
Twenty some years ago, I was pastoring a local church. The Lord had spoken to me and told me that I was "to build a church His glory." Satan was mad and the battle was raging.
Our oldest son, who was just about 7 or 8 years old at the time, was with me in our car. We were returning home from visiting our grandmother when a police officer pulled me over to the side of the road. The officer explained to me that our license plate had fallen off, and as a normal routine, he would check me out and then let us continue on our way.
I said to our son. "Now if we were wanted by the law, a second police cruiser will arrive. In just a few minutes, my son said, "Dad, there is another police car." I was somewhat startled, thinking that I would soon be on my journey home.
The officer informed me that there was a warrant out for my arrest and that I will have to go with him. They would take our son to the station where his mother can pick him up.
I was taken to a small police station, finger-printed and put in the cell. I remember the officer saying to me that day, "I wish all of my prisoners were as cooperative as you."
In a short while, I was hand-cuffed again and put into a police car the second time. The officer took me into the city where there was a much larger jail. It was in this police station where I was finger-printed again, and they took my picture. I was then instructed to change my clothes and put on an orange colored type of coveralls. They then stated that I was to sit on a particular bench where I saw another man sitting with the type of clothes that I was wearing.
Keep in mind; I was a local pastor at the time. I knew God was in control of my life, so I began asking the Lord, "Lord, what purpose do you have me here?" I could not, for the life of me, figure out what the Lord was doing?
Well, I went over and sat down by the other gentleman. As my nature is, I love to speak to people, so I proceeded to speak to the other man sitting there beside me. I asked him, "Why are you in here?" His reply was, "Murder."
"Murder? O, my!"
Then I proceeded to tell him about Jesus and how much God loved him. I went through the entire plan of salvation with this gentleman, and he sat there, listening to every word I said.
Just when I finished testifying to this man charged with murder, my name was called out over the intercom. "Mr. Harter, will you please come to the front?"
I proceeded to the area where I was instructed, and was informed to change and put my clothes back on, which I was most happy to do.
When I was dressed, I was taken aside and informed by those in charge that I was never in their jail. I was never arrested. I was not finger-printed, nor had my picture taken. I said, "Well, how can this be? I am here standing right now." They repeated themselves to me and I certainly did not feel like arguing with anyone. I just wanted to get out of there.
The arresting officer took me back to my car, and informed me that he never pulled me over, and I was never arrested by him. Very strange events indeed.
When I sat in the car, I thought for a moment, "Lord, what in the world happened to me?" And then it occurred to me as plain as crystal.
The Lord needed me to witness to a murderer. That was the plan of God for my life that day.
And even so today, I have asked the Lord, "Where are You Jesus?" "I sure do need you right now." But there seemed to be no answer. And as always, when there is no answer, I simply continue doing the last thing He told me to do, and that was, "GO DOWN TO MIRACLE VALLEY, AND BUILD MY BIBLE COLLEGE."
So I don't know the plan of God, but I know it is not over for Sister Harter and me at Miracle Valley. That is, not until God says it is over, and so far, God has not said anything like that to me.
Somehow God has a plan, and I believe God to do the work just like He as done on years gone by.
- Dr. Harter