Panama Tom Willey A sentimental trip back to Cuba to commemorate 60^th anniversary of the founding of the Cedars of Lebanon Seminary,

"Revival at T.F.I."

The Son of Adventure Part 8 by T.R. Willey

In October of 2006 Thomas H. Willey Jr. attended his 55^th high school anniversary on the campus of Toccoa Falls College. Formerly known as Toccoa Falls Institute and founded by Dr. R.A. Forrest in 1907, the school is situated in the North Georgia foothills of the Smokey Mountains and was originally both a high school and college. Affiliated with the Christian denomination known as the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Toccoa Falls has always had a strong focus on foreign missions work.

In the 55 years since Tom Jr. had attended much on the campus had changed, but the beauty of the surroundings, especially in the autumn, was just as he had remembered. Like most high school reunions, time was spent catching up with old friends, showing off pictures of the children and grandchildren, and remembering all the capers and pranks that were pulled off in the name of good clean fun.

During one of the get-togethers Tom Jr. bumped into Karl Anderson, who had been one of his old high school instructors at T.F.I. After the initial pleasantries Karl pulled Tom aside and sat him down on a bench. He began with "I want to tell you a story about your father," a line the one gets used to hearing in the Willey family. "This happened in the early fifties, and as far as I know no one has ever recorded the event in the school records. But I was there, and saw it with my own eyes…" He went on to tell Tom Jr. a story that was amazing even by the Willey family standards…

As is true even today, every semester Toccoa Falls hosts a Missions conference where missionaries from around the world are invited to come and share their experiences with the student body. At this particular conference sometime in the early 1950’s, Thomas H. Willey Sr. was one of the featured speakers.

During the morning service while the first speaker was giving his address, Tom Sr. noticed with great interest a group of young Hispanic students in the audience. During the 1940’s and 50’s it was common for many Cuban families to send their children to attend T.F.I. as the available student work programs made a stateside tuition affordable. The drawback was that many students arrived knowing little to no English, and had to learn the language as they went.

As Tom observed the group of young Cuban students fidgeting in their chairs and staring off into space he could tell that they understood little to nothing of what was being said by the speakers. During the first intermission Tom asked for permission to speak to the Hispanic students, and was provided with a microphone.

"Good Morning!" he said to them in Spanish. The group perked up, startled to hear a white man speaking their language. "My name is Thomas Willey Sr., and I am a missionary to your homeland of Cuba." The group smiled excitedly and sat forward in interest. "I have a question for you, and please be honest. Do any of you understand anything that is being said here today by these speakers?"

Members of the group glanced at one another, many looking embarrassed. Finally one of the young men spoke up, "No Senor Willey, most of us speak only a little English, and most of what we hear in these chapel services is too difficult for us to understand."

Tom frowned. "I was afraid of that. I would like to take a few moments to share with you in your own language the message that these men are sharing. It is the message that I have dedicated my life to spreading – the message I share with your countrymen every day on the island of Cuba. It is a story all men and women deserve the chance to hear…"

Tom began explaining, in Spanish, the message of the Christian Gospel – how God had created mankind in his own image for the purpose of having a love relationship with Him. He had given man a free will like His own, because without freedom true love cannot exist. Unfortunately, man had abused that free will and introduced sin into the world, which brought with it separation from the holy Creator and therefore both physical and spiritual death.

As God did not wish for this separation to exist permanently he provided a means of reconciliation. He came to earth and lived in the form of a humble carpenter and, because he was God, was able to live a life free of sin. He then allowed Himself to be taken and killed, and then raised Himself from the dead three days later. In death He took a penalty that He did not deserve, and now offers mankind His own spotless record in exchange for man’s sinful one.

A man or woman can now stand at judgment after their earthly death no longer with their own record of sin which would condemn them, but with the clean slate of Christ to show in it’s place. This chance for redemption is a choice that God offers to all people – He is a gentleman who will not force someone to choose against their will. A person can decide to accept the chance for life, or continue on their own and be accountable for their own sins in the end.

As an added bonus God gives the person who chooses to serve Him the ability for the first time to live no longer controlled and enslaved by their own sinful impulses and desires, and as a result he can live a more abundant and joyful life on earth unburdened by the guilt of sin.

Tom concluded, "This is the message that these men are speaking about. It is the message of hope that I’ve dedicated my life to sharing with the people of Latin America. It is God’s will that everyone around the world have the opportunity to hear this good news and be able to decide for themselves. The chance for salvation and reconciliation is before you today – the nail pierced hand of Christ is outstretched to save you from spiritual death. Reach forward and take it today, as there is no guarantee of tomorrow. What will you do with this news, now that you have heard?"

As Tom looked into the faces of the Hispanic students and saw tears in many eyes, he knew that the message had struck home. It was obvious that many were understanding the message of the Christian gospel for the first time.

Thomas H. Willey Sr. visiting the campus of Toccoa Falls Institute, 1948

Looking up for a moment Tom became suddenly aware that the rest of the auditorium was completely silent. So intent had he been on speaking to the group in front of him that he hadn’t noticed that most of the American students that had been milling around during the break had stopped to listen as he shared his heart in a foreign language. To Tom’s shock he found the same look of revelation and the same tears in the eyes of the dozens of English speaking students. As he gave the invitation in Spanish to come to the altar and pray, many of the Hispanic students came forward. Then, to Tom’s own amazement, a steady stream of American students began to make their way to the altar and kneel in prayer. A spirit of repentance and spiritual awakening took place in the entire student body gathered in the auditorium that morning and continued throughout the day and into the evening. Classes were cancelled for the remainder of the day and many students even skipped meals as both Anglos and Hispanics knelt side by side in prayer, spiritual brothers and sisters all seeking the face of God.

Skeptics today may say that it was merely Tom Sr.’s charisma or the power of his delivery that caused such a dramatic effect on the student body at Toccoa Falls Institute. Karl Anderson has a different opinion about what happened that day. Sitting on the bench with Tom Jr., he concluded, "I will never forget that service where a person speaking another language was used by the power of God to bring a revival to people who did not understand the actual words but were moved by the Spirit of God. Truly this was an instance when "Pentecost tongues" were manifested in the twentieth century."

"…the multitude came together, and were confounded, because every man heard them speak in his own language." Acts 2:6

Copyright © 2008 - The Fedora Chronicles