At the tender age of 6, I was greatly influenced by television ads. After seeing a Brill Cream commercial numerous times that claimed one could have beautiful hair with just “a little dab,” I decided a whole tube would be even better!

Delighted to find the miraculous salve in our bathroom, I anointed my head with all of it. After I had finished, I revealed the new me to my surprised parents.

After multiple shampooings, it became obvious that the cleansing process would take time. For weeks whenever I ventured out in public, I wore my Easter hat, a scarf or other head wear to conceal my finely greased hair.

RADIO PIONEER

Edna Jean Green was born on October 23, 1909, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Salvation Army officers. She was the oldest of six children. Her parents eventually left the Salvation Army and assumed the leadership of a Holiness church in Ionia, Michigan.

Edna Jean started preaching in her parent’s church at the age of 12. As a teen-ager she had her own tent but was accompanied by her father because of her young age. They traveled extensively throughout the Midwestern states conducting open-air, brush arbor and tent meetings. Other meetings were conducted in churches and meeting halls.

Edna Jean was widely accepted by various denominational churches. In 1925, she received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which gave her ministry a new fire and intensity.

IT WAS A WOEFUL TIME WHEN MY VISION FOR MINISTRY DIED. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE END OF MY MARRIAGE TOO, HAD I NOT LEARNED TO TRUST GOD WITH EVERYTHING.

Some years ago, before my conversion, my husband, Nestor, renounced mysticism and gave his life to the Lord. I filed for a divorce.

Though I had grown up in a denominational church, my eyes were blinded to the gospel. But Nestor continued to pray for me, even when we were no longer together, and stood in faith for the return of everything the enemy had stolen from him.

LIFE WOULD BE HORRIBLY BORING IF WE WERE ALL THE SAME. DON’T STRESS YOURSELF–JUST BE WHO YOU ARE.

Aware of the public’s increased demand for authenticity, advertisers today are placing a fresh emphasis on the “real thing.” They sell drinks that have “no artificial sweeteners,” bread that contains “no preservatives” and fabrics that are “100 percent cotton.” (I have yet to figure out why 100 percent cotton is such a big deal. My iron and I have huge fights with it at least once a week!)

We all have a basic craving for the real rather than the phony. Yet more often than not we maintain a veneer of acceptability in our daily lives that belies who we really are.

IF WE’RE NOT CAREFUL, WE CAN INVEST A LOT OF ENERGY DEVELOPING PROJECTS THAT HAVE NO ETERNAL VALUE. WE NEED TO BUILD ACCORDING TO GOD’S PLAN, NOT OUR OWN.

Editor’s note: The following excerpt is a portion of the record of the Rountrees’ visions of heaven and the revelations the Holy Spirit gave them. The excerpt begins right after “Anna” has been directed by an angel to take the path to the throne room and go see her heavenly Father.

Much to my amazement, the path on which I had begun to walk seemed to be in motion, like a conveyor belt or a moving sidewalk. I looked down at my bare feet standing on its smooth, advancing surface.

Though I can’t remember when I took my first drink, I’m sure I was really young. I do remember getting high on marijuana for the first time at the age of 13. From that point on, my behavior deteriorated.

In my early school years I was an overachiever, but by the time I was in the 8th grade, I’d begun believing I was going to hell anyway, so I just adopted a “Who cares?” attitude and determined to have as much fun on my way as I could.

I began going to clubs at 16 and went home with whomever I wanted. I ran with a group of three other girls, and we’d boast about our sexual experiences.