Some time ago we received an e-mail from a daughter in the upper Midwest telling us of a neighboring city's newspaper article concerning a friend of ours from years past.
During World War II Oliver Omanson, together with nine other soldiers, became trapped behind enemy lines in Italy. The war was far from over; it was July of 1943. Temporarily hiding in a basement, they were subsequently betrayed by a local citizen and taken to Poland from where he and approximately 1,000 other prisoners were forced to march over 600 miles to a location near Hanover, Germany. Dramatically rescued immediately prior to the end of the war, Oliver returned to the States, became married and enrolled in theological training. His ministry was productive, leading eventually to one of the larger evangelical churches in his state.
For approximately a year between pastorates of our own, my wife and I resided in the city where Pastor Omanson served. Quite frequently my day would begin by having coffee with him at a local restaurant. This led in time to becoming a regular on his personal Sunday morning radio program. Following a song or two, he would say something to the effect that, "I have been thinking about such and such a Scripture verse or passage this past week. Burl, what do you make of it?" In keeping with the program's sense of spontaneity, one never knew beforehand what the verse or passage would be. We would then dialoge in a free flowing exchange of thoughts and ideas. It was a good program and had a loyal audience.
While having yet to obtain a copy, Pastor Omanson has now written a book about his World War II experiences; hence the local paper's feature article about both himself and the book.
Our main point here does not concern the foregoing however. For upon having taken the pastorate of a small church and seeing it grow to the thriving congregation mentioned above, another somewhat similar denomination saw fit to sponsor a competing congregation approximately one block away from the edifice where Oliver served. Underwritten by a church in a large southern city, a new brick building was erected, a young pastor provided with all expenses paid, guests evangelists provided, as well as out of state workers who came by the busload to assist in various projects. As one of the instigating parties to the cause at large, much of the new work's impetus derived from a disgruntled former member of Oliver's church.
Never, however, did I hear a negative or unkind word from Oliver. Indeed, there were times when, upon learning that the newly installed pastor of the competing church was battling discouragement, Oliver would call and say, "Let's see if we can lend a little encouragement here." The young man would be contacted and invited to share our morning coffee break (which, upon being invited, he almost always did) and, if nothing else, we would seek to lift his spirits and get his mind on brighter concerns.
Today Oliver is in his nineties. The then young pastor of the opposing work, while at times discouraged, did not lose heart to the point of leaving Gospel endeavor - in fact, the last that we knew, he was serving as superintendent of a religious school in another state.
Not only did Oliver's kindness contribute to the young man's continuance in ministry, but his spirit and attitude set an example I shall long remember. The Kingdom is blessed to have known such men.
Burl Ratzsch
