April 13, 1997, was a dark, rainy, dreary day as my wife, Martha, and I traveled home. The ominous clouds that hung in the sky closely paralleled the feelings that filled our hearts since learning of my father's sudden death the night before. But then, all of a sudden, a hole opened in the clouds just large enough to let the sun's rays streak upward to the heavens and downward upon our path. At the same time, a beautiful silver cord lined the clouds from east to west as far as the eye could see. There seemed no doubt that our "great Shepherd of the sheep," the God of all creation, was speaking all-encompassing words of comfort, encouragement and promise to our hearts from the heavens which declare the glory of God.

Some of the readers of this magazine had come to know my father, Donald T. Johnson, through the truth of God he often shared in the editor's page over the past forty years. As faithful readers of this world-wide outreach can attest, he sought uncompromisingly to make Christ and His truth known, realizing fully that "neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:7).

Others can tell how they were partakers in God's "increase," as the Word ministered to them bore fruit in their lives to salvation, sanctification and service for the Lord. Several told me at the funeral home how this servant of the Lord was used to bring them to Christ. His ministry among the assemblies of the Lord's people since 1944 and his radio messages on the weekly Moments With The Book broadcast since 1966 have doubtless "planted" countless others for his Lord. Eternity will fully reveal the extent of the "increase" given and also the reward to be received "according to his own labor" (1 Corinthians 3:8).

It is my prayer as we begin a new chapter in the Moments With The Book ministries that this publication will continue to build upon the "foundation…that is laid which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:10,11), reaching many souls with the message of the gospel and its power to deliver from sin, self and Satan, to righteousness, others and Christ. Pray for the MWTB staff, "God's fellow-workmen" (1 Corinthians 3:9 JND), to be faithful, rightly dividing the Word of truth, ever encouraged to rest on the promises of God's Word, even in the darkest days.

In this issue the message is centered around a verse of Scripture God has used to bring many souls to Himself, including my own some forty-five years ago. May the Seed sown fall on good ground.