THE SECRETS OF MEN ARE IN THEIR STORIES!
There are few people that serve as best examples in our
generation.It is one of these rare species that I bring to you.He has been a source of inspiration and challenge in my life
and miniatry.He is for sure time tested, and has stood the test of time.He is none other than Rev.R.W.Schambach! Hear his
story:-
When Robert William Schambach was born April 3, 1926,
his
family had no idea that this extra mouth to feed
would grow to be an important commanding officer in
Gods great army
of believers.
Of his seven siblings, Jim, Ruth, Lee and Nettie, the
ones who are still living, say that as a boy
Bob
Schambach was always very loud and active, quite
enamored with people, very good at selling things and
extremely
likeable. Those characteristics of his
personality, as they eventually were yielded to
Christ, would become hallmarks
of his future preaching
ministry.
A teenaged Bob Schambach accepted Christ as Savior on
a street corner when
preacher Anthony Vigna gave a
curbside altar call. That street preacher became his
youth pastor and began to mentor
young Robert.
Although at that tender age, Bob Schambach felt the
call to preach, he resisted. He had designs to become
an
FBI man, with full intention of going to college on
a basketball scholarship.
The Runaway
The call of God
was heavy on his life. In a last
attempt to run away from God, Bob Schambach became a
modern day Jonah and joined the
U.S. Navy. It was
1944, and the United States was in the middle of World
War II.
On the destroyer Von Valkenberg,
young Bob Schambach
learned that God had a hold on his life, and He wasnt
letting go. Through typhoons, air attacks,
Kamikaze
suicide dives, mine sweeps and multiple escort
missions from Saipan, Iwo Jima, Leyte, Okinawa,
Nagasaki
and Sasebo God preserved the Von Valkenberg,
while other destroyers were going up in flames around
her.
In September,
1945, America signed a peace treaty with
Japan. There in Nagasaki harbor, Bob Schambach viewed
prisoners of war being
released from the hands of the
Japanese and repatriated with their country.
All races and colors were represented
brown, white,
red and black and they were all skin and bones,
coming from the showers with nothing but towels
wrapped
around their waists. When those soldiers
caught sight of their American hospital ship, they
forgot all protocol. Instead
of the customary salute
to the commanding officer of the ship, they did
cartwheels and flips some lost their towels
others
grabbed and kissed the commanding officer. They had
been freed, and they had no shame.
At that public
display of joy over their new-found
freedom, Bob Schambach realized for the first time the
privilege of preaching the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. He
was able to see the power of release from prison the
joy of true freedom. There in Nagasaki
Harbor, Robert
William Schambach knelt on the docks and surrendered
his life again to the Lord, "Yes Lord, I will preach
the
glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus."
Bible School Blessings
One year later, that surrendered sailor enrolled in
Eastern
Bible Institute of the Assemblies of God in
Green Lane, Pennsylvania. If he were going to preach,
he had to be prepared.
Handsome
and comical, Bob Schambach became very
popular on campus. Most of the female students thought
he was a real eye-catcher.
But, young Robert only had
eyes for one beautiful, dark-haired girl, Mary
Winifred Donald. He had to wait, though, because
when
he first saw her, she was wearing an engagement ring.
Although all the young men on campus admired her
beauty,
they respected the ring on her left hand.
One day, when Bob and "Winnie" were working in the
cafeteria, he noticed
that engagement ring was gone.
Thats when he made his move and asked her out.
(Dating at that time meant sitting at
opposite ends of
a couch and talking with an older chaperone in the
room.)
It wasnt long before they were completely
in love
with each other and decided to marry. Eastern Bible
Institute had strict rules in 1947. Students were
forbidden
to marry before graduation. Bob and Winnie
went in to talk with the president of the school to
ask for an exception
to the rule. When they discussed
their situation with the president, he replied, "I
cant bend the rules for you here;
however, I really
believe that God had placed you two together, and He
has called you for an important work. Bob, you
have
been to war; you are older and more mature than many
of our college lads. Ive already called Central Bible
Institute
in Springfield, Missouri. They will accept
you and Winnie in the fall as married students."
The historic Highway
Tabernacle in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, hosted their wedding on September 4,
1948. A short honeymoon in Niagara Falls,
New York,
followed; then the new couple went off to live in
Springfield, Missouri.
Both Bob and Winnie recall
their Springfield years as
some of the happiest of their lives. They had no
money Bobs pay from the Navy didnt come
for six
months. They lived on chili Winnie made a little
money at Gospel Publishing House. Yet, although they
were
penny-poor, they were thrilled to be together and
preparing for ministry. Winnie recalls that her
husband always walked
tall, dressed "sharp" and
sported a broad smile no matter how little money they
had.
When Robert Schambach graduated
from Bible school, he
was ordained by the late C.M. WARD. Then, it was off
to South Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
to
pastor his first small church, Bethel Assembly of God.
