I learned how to reason and think. He truly influenced my habits of study and concentration upon a task. “ From Dr. Dixon, former pastor of Moody Church and later pastor of Spur geon’s Tabernacle in London, I learned that though a gospel message could ap peal to the mind, it must also warm the heart. Truly he was my ideal!” Dr. Paul Rood was born in Barnum, Minnesota. Later the family moved to Duluth and then on to Portland, Oregon. For a short time he attended Sunday school in Duluth and it was there that the first seed of God’s Word, sown by faithful teachers, found lodgment in his heart. Being the oldest of eight children, at the age of fourteen, Dr. Rood had to quit school and go to work. One day a fellow-worker in a factory asked Paul if he were a Christian. Paul answered in the affirmative. “ But are you a born-again Christian?” and Paul had to admit that he was not. For a whole month he lived under the weight of severe conviction. Then one evening he chanced into a small neigh borhood church which was conducting re vival meetings. The preacher used as his text, “ Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Paul responded to the invitation to accept Christ that night and almost immediately, though he had previously been interested in political affairs, God called him to be a statesman for Him! Dr. Rood enjoys telling about one of his first preaching services. One evening when his folks were away, Paul gather ed fiis three sisters for a gospel service. Dynamically he preached to the girls on the text, “ The Prodigal Son!” When he finally dismissed the meeting, he an nounced another service to be held the very next time his folks went away. “H’m,” one of the girls chided, “ You don’t have to think you are so good. There are only three of us here, and two of us are sleeping!” Recognizing his need for adequate training, Dr. Rood entered North Park College in Chicago and was graduated in 1911. In 1932 he was the recipient of Wheaton College’s Doctor of Divinity degree. In 1940 he received his L.L.D. from John Brown University. Dr. Rood met his wife, Neva Nystrom, while he was serving the Covenant Church in La Grange, Illinois. She was the church organist and he lived in her home! It is difficult to tell whether it was her culinary skill or her musical ability that finally won him to her. A swift appraisal of his physical stature and the former is assumed. Mrs. Rood Page Nine
Dr. Paul Rood
It is said that Madame Chiang Kai-shek at one time purchased a hundred copies of his book, “ Prayer,” to give to her friends. An audience with King Haakon had been arranged by friends. Dr. Rood was most graciously received by this man so greatly loved and respected by the Nor wegian people. Dr. Rood sensed a real concern for spiritual things and recog nized the king as an able student of the Bible. Wherever Dr. Rood has traveled he has been privileged to minister to Child Evangelism groups as well as to Youth for Christ gatherings. When in Europe in 1950, Dr. Rood, as secretary of the Committee on Evangelism at the Youth for Christ International Convention, wrote the manifesto adopted by the con vention. Because Dr. Rood likes to give credit where credit is due, he mentions four men, particularly, who have influenced his life. He says, “ Dr. W. B. Riley was a Christian war rior, an able debater and defender of what he thought was right. Yet he was always a courteous gentleman. It was Charles Trumbull, former editor of the Sunday School Times, who taught me the human side of the Christian life. Trum bull was an intellectual giant who stressed the victorious life. I am indeed grateful for the years of fellowship we enjoyed.
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online