After spending four years in the U.S. Navy during World War II, I had great joy and elation when the war ended. But then things began to happen that started to trouble me—the Korean conflict, riots in South America, the Kent State incident. How could that happen so soon after WWII?

I attempted to read the Bible, but was not able to understand it so I shut it up. I tried to pray, but did not know how. I tried again saying, “If there is a God up there, I need help.”

In 1958, I saw an ad in a farmers magazine offering three booklets and a subscription to The Plain Truth. The amazing thing was that this was offered free of charge as it was paid for by others (Matthew 10:8; 2 Corinthians 11:7).

I didn’t realize it at the time, but God was answering my prayer. Soon I was studying the 52 lessons of the Bible Correspondence Course. I sent for more booklets and began to listen to the radio program where I heard, “Don’t believe me, believe your Bible.”

The seed had been planted! As I studied I was beginning to understand how Jesus was moved with compassion for people. I wanted what Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 1:3, “May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ love you and give you peace.” In my life I had seen a lot of suffering, including the death of my wife shortly after we were both baptized. This wonderful knowledge helped me change my life and I wanted to make it available to help others.

As time went on, a door opened for me to distribute The Plain Truth. I always believed that the best measure of success we can use is to read the letters to the editor: When our media helps people create happy homes, the work is bearing fruit.

Passing on literature can change lives. My second wife Norma left her church she had attended for 40 years and went God’s way after her brother gave her some Plain Truth magazines to read.

Small and large doors continued to open. I approached a local hospital administrator to explain that The Plain Truth was a magazine of understanding that could help change lives or even comfort people (Matthew 25:36). I suggested he take it home and look it over. I prayed for God’s blessing, and when I called on him the next day he said it was a wonderful magazine; he allowed me to distribute it through the hospital waiting rooms. Although a door had opened it soon closed as by 1995 there were so many changes and it was no longer in print.

The Good Newswas now our flagship publication, and there was no way to distribute it. After a few years, God opened another door. Our local newspaper the Post Bulletinwas installing several metal boxes with hinged glass doors in our downtown mall. The rent was $10 per month per box. I brought the idea to our pastor who said, “Let’s go for it!”

It was exciting to check our news stand to see how many were being picked up. It started slowly with about 25, then 35, with a maximum of 50 a month, but didn’t improve much beyond that.

It was then that thePost Bulletin called to offer a different spot that had opened up at a local grocery store. He said, “You won’t be able to keep it filled.” That was not quite true, but we have distributed more than 400 per month and never less than 200. It depends on the cover and the time of year. Sometimes our presence is not always well received. We have found other literature on top of ours and notes with less than intelligent comments on them, but we simply turn it over to the Post Bulletinto correct.

We are sometimes asked why we labor at distributing The Good News. That question has already been answered: to help change lives.

Yes, we pray that peoples lives can be changed for the better, but we also pray that some may be called, hopefully even through some of our efforts (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).