No little people: Pauline Brake

By: American Decency Staff

Last week Jan and I attended the funeral of Pauline Brake, aged 92, who passed away March 17. The Lord allowed her to linger in frailty and illness at a care center for more years than she would have ever dreamed possible, being such a warrior and laborer for the Lord.  Yet, she had so many good years of faithful, simple strong service for the Lord! In this day of big names, notoriety, instant fame, national attention, there is also the diminishment of the significance of the small, the seemingly insignificant, living godly lives right where you are. Pauline didn’t just sign petitions.  She picked them up.  Made copies of them. Circulated them.  She stood staunchly for life, decency, godliness. She opposed corrupt politicians, liberal ideologies, pornography, abortion. She spoke up and spoke out, writing letters vigorously and regularly to politicians, advertisers, letters to the editor. I met this lady when I was 39 years old in 1985.  She would have been 67 years old then.  I met her at a little anti-pornography group meeting that was in its initial stages determining the course of this newly forming group.  That fledgling group was to become ultimately this ministry after being first Citizens Against Pornography, then Newaygo County NFD (National Federation for Decency, then Newaygo County AFA (American Family Association) to be followed by AFA of Michigan,  separating out to American Decency Association. Pauline was a feisty saint of God.  She truly hated sin and how Satan used pornography to deceive and destroy people.  She loved the Lord dearly, that was obvious.  She was burdened by the spiritual lethargy that was already so prevalent in that day.  She couldn’t comprehend the timidity of the local church. “They need to preach Jesus and His great salvation and preach against sin.â€Â At her funeral last week, one of the things that she was remembered for was her intense love for children and for sharing the Gospel faithfully over many years to them.  She held a Child Evangelism Fellowship class in her home weekly for many years.  In later years of her service, she bought a van and filled that van to overflowing (literally) with children, carting them to her home to tell them about Jesus and to disciple them in the Word that they would know Him and bring glory and honor to His name. The late Francis Schaeffer stated it this way in his book No Little People. “The people who receive praise from the Lord Jesus will not in every case be the people who hold leadership in this life.  There will be many persons who were sticks of wood that stayed close to God and were quiet before Him, and were used in power by Him in a place which looks small to man. Each Christian is to be a rod of God in the place of God for him.  We must remember throughout our lives that in God’s sight there are no little people and no little places.  Only one thing is important:  to be consecrated persons in God’s place for us, at each moment.  Those who think of themselves as little people in little places, if committed to Christ and living under His Lordship in the whole of life, may by God’s grace, change the flow of our generation. …â€Â Pauline Brake: The world did not know you but Jesus does and you have left behind a remnant of loved ones who will never forget your rock solid faith and your inspiring example!  Oh that there were more like you around.  You influenced me.  I will never forget your focus, your no nonsense approach to life and living for Him.  You were selfless – “All for Jesus!  I surrender all.â€Â Many reading this need to quit seeking the things of this world and seek Him daily, asking God to help them refocus upon His will, letting Him lead into yielding to Him.   If that means a lower place, take that place. Read Schaeffer’s book “No Little Peopleâ€Â which points to Jesus and His Word for the clearest evidence of taking up your cross and following Him. =============================================== Your support is important to our ability to make a difference: donate online at: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/main.php?f=donate/display9 American Decency Association Bill Johnson, PresidentP.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

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