For twenty years we had let nature take its course along the creek (speaking evangelistically) that runs along the edge of our lawn. The jungle, as we called it, served as a privacy fence. Then the ice storm brought our fence to the ground.

I gazed out the window at the crystal world. Everywhere giant trees were bending their heads, their arms dragging the ground. Then I saw it—a giant cedar tree at least forty-feet tall. All these years it had been hidden in the jungle, surrounded by locust trees, shrubs, thorn vines, and all the other greenery that made up our jungle. Why had I never noticed this stately cedar?

In the midst of the bowing trees, it stood straight and tall—the cedar that would not bend. “Shadrack,” I said to the cedar. “Your name is Shadrack.”

For months following the storm, my husband and son worked to clean up the debris. They hauled off trailer loads of brush and tree limbs. Today Shadrack stands straight and tall for all to see—in sunshine, storm, ice, or wind.

How many Shadracks have there been in my life? Saints, unnoticed, hidden in the congregation, surrounded by others whose fragrant blossoms have caused people to oooh and ahhh. Saints who have simply stood straight and tall as others have fallen under the load. Saints who have not bent to the whims and fashion of the world.

One Shadrack in particular comes to mind. Her husband died an alcoholic. Two children committed suicide. Emotional storms shook her world. In a jungle of tangled relationships, bitter words, and icy feelings, she stood. She stood for what she believed, silently, calmly. The winds blew, the storms raged, but she stood. She didn’t stand out in the congregation. She didn’t sing specials, or play an instrument, or even teach a class. She was just one of the anonymous. But she stood, a Shadrack—stately, strong, silent—a testimony to the power of deep roots.

Thank God for the Shadracks in my life, those who simply by standing straight and tall have taught me great lessons. God give us more Shadracks.

Barbara Westberg has worn many hats through the years—pastor’s wife, teacher, writer, editor, community volunteer, and more. Some of her happiest moments these days are when she is surrounded by family, especially her great-grands. She and her husband, Francis, reside in Pueblo, Colorado. 

Theresa Shomberg DeMerchant was born in Steven’s Point, Wisconsin, in December 1935. Her father was a carpenter and her mother helped take care of the farm with her siblings. She had four brothers and two sisters.

A Pentecostal Watkins dealer came to their home to sell his products and invited Theresa’s parents to his house to see a catalog of all the products. There, Theresa’s mother noticed the salesman’s wife reading a Bible, something their church said was only for the priest to read. Theresa’s mother asked, “Can you read the Bible?” The salesman’s wife said, “Of course, you can read the Bible.” Theresa’s father went out and bought a Bible that day. He stayed up all night reading it and the next morning he decided the salesman’s faith was the truth.

The salesman and his wife invited the family to attend the church in Clintonville, which was 65 miles away. Her mother and father were baptized. Eventually, she and her siblings were all baptized in the same church. Theresa received the Holy Ghost when she was eight and was baptized when she was nine years old.

When she was seventeen, Theresa began praying about her future and considering college. She felt God ask her, “Would you be willing to go to a foreign field?” She asked, “Where, Lord?” She certainly didn’t want to go to Africa. She heard “Brazil,” a country she had studied in high school. The voice impressed her so much she would pray first for Brazil when she prayed.

Knowing she must study God’s Word to become a missionary, Theresa enrolled in Apostolic Bible Institute after high school. There she received a strong foundation in doctrine and theology. She played classical piano for special music groups and taught piano lessons. She also became an English teacher. She remained at ABI for an additional five years, teaching English and doing administrative work.

Bennie DeMerchant arrived from Canada to enroll at ABI. He shared with Theresa that he felt called to be a missionary to Brazil. The more Bennie shared his passion for reaching Brazil, the more her friends teased that “he was the one.” The couple married at the ABI/St. Paul church in 1961.

Although they desired to go straight to the foreign field, the missions board said they were too young. They pastored in River de Chute, New Brunswick, for one year and one year in Plaster Rock before the board agreed to send them to Brazil. They were the youngest missionaries at that time.

Arriving in Brazil, they did not know the Portuguese language, and there were no United Pentecostal churches. Theresa was also nervous about raising their six-month-old baby, Beth, in a mosquito-infested country known for malaria. They studied Portuguese in their small apartment and held church in their garage. While holding services in their home, they worked on building a church. Brother James Kilgore sent them a generous offering of a $1,000 to build their first church.

Pam was born in 1969, and seven years later, Bennie Joe was born. All three children had a love for the work. Beth and Pam often helped the Brazilians in street services before Sunday school. Beth loved to play musical instruments while the Brazilians preached and evangelized. Then they would head to their regular church services. Joe’s dream was to be a missionary just like his dad.

When Bennie Joe died of bone cancer in 1992, his death inspired the Bible school work. Theresa dedicated her time to training ministers. She translated the notes and lessons she had learned at ABI into Portuguese. The first Bible school began in the central church in Manaus. This is now the largest Bible school in Brazil.

The Brazilian church now has more than 4,000 ministers, 1,300 congregations, 140,000 members, and 124 ABI campuses training over 3,000 students each year. Manaus has over 300 churches and many conference centers. The Brazilian church now sends its own missionaries to other Portuguese-speaking countries around the world.

When her husband went to be with the Lord on February 8, 2017, Theresa came home from Brazil. Still active in ministry, she helps her son-in-law, George Sievers, and daughter Beth with their church in Llano, Texas. She plays the organ in church and teaches Bible studies at an assisted living home. She continues to study God’s Word and reads it through three times each year.

Each evening God himself walked and talked with Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden – until Adam & Eve’s SIN separated them. Sin created a huge gulf or chasm between God and man. But God knew this would happen, so He set in motion His plan to bring salvation to mankind.

In the meantime, God gave the pattern and instructions for a tabernacle – a portable tent – that served as a place where God could meet with man. The people were required to bring sacrifices for their sins, and God would roll their sins ahead for a year. God would only meet with one man (the high priest) once a year.

Solomon, and later King Herod, built temples in which the people could worship God. Still, God observed their sacrifices and offerings, but did not have the personal relationship with man that He desired.

Then God “robed himself in flesh”, and became a man named JESUS.

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(This study is available in both English and Spanish. More to Life Bible studies are great for personal or group study or as an evangelism tool.)