ccm Cross 0167 Gospel Outreach Church, McDonough, Georgia

ccm Cross 0167
Sunday April 15, 2018

Gospel Outreach Church
McDonough, Georgia
ccm Cross 0167

GPS/DMS 33°24′49.77″N 84°13′54.84″W

Additional photos after Testimony:

4607 cdd Church Without Walls
Cyber Daily Devotion
Volume 19 Number 116

Today’s Author: Pastor Bill

Scripture: Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” NKJV

Hello, my name is Pastor Doug Drucker from McDonough, Georgia. We live about an hour south of the Atlanta airport. Everyone calls me Pastor Doug.

I was born in St. Petersburg, Florida the middle child of three. My parents moved to DeKalb County in Georgia and owned a furniture store. Mom stayed at home and took care of us. My dad was a closet Jew in an environment where Jews were discriminated against. Mom was a Baptist but did not go to church, but she made sure all three of us did. For me that lasted until I was 12 years old. That’s when I was asked not to return to church.

My church rebellion was mild by today’s standard but back then it was not tolerated. In middle school my cutting up, disruptions, smoking and drinking got me suspended time after time. I had been playing rock and roll on a guitar for fun and then I broke my arm. Just like that my music days were over.

Then came the Elvis vs. Beatles controversy on radio. I was on thin ice in High School for fighting, lighting cherry bombs in the toilets and any other thing we could think of — this caused my expulsion.

My only opportunity for a high school diploma was a G.E.D. I quickly was entrenched in a zero-tolerance environment. Miss one assignment and you’re out. Miss one day of meetings and you’re out. Mess with the system and you’re out. I grew up quickly and graduated.

The Viet Nam War was exploding in 1969 and I was drafted. When the notice arrived, I swiftly joined the Marine Corps Reserves. I was sent to Paris Island for training and only stayed six weeks. When I broke my arm in seventh grade the bone broke in half. When reset it prevented me from fully extending my arm. Not only did it end my musical career back then, but it also caused difficulty holding and shooting my Marine issued rife accurately.

The Marines let me go. When I returned home it was a different world. The Fifth Dimension was singing the Age of Aquarius on the radio and pot was available everywhere. I bought a pair of bell bottom pants and let my hair grow long. I was a certified “Hippie.”

Drugs became a way of life. Marijuana, Black Beauties, Speed of all kinds, LSD and many others. All the vets returning from Viet Nam were into Heroin but out of respect for my mamma I didn’t go that way. Jesus was just coming on the scene with Elton John handing out tracts. The Peace Train was a big hit as was My Sweet Lord over the air waves.

Then the coolest dude, the biggest doper and Mr. handsome became a Jesus Freak. No one saw it coming. The Viet Nam Vets were becoming Jesus Freaks, no one saw that coming either. I had to see what it was all about.

I joined a Bible Study led by a police officer — in his home! There I met Jesus Christ as my Savior. A few months later I was losing my enthusiasm for Jesus and returning to the drug scene seemed a better fit for me. I went to the study one last time to say goodbye when the leader had a special prayer for me. I said OK, let’s have it.

It was the first time I ever heard anyone speak in tongues. I had no understanding or teaching on this. Then he broke into English speaking directly to me out of the hundred or so in attendance. He prophesied over me saying, “I am your Father and you are my son and because I love you I will heal your arm as a testimony unto me and I will go before you and send you words and music and prepare a place/path? for you as long as you follow me and give me the Glory.” That was it!

He prayed, and I stretched out my arm and Jesus healed me. First thing I did was buy a guitar and return to my musical roots

Within six months I was musically leading the prayer group and had replaced the leader for Bible study. That’s when I met Wanda. We were married six months later.

Then I stumbled into one of the very first American mega churches, in Downtown Atlanta. It was alive with music and Holy Ghost preaching. I decided to stay and see what the Lord could do with me as Luke 16:10 burned in my heart, “He that is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much” KJV

I started to help at church where the need was greatest — children’s music. I founded a children’s choir which grew rapidly. Within six months I was leading the church choir. The Lord was fulfilling his promise and giving music I never knew I had in me.

One year later I was music director for the entire mega church rubbing shoulders with the biggest names in Christian music. The choir had grown to seventy strong and we were on TV weekly. The Lord continued to open musical doors.

March 29, 1981, I was ordained a Pastor and the music ministry flourished for the next 13 years.

In 1994 Wanda and I were called to start a church in Stockbridge, Georgia. Gospel Outreach Church was born. The church was an instant success and our music team was the best of the best. We continued to grow buying land and drawing up a master plan for a new church building.

Then a series of crises struck our family followed by the 2008 economic down turn. It all slammed the church doors shut. We were overwhelmed and when the dust settled our grandchild Connor, died from SIDS. A year after Connor’s death, the mother of that child, Amanda received an overdose of Oxycodone and became severely brain injured. A mere year later my middle son killed the man responsible for giving his sister the drugs. He is now on Georgia’s death row awaiting execution by lethal injection. Then our eldest daughter Wendy died as she convulsed while qualified medical staff stood by and watched incorrectly thinking she was reacting from a drug overdose. Thirty days later I watched helplessly as Wendy’s son, Devin, dropped dead in front of my eyes due to complications from End Stage Renal Disease. Devin was only 22 years old!

All this is contained in my book “Others Had Trials, A Modem Day Story of Job” — available on Amazon. Hebrews 11:35-36 “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.”

Through it all my phone kept ringing for ministry. Gospel Outreach Church may have closed its brick and mortar doors, but we moved to the internet. Today every Sunday and Wednesday we minister via emails and video on Facebook to shut ins and others that are looking for the pure word of the Lord. Truly a Church Without Walls!

Through the years the Lord has given me visions. Like the one where a flaming chariot came down to get me and took me to heaven where I saw baby Connor being held in the arms of Jesus — so I would know he was alright.

And then my daughter Wendy appeared with a smile on her face. And then my daddy’s shoes were standing next to the sandals of Jesus. And my mamma’s bigger than normal feet for a woman were on the other side.

My favorite Bible verse is Luke 16:10. “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much” NKJV

As a Pastor my most enjoyable moments are conducting funerals! I consider them graduation ceremonies. Funerals are an incredible opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ at a touchable moment when hearts are open. In a funeral I will sing “I can only Imagine” and “The Anchor Holds” as weeping eyes turn toward the Lord, who holds our future in His hands.

The Cross to me is summed up in Col 2:13-15 where Jesus makes a show of His strength.
“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

This cross planted is a strong notice to this entire neighborhood and the world that we stand for Jesus. JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

Prayer: Father thank you for watching over those who serve you. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!