Shortly after the Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost folded into bankruptcy. All the creditors were ready to foreclose at noon on a given day.That morning, the founders of the seminary met in the President’s office to pray that God would somehow provide. In that meeting was a man named Dr. Harry Ironside. When it was his turn to pray, he said in his refreshingly candid way, “Lord, we know that the cattle on a thousand hills are thine. Please sell some of them and send the money to us.

Just about that time, a tall Texan wearing cowboy boots an open-collar shirt strolled into the school’s business office. “Howdy,” he said to a secretary. I’ve just sold two carloads of cattle over in Fort Worth. I’ve been trying to make another business deal go through, but it just won’t work. I feel God wants me to give this money to the seminary. I don’t know if you need it or not, but here’s the check.”The secretary took the check and, knowing of the nature of the business that day, went to the door of the President’s office and timidly knocked. Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, the founder and President of Dallas Theological Seminary, answered the door and took the check from the secretary. When he looked at the amount, it was for the exact amount of the debt. Then he recognized the name of the cattleman on the check, and turning to Dr. Ironside, he said, “Harry, God sold the cattle.”

Jim Pattillo, Dallas Texas

WIT & WISDOM – September 29, 1998