Pastoring And Parenting
Although the doctors had
told Winnie that she would
probably bear no children of her own, five years into
her marriage and during their first
pastorate, Winnie
gave birth to her first son, Robert William Schambach,
Jr., May 14, 1953.
The firstborn son
was an additional church member, but
still the numbers were few. So the young pastor took a
10-year-old accordion player
out on the streets of
Philadelphia and let him play some church music until
a little crowd gathered around. Then, young
Bob
Schambach would preach on the streets and invite the
converts to come to the tiny church on South Street.
Pastoring
was work, and it didnt pay very well about
$10 each week. That meant Pastor Bob had to work at
the Atlantic Richfield
Oil Refinery to support his
growing family. Winnie didnt see much of him, but
they were in the will of God and learning
the
fundamentals of ministry: hard work, great faith, and
the joy of lives coming to Jesus.
In those early preparation
years, Robert Schambach had
the great opportunity of attending the Harrisburg tent
crusade of renowned missionary evangelist,
T. L.
Osborn.
Here was a man that stirred desire in the heart of the
young pastor, for night after night he would
marvel at
the demonstration of the power of God. Brother Osborn
had no fear! He would call the blind, the deaf and the
lame
to the front of the tent audience and lay hands
on them in the name of Jesus in front of the
unbelieving church folks
and the worldly skeptics.
They were all healed.
One night, a buddy of Bob Schambachs, a boxer who had
lost his
eyesight, was instantly healed in front of a
crowd of people. From inside the heart of the young
preacher a prayer arose,
"God, this is what I want to
spend my life doing."
From his lips to Gods ears the young Bob Schambach
would soon
begin his training.
When baby Bob was only six months old, the little
Schambach family transitioned from Philadelphia
to a
pastorate in Glassport, Pennsylvania. Young Winnie was
thrilled because moving was an opportunity for living
in
a brand new home. The parsonage sat atop of a steep
hill and was filled with beautiful furniture.
The loving congregation
attended to every need of the
young family. One sister baked bread for the family
every week. Because of the parsonage,
the young pastor
didnt have to work a second job it freed him up for
daily hospital visitation and preparation for weekly
services.
During
that time, when the call of God was being
forged into Roberts spirit, another child came along.
On February 11, 1955,
Donna Joy was born. That year
would prove to be one of many changes.
Soon after Donnas birth, Roberts mother, Anna,
went
home to be with Jesus. It hit the young pastor hard
this was the woman who had weaned him on her faith.
She
had been the rock of his immediate family.
The A. A. Allen Years
Then came the event that would change the course
of
his life forever.
Tent evangelist, A. A. Allen came to town.
Young pastor Bob had a leading that he wouldnt
be in
Glassport long. He told Winnie, "Dont get too
comfortable in this parsonage. I have a feeling
Brother Allen
is going to ask me to join his team."
"You dont even know him," Winnie replied. When Bob
insisted that he had heard
from God, Winnie responded
sincerely, "Whatever God wants."
During that tent crusade, young pastor Robert did as
much
as he could to support that tent crusade.
Everyone who came was so excited to see what God would
do each night. One
night, a man that the Schambachs
knew came for his healing. He was a coal miner who had
his eyes blown out in an accident.
After Brother Allen
laid hands on that man, God created brand new brown
eyes in those sockets. It was a notable miracle,
because
many in the town knew that man.
The wheels were churning in Bob Schambachs heart. He
knew God was calling him to
be part of this. Yet,
though his leading was strong, the young pastor did
not mention a word to the man of God. He believed
if
God really wanted it, God would speak to Brother
Allen.
When the tent came down, A.A. Allen approached young
Bob
Schambach. There was no lengthy conversation just
one simple statement from the man of God: "Brother
Schambach, I believe
God wants you to travel with me
as my associate."
He finally heard the words for which he had been
waiting. Immediately,
the Schambachs resigned their
church, packed their bags, bought a house trailer and
bundled up two-year old Bobby and
6-month old Donna to
travel the country in a Gospel caravan.
The next four and a half years would prove to be some
of
the most exciting ministry times of Bob Schambachs
life. He was excited to be working advance work,
hiring laborers,
keeping receipts, overseeing set-up,
preaching the afternoon services, and helping with the
evening services. Opportunities
for learning were
everywhere radio and television experience, overseas
crusades all the practical tasks related to tent
evangelism.
The
greatest lessons, however, were learned in the
shadow of Brother Allens anointing. Some things
couldnt be learned in
Bible school they had to be
experienced.
Brother Schambach recalls that a Bible school
professor had refused
to teach his students about
casting out devils. He honestly confessed he had no
experience in it he just didnt know
how to do it.
Well, God knew all about it. He placed young Bob
Schambach with A.A. Allen, a man who cast out more
devils
accidentally than most preachers did on
purpose. Every night, Brother Schambach had an
over-the-shoulder view of supernatural
healings and
deliverances.
The years unfolded. Miracle after miracle took place.
