Bye R.W., You Ran Well And Finished Strong

Rev. R.W. Schambach (April 3, 1926 - January 17, 2012)

Deep inside the boiler room of a USA World War II navy destroyer on patrol off the coast of Japan a man made a decision that would change trillions of lives. The decision was a simple one in nature as it was a decision to follow Jesus Christ and to rely on His grace.

The man who made that decision was none other than Robert William Schambach, or R.W. as he became known.

In the years following that decision, RW attended school at Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Missouri, before joining A.A. Allen in crisscrossing the USA praying for the sick and talking about Jesus. Those years were formative for RW as he learned how to listen to the voice of the Spirit watch as God healed the multitudes of every illness known whether it be physical, spiritual, and/or emotional.

Later on RW struck out on his own becoming a ‘tent’ revivalist, hauling his trademark tents to every major city in the USA. People of all status, faiths, ethnicity, and gender all crowded into these tents to hear about Jesus.

At some point in his life, RW setup his headquarters in East Texas and started broadcasting his sermons over the radio. Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I remember listening to his sermons every day throughout the summers and learning about the faith that I will one day teach to others.

In amazing turn of events, my grandpa and grandma both started working with RW at his headquarters. My grandfather would stay up all night answering phones and praying with anyone and everyone while my grandmother would help make sure the office ran smooth.

Then in 1995 my mother took a temporary winter job with them that turned into a full-time job and, quite frankly, changed the course of my life as we moved to East Texas where the Lord would grab a hold of me. Not long after we moved there, my step-father was hired by RW to work along side my grandfather on the midnight prayer phones. Such begin a two decade relationship with the Schambachs that lasted even after my parents moved to Tennessee and my grandfather passed away.

Directly and indirectly RW Schambach had a powerful and long lasting impact on my family. As such it is with a sad glad heart that I say that RW ran strong after the Lord and finished well.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. –Hebrews 12:1-3

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