several weeks later "The American Issue" announced that I had won first prize. As a result I received one bit of fan mail—a letter from Dr. Reuben A. Torrey of Los Angeles. It read: "I write to congratulate you. You have a real aptitude for Bible study, and when the time comes and you are old enough, I hope you will consider going to a Bible school. I trust you have already accepted Christ as your personal Savior. If you have not yet had this experi ence, I pray that you will." As a high school graduate I won a scholarship to Tulane University. Then, while wor.king in the Texas oil fields in the summer of 1920, I made a study of John 10:9 and a great spiritual experience came to me. It led to a full surrender to Christ and my subsequent call to preach. I felt in my soul that Cod would call me some day into evan gelistic work. With this conviction I boarded the train for Louisiana to tell my parents of the change that had come over me. It was five miles from the depot to our home and I walked, carry ing a heavy suitcase. As I headed down the road doubts began crowding my mind. Could I be mistaken? Where would I go from here? But just as I came to the front gate the rural mail carrier ar rived, bringing a letter addressed to me. The letter was from Dr. Torrey and it read, "My dear Oscar: About four years ago I wrote you a letter in which I stated that when the time came, I hoped you would think about going to a Bible school. By now I trust Christ has become a living Savior to you. We would be
happy if you felt led to come to the Bible Institute of Los Angeles." I could hardly believe my eyes! It seemed as if God himself had timed the letter. In a few days I sold my horse, saddle and bridle for $85 and boarded the Southern Pacific train for Los Angeles. Sev eral weeks later I caught my first glimpse of Dr. Torrey. A fellow stu dent pointed him out to me. There he was, sure enough, standing erect outside the classroom, eagle- eyed, trim white beard, gray suit, winged collar, big watch chain, and Bible and doctrine book under his arm. With the rapid strides of a younger man, he walked down the long aisle to the speaker's stand. The class applauded. He turned, lifted his hand, and with a clear, somewhat metallic voice said, "Let us pray." One day there was a notice in my mailbox. It indicated that I should report to the dean's office. I put on my other shirt, straightened my tie, donned my only coat, and went to the dean's office in fear and trembling. As I entered Dr. Torrey arose and came toward me with extended hand, a smile lighting up his kingly countenance. "You are Oscar Sanden from Louisiana?" "Yes, sir." He asked me questions concerning my spiritual experience and looked over my high school record. "Why did you not proceed to Tulane?" he asked. "Because you invited me to come here," I said. "I want to become an evangelist." He cautioned me against an early decision. "Follow Cod's leading, step by step, and you will find the way," he said. After a short prayer, another handshake and a "God bless you," I was out in the hallway
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