Acknowledgments

This autobiography couldn't have been written without the prayers, encouragement, and hard work of numerous people. Of course, my dear children and grandchildren walked with me every step of the way on this journey, as did Reverend Charles B. Mayle and the members of Oberlin Alliance Church.

   Special thanks goes to Greg Thornton and his outstanding staff at Moody Publishers for their patience, passion, and unending belief in this book and its message.

   I also must express deep gratitude to Billy and Franklin Graham, Stephanie Wills and Cathy Wood, and other members of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association who have labored and helped me in so many ways throughout the years.

   I am grateful to Edward Gilbreath for lending his gifts as a wordsmith to help me put my story on paper. And to his wife, Dana, and their two beautiful children for allowing Ed to devote so much time and sweat to this project.

   A special appreciation goes to Sandra Aldrich, a dear friend who helped Wanda write her autobiography. At times, Wanda's book helped jog my memory and allowed Ed to hear my wife's voice as it sounded before she became ill.

   Thanks to my dear friends and preaching colleagues Warren Wiersbe, Stephen Olford, Elliot J. Mason, James Earl Massey,

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Ralph Bell, Ron Ballard, Ernest Brown, Alphonso Tyler, Bob Harrison, Walter Arties, and others for their counsel and prayers. And to another friend, the late Reverend A.T. Rowan, the former pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio.

   Dr. and Mrs. Bradley Brown, Southern Baptist Missionaries to Liberia, West Africa.

   Maurice Shave and the staff at Savannah Corporation in Northridge, Ohio; Dr. Glen Plumer, CEO and President of National Religious Broadcasters; and friend George Parsons, who has given me such great advice over the years.

   To Moody Radio, for airing my program, the Hour of Freedom, for years over many of your stations.

   To Dr. Morgan J. Hodges, and Reverend Warren Shelton who helped me with the Soldiers for Christ Radio Ministry in New York City, in 1944.

   To Ted Smith, BGEA pianist, who helped my daughters, The Jones Sisters Trio, record their first record album.

  To Jimmy McDonald who was the first soloist to join me in meetings in New York City and Philadelphia years ago.

   To Huntley Brown who dedicated the song "Lift Every Voice" to my wife and me on his newest CD, "God Bless America."

   To the directors of the Billy Graham Schools of Evangelism over the years for allowing me to preach the Word of God in morning sessions and lead an afternoon seminar on "How to Give an Invitation."

   To Welcome Nursing Home in Oberlin, Ohio for taking care of my wife, Wanda, and other members of my family.

   To my son, David, who shares one of his songs on the CD of this book.

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   David Poyer, Professor of Economics at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.

   Oh, and there are so many other loved ones in my extended family I could mention if only time and space had permitted.

   Dr. and Mrs. Archibald Grierson, longtime friends and supporters of our ministry.

   An appreciation to the African American Alliance Women Missionaries, Donna Batise and Nysa Costa, who served so well for the Lord in West Africa; may God give us more black Alliance missionaries in the near future.

   Finally, a word of thanks to the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc., of Oberlin, Ohio for presenting the National Sojourner Truth Award to Wanda Jones on March 10, 1990 for her meritorious community service, and deep concern advancing the status of women.

   On March 9, 2002, I received the Frederick Douglass Award from the same organization.

   Finally to Rus Busby, the chief photographer for the Billy Graham team, who took many pictures for the book.

Introduction  ||  Table of Contents