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High lights in the early life of Duane Gilchrist

Reading Time, less than 10 hours!

One of Duane's earliest memories was about a decision he made when he was approximately 5 years of age. He had asked his mother about things he'd picked up in church and Sunday School. Things like:

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", Rom. 3:23 and ;

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". Rom. 6:23.

She explained, that Duane, as an admitted young sinner, needed to trust in God's solution for sinners, to be forgiven of his sins. That, God Himself, the Lord Jesus, had chosen to come to this earth and die on the cross in Duane's place! So, wanting and needing God's forgiveness, Duane accepted the truth of John 3:16 for himself. This scripture states;

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life."

Duane was told that as a result of that simple act of faith, trusting in God's gift and promise, he had become a child of God, was born again, and would live forever with Him in heaven. This launched his life on a path with his Saviour.

His life as a child, was relatively carefree, but this could not be said for his parents.

Duane grew up in the depression of the 1930's. His family lost a business, then lost the Kansas wheat farm. They moved from place to place in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. His Dad took whatever work was available, somehow able to hold to his determination to not accept the pitiful government "relief" that was sometimes available. The family worked together in many ways to get by.

(Duane's "growing up" years were complicated by his Dad's loss of an eye at carpentry work in 1936, just as things were picking up. This accident progressed into a mental breakdown. He was hospitalized for 2 years in what was called in those days, "the insane asylum", located in a town, with the whimsical name of, Chatahoochie, Florida! When he was finally discharged, he reported that most of the 2 years, he had been fully recovered and that many fully recovered patients were unable to obtain discharges.

It developed that the institution needed patients in those days to maintain their "budget", so once patients were committed, it required significant efforts to effect a release! How different today with the "swarms" of drug addicts out there with on-going mental dis-orders! Institutions have no shortage of "business" these days!

While the family rejoiced when he was finally released from the hospital, the stigma remained and had a negative impact on his Dad over the years. Duane always admired his efforts to put the sadness of that time behind him. Also, Duane profited from his parents consistent discipline as they raised the family under trying circumstances.

To some extent, this hospitalization contributed to his Dad's "roller coaster" life as a Christian. While he was well founded in the faith, especially as he embraced the prophetic truths of the Lord's 2nd coming, he was given to discouragment which too often, resulted in a defeated Christian life.

Further, the prominent "pastor" in Duane's life through those years, was an uncle who lived a life of remarkable hypocricy).

Thankfully, through all this his Mom was a stabilizing influence, and Duane held to that promise from God, that had resulted in his "conversion". But he lived two lives as he moved through pre-teens into young adulthood. He lived one style of life at home and in church and another in school, out on the paper route, with buddies or later at work for Pan American Airways as a radio technician and then in the Army Air Corp as a filght radio operator, during World War II.

In 1946, on returning to civilian life, to Hood River Oregon, (his family had relocated from Florida to follow defense work in the Vancouver Washington shipyards), Duane was given special attention by the pastor of the small Baptist church of that town. Thankfully, his pastor's answers to questions that he had accumulated, drew him to a closer fellowship with his Lord Jesus.

About this time he met, Myra, the wonderful Christian girl who was to become his wife.

(Myra's Dad, Con Watterberg, was a good, positive influence on Duane. He was , unlike his own father, a strong, consistent Christian, and as a mentor, built Christian strengths into Duane's life.)

In 1947, Myra and Duane started their married life with a determination to serve their Lord together. Then, as the children arrived, they seriously committed them to their Lord, willing for Him to use them as He pleased. This was a sincere, deliberate act of dedication for each one while they were still in the womb.

Further, they agreed to raise the children in the love and dicipline of the Lord following Biblical principles as nearly as they could understand them. This parenting style, practiced consistently, has rewarded them with a family that loves and serves the Lord. Each family member, right down to the great-grand children have each made individual, personal commitments to the Lord Jesus as they reached ages around 4 or 5! Duane and Myra are truly blessed!

Their children and now their grandchildren have also followed the Biblical principles of child rearing and it shows in all the kid's lives! What a blessed family! Duane's family gives them more honor and appreciation than they deserve!

Click here for picture of our dog "Zak" plus a close-up of a couple of "Old-timers"!