Written by David Michael Mills
“Moses was a Foursquare boy”. (My wonderful, brave Dad). Some of the most charming events in my Dad’s life he shared with us, but not in public services.
One such account involves his time in the Army Air Corps during WW2. He was stationed at an Air Base in La Junta, Colorado, which in later years was disbanded.
Dad came from Stockton, California, and by some statistical fluke, a huge proportion of the men in his barracks were Jewish soldiers from New York City. Dad wasn’t used to the ribbing and sarcasm and sharp tone of the fellows. And he took a lot of guff because he wouldn’t go beer-drinking with the guys.
They thought he was some sort of “Holy Joe”. But he took his faith seriously, more so than many of his fellow military members.
As much as they claimed to be annoyed, they were impressed by his devotion. So they kept telling their Jewish chaplain about this guy who was gung ho for the Lord. Impressed, the Chaplain Rabbi said, “Why don’t you invite him to be our guest speaker?” So they did….. and Dad began to prepare a message that would inspire the men.
Here’s where it gets really fantastic!
Dad grew up in the Foursquare Gospel church, where the four cardinal points are: Salvation, Healing, the Infilling of the Holy Spirit, and the Lord’s Return. Thus what was stressed is that Jesus has a fourfold office: He saves, He heals, He fills with the Holy Spirit, and He’s the soon-returning King. Well, Dad knew his references would need to be all pfrom the Tanach (the Old Testament writings).
And believe it or not, he came up with a message entitled “Moses was a Foursquare boy”, which he delivered to the astonishment of his fellow enlisted men.
Dad said, “Moses believed in and preached salvation; he taught that only by the blood of the Passover lamb could the people be rescued from death and slavery. Moses believed in and taught healing: he prayed for Miriam and she was healed of leprosy.
And he put up Nehushtan, the bronze serpent on the pole —- and tens of thousands of Israelites were healed after being painfully bitten by venomous snakes.
Furthermore, he believed in the impartation of the Holy Spirit, for he laid his hands on Joshua and imparted to the young man some of the same Spirit that was upon Moses. Finally, Moses taught about the Appearing of the Messiah, recording the words that the Tribe of Judah would rule in anticipation of the day that Shiloh would come; and he also wrote about the Prophet that God would RAISE UP out of the Jewish People. So from start to finish, Moses was a Foursquare boy!” The rabbi loved it! And the other fellows no doubt wondered why their Chaplain never asked any of them to deliver the lesson. Through this event, the teasing of his friends turned to a respectful “atta boy!” Dick Mills.
I could recount a myriad of wonderful stories about my dear Dad, Dick Mills. For now, it’s the Air Corps story from WW2 in Colorado.
David Michel Mills
Thank you David!
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