Brother Schambach accompanied
Brother Allen to India
and the Philippines. He saw the crippled walk; the
blind receive their sight. In India, preaching
to an
afternoon crowd of 50,000 people, God performed
outstanding miracles. It was while he was in India
that the
final addition to the Schambach family, Bruce
Allen, was born on March 19, 1958.
Doing What God Called Him To Do
Finally,
in the fall of 1959, with a heavy heart,
Brother Schambach told Brother Allen that the Lord had
called him into his
own ministry and it was time to
leave. The Lord led him to Newark, NJ, where he
founded the first of four Miracle Temple
churches. The
others were in Brooklyn, NY, Philadelphia, PA, and
Chicago, IL. Soon after, he purchased the first of
several
giant tents, which he set up in cities all
over America.
The following year, Brother Schambach began
broadcasting
on radio. Back then, the program was
called the Hour of Deliverance. It quickly became a
favorite among Christians of
many denominations.
Produced during live crusades, the program conveyed
the same power and anointing that was evident
in
person. It was on the radio program that Brother
Schambach began declaring, "YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
TROUBLE. ALL YOU
NEED IS FAITH IN GOD."
He's declared it ever since, and the message is still
the same. The classic gospel message
of faith and
power continues to make a lasting impact everywhere
that he goes. Brother Schambach has devoted his life
to
preaching the uncompromising Word of God. He
believes that every time the Word goes forth, signs
and wonders will accompany
it. As a result, it is
common to see the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf
hear, captives set free and delivered, and
all that
God promises for the believer.
A commanding voice has distinguished Brother Schambach
through many years
of radio ministry. THE VOICE OF
POWER radio ministry is heard on many stations in the
U.S. and in 120 nations on shortwave.
The R. W.
Schambach Telecast is seen on network affiliates
across the country, and worldwide, via satellite.
Also,
God uses Brother Schambach's pointing finger to
arrest people in their tracks. He simply eyeballs the
camera, capturing
attention with his pointing finger
and saying, "Don't touch that dial!" As a result, many
kneel to repent of their sins.
Outstanding testimonies
of healing and deliverance pour into the ministry
offices daily.
Perhaps the greatest
trademark of R. W. Schambach and
the heart of his ministry is the great Gospel tent.
Large enough to fill a football
field and seating more
than 5,000, the tent has traveled to every major city
in this nation. Brother Schambach has always
loved the
tent because it provides the opportunity for the
unchurched of the neighborhood to drop in for a visit.
It
is a common sight to see thousands answer the altar
call each night. Drug addicts, prostitutes, homeless
people, backsliders,
and alcoholics by the scores have
all found deliverance under the tent. Brother
Schambach has been known to go into
the inner city
with the help of Rev. Larry Jones of FEED THE
CHILDREN, providing tons of food and over 400,000
meals
in each city. Evangelistic teams hit the streets
daily reaching the hurting and providing names of the
new converts
to the sponsoring pastors. It is no
secret Brother Schambach has a special love,
attachment and commitment to the people
in the inner
cities.
Although not widely publicized, Brother Schambach has
always had a strong missions outreach.
Many crusades
throughout Europe, Asia, the Philippines, Africa,
India, the West Indies and South America have reached
crowds
of hundreds of thousands and seen spectacular
miracles. Currently, the outreach includes the
establishment of churches
in Russia; the ongoing
support of an orphanage in Indonesia; the support of a
national Mexican ministry led by Rev.
Tim Ost; the
support of a children's outreach ministry in Mexico
City called Ministerios de Amor; the support of Rev.
Bert
Clendennen's Bible College ministry in Russia and
China; and the support of Julie Arguinzoni's
children's outreach in
Brazil.
On the occasion of the 1997 Bronx Crusade, The Bronx
Borough President, Fernando Ferrer, honored R. W.
Schambach
with a Citation of Merit and was quoted as
saying, "HIS YEARS AS AN EVANGELIST HAVE BEEN MARKED
WITH INTEGRITY, COMMITMENT
AND VISION, BRINGING PEOPLE
TO CHANGE, AND THEREBY, STRENGTHENING THE CITY. TODAY,
I ADD MY VOICE TO THE THOUSANDS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY
WHO CONSIDER R. W. SCHAMBACH THEIR EVANGELIST AND CALL
HIM BROTHER SCHAMBACH."
Jannette Diaz-Irizarry,
District Manager of Community
Board No.11, in the City of New York writes, "IN THE
SEVEN YEARS I HAVE BEEN WITH COMMUNITY
BOARD 11, I
HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A DISPLAY OF LOVE, DELIVERANCE,
UNITY AND AN ABUNDANCE OF GRACE AND GLORY IN ONE AREA
(UNDER
ONE TENT!)"
Brother Schambach, a senior statesman of the
Pentecostal community, is still going strong. With
over
50 years of preaching and ministry, he has
learned to trust God. That gift of faith has helped
provide an atmosphere
where many are brought to
Christ, healed, and delivered from life-controlling
problems.
