The Ballestero Blog

Tell Him You’re Stupid!

The National City Church, Rev. Leamon Reynolds, Pastor. circa 1959

Betty parked her Austin Healey convertible in the parking lot and walked into the modest-sized Pentecostal church in National City, California. She was doing quite well for a single girl in the business world in the late 1950’s.Betty Picklesimer looked professional in her classy dark suit. She was, after all, an Officer at the local Bank. She knew very little about Pentecost, only what her brother had told her. She had seen wonderful changes in him and wanted to visit his church.

She sat near the back on the right side as she entered the revival service. The church was full. Her brother, Alan Picklesimer was already a member there. He was 21 and the Sunday School teacher for teenage boys. I was 14 and in his class.

My father, Carl Ballestero was the nightly evangelist. Betty came down to the altar when he finished preaching and the invitation was given.

She repented and cried for a long time. When she finished praying, she asked to be baptized. The church rejoiced and shouted when she received the Holy Ghost and began speaking in tongues while still in the water.

The next night, Betty was back in service again. She was praising God and rejoicing in her newfound relationship with the Lord.

During the altar service that night, Betty began praying with new seekers in the altar. My father became curious about what this new convert was saying to them.

Betty began praying with a woman from Tijuana, Mexico. Here she was, a well-dressed professional businesswoman, praying with a very poor and uneducated woman. Dad moved closer so as to overhear her words. Betty shouted words of encouragement into the little lady’s ears.

 “Tell Him you’re stupid! Tell Him you’re ignorant! Tell Him you don’t know nothing!” Betty was yelling in the new seeker’s ear. “That’s what I told Him and He gave me the Holy Ghost!”

The Mexican lady immediately received the Holy Ghost!

Seeker?

Are you ready to tell God that you’re stupid?

That you’re ignorant?

That you don’t know anything?

Maybe you should.

The Holy Ghost comes easily to hungry hearts that are willing to humble themselves!

Sister Betty Picklesimer 2007