To the Limit: A brief memoir by Chas Carrin

In the five books and more than 1,000 articles I have since written, Bill, Catherine, and Len’s influence are profoundly present. After Laurie and I returned to Atlanta in the 1970’s Bill and his wife Doris Roberts visited us there. Doris was already a successful Broadway actress who became more famous as “Marie,” the cynical mother on the “Everybody Loves Raymond” TV comedy series. We remained close friends until Bill died in 1983. At the time of Catherine’s death she had more than 18,000,000 books in circulation. Len remained a loving devotee to me as long as he lived.

In 1977, I had absolutely–the greatest–most phenomenal–encounter with the Holy Spirit imaginable. I received the “baptism” Jesus promised and it radically changed my life (Acts 1:5). There are no words to describe that event or its lasting effect. Spiritual gifts suddenly exploded in me. Miraculous “words of knowledge” became commonplace. At three a.m. one morning God woke me from a deep sleep calling me by the name “Jephunneh”–a name unknown to me. The voice was so loud it shook me. Jumping out of bed and getting my Bible, I discovered Jephunneh was the father of Caleb–one of God’s great servants. Numbers 13:6. As I puzzled over the incident, God spoke again, saying, “You are to ‘father’ My Calebs!” That soon began happening and I became a spiritual “Dad” to numerous pastors in the U.S. and overseas.

Derek Prince–whom I regarded as one of the greatest Bible teachers of all time–sent a fax urging me to please join him in Turkey and speak at his Pastors Conference. Derek Prince–England’s famous King’s Scholar, Eton College Honor Student, and Cambridge Professor, whose Bible messages went to half the world in more than 10 languages–wanted me? Yes! “If God be for us who can be against us?” Soon after I arrived Derek had me preach and lay-hands on the pastors.

Many were former Muslims and in every instance, the Holy Spirit invaded them with His incredible power. One of them fell-out in a public hallway and vibrated for more than an hour in the “electricity” of the Holy Spirit. Humans cannot fake such an experience. Muslim waiters who were forced to step over him on their trips to the kitchen, stopped, stared wide-eyed at what they knew was the power of God. At least one of them became a Jesus-believer.

Later, while teaching at other Ministers Schools in Kazakhstan and Russia–which Derek implemented–God sent “Calebs” from Siberia, the Ukraine, and remote parts of the old USSR. On other trips, while ministering in that same “father’s love” message, men came from Manchuria, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and other Islamic countries. Chinese brothers took great risk by smuggling themselves out of Communist China. On their return, I prayed that they would be able to get back to their families and churches without being captured. What incredible men! What love for God! What heroes of faith! These are the Christians I salute! The American Church knows nothing about the price others are paying for the cause of Christ! You and I cannot touch their achievement. I gladly confess I am nothing! These men are true saints. Hallelujah!

One night in Jerusalem I awoke after midnight with a challenging thought. Dressing quickly I hurried back to the old city and entered through the Damascus Gate. The streets were empty. In the light of a full moon I climbed to the top of the wall and stood looking down on the rooftops. I wanted to re-live what Nehemiah had done when he examined Jerusalem’s wall in the night (Nehemiah. 2:12). I do not know how far I walked or how long I stood there but it was nearing dawn when I went back to the hotel. In my heart I carried away a memory that is mine forever.

Tags: carrin, chas, limit, memoir

Category: Living the Faith, Spring 2019