During the War Between the States, a young woman learned the truth and obeyed the Gospel. Her sweetheart, J. H. Halbrook, was a Confederate soldier. He was captured by the Union Army and kept a prisoner in Michigan until the war was over. He was given a ticket to Nashville and $2.50. From there he returned to Centerville, Tennessee, and found what was left of his home and family. He was reunited with his girlfriend. Then, they were married.

Mr. Halbrook’s new wife studied the Bible with him, and he soon became a Christian. He thought the truth was so good and so simple that he began to teach and baptize many of his friends and neighbors. Then he began to preach, but he recognized his need for more training, so he enrolled in Mars Hill Bible School and was taught and trained by T.B. Larimore.

Upon completing his studies at Mars Hill, Mr. Halbrook and his wife chose to move farther south rather than going back to Tennessee, and they went into the counties of Walker, Marion, Fayette, and Lamar in Alabama. Of his many converts were Charley Alexander Wheeler and his wife. Mr. Wheeler, after obeying the Gospel, soon began preaching to others. He started more than 100 congregations, and he baptized more than 6,000 people.

But wait — the story does not end here! One of those 6,000 baptisms was my father, the late Gus Nichols. Under my father’s preaching 12,000 people were converted to Christ!

How many of those 12,000 began to preach "the glorious Gospel of Christ?" No one can know the exact number, but I personally know several who did. I am one whom he baptized and whom he encouraged to preach. Under my preaching about 3,000 have been baptized. Among that number a few have gone to preach the Gospel.

Only eternity will reveal the total results of the teaching of that one girl nearly 150 years ago, but at least 21,000 people have already become Christians through this single thread in the fabric of her influence.

"Go, and do likewise" (Luke 10:37), for YOU are important, too! Dear reader, if you go to heaven, others probably will be saved because of you! "What knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?" (I Corinthians 7:16).

"Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 6:16). ONE can be very influential. 

Flavil Nichols
Bulletin Digest