The Ballestero Blog

Every Church Has One

Robert and Kathy Dansbys were pastoring a home missions church in Canada. Fellowship was rare and hearing someone else preach was even rarer. They were out of Bro. I. H. Terry’s church in Bakersfield, California.

Family members and friends often sent preaching tapes of Bro. Terry and Bakersfield’s guest speakers to the Dansbys.

One day Bro. Dansby received a phone call from home telling him about an awesome evangelist named Bro. Larry Booker. His preaching was phenomenal, the home church loved him and they sent a bunch of his preaching tapes up to Canada.

Pastor Robert Dansby

The Dansbys absolutely loved the preaching of Bro. Booker. They asked for more tapes. More tapes were sent. They too fell in love with the ministry of this great man of God. They had never met him, or even seen a picture of him, but they loved him. They were saddened when the revival ended.

A few years later, Bro. Dansby resigned his church in Canada and moved back to the United States.

At the next Camp Meeting in Santa Maria, California, the Dansbys went. They enjoyed the fellowship of the preachers and the ministry of the Word. It was good to be around old friends.

While seated in the Bible Class one afternoon in the old tent, they noticed a very tall man come in and make his way down the aisle. He sat across the aisle from them, and a row or two ahead. He slouched his 6’ 8” frame way down into the seat.

This ‘stranger’ really seemed to enjoy the Bible Study and said amen often and loud. At times, during the message the whole congregation got blessed and they all said amen and clapped. Some even stood.

The tall guy, would wave his hands erratically from time to time, and with closed eyes nearly scream the words, “God! God! God! God!” Then he would talk in tongues and shake all over.

Sis. Kathy Dansby turned and looked at the man. She’d never seen anyone act like that in church. She turned her attention back to the preacher.

Again, at a high note in the sermon, the crowd responded and the man across the aisle went into his own worship mode again. He shook. He waved his long arms. He talked in tongues. He screamed, “God! God! God! God!”

Sis. Kathy Dansby

Sis. Dansby made a bit of a face and shook her head and looked at her husband. “Every church has one,” she said with a knowing smirk.

Bro. Dansby couldn’t hold back the laughter. “Do you know who that is? He inquired.

“No.” She said.

“That’s Bro. Larry Booker. I met him just before the service.”

“Noooooo!!!” Was about all Sis. Dansby could say in disbelief.

Even years later, Bro. Dansby didn’t feel comfortable telling Bro. Booker what his wife had said about him. So he didn’t. Well, he didn’t for quite a few years.

Pastor Larry Booker

Eleven years later, to be exact, Bro. Booker invited Bro. Dansby to preach for him in Rialto, California. During that visit, Bro. Dansby got up enough nerve to tell Bro. Booker the story.

Bro. Booker’s great sense of humor surfaced as he roared in laughter. The next service night while introducing Bro. Dansby to preach, Bro. Booker retold the story.

“Yes,” Bro. Booker said, “Every church has one. This church just happens to have one for a pastor!”

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(Special thanks to my friend, Bro. Robert Dansby for permission to write this story.)