BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

'When are you going to do what I called you to do?' “I’m going to do it, Lord.” Clyde turned in his resignation and began serving in his home church, where he worked every day, serving for free. He worked a night shift job to earn money. One morning at 8:30, Clyde turned on the radio after his night shift. That was the first time he heard Kenneth Copeland teach. Grabbing a Bible and notebook, Clyde began intently taking notes. From there, he listened to the broadcast every morning. The following year, he married and was offered a job at his father-in-law’s company. When he went for the interview, the supervisor explained the position, then said, “The job is yours if you want it.” In that moment, Clyde was silent. “What’s your hesitation?” the supervisor asked. “The job starts at 8 each morning,” Clyde said. “I’ve been listening to a preacher out of Texas by the name of Kenneth Copeland. He comes on at 8:30, and I don’t want to miss his teaching.” “That’s no problem,” the supervisor told Clyde. “Come in at 8 o’clock and take your break early at 8:30. You can come in my office and listen to your program.” Clyde was not expecting that kind of response. Grateful, he accepted the job, and the offer to take an early break. Then, in 1979, the Lord directed him to move to Fort Worth and work for KCM. He and his family joined Jerry Savelle’s church, Overcoming Faith Center, and Clyde attended and eventually graduated from Savelle’s school, Overcoming Faith Bible Training Center. They bought a house, and with two small children they settled in. Growing Pains Scanning the product tables one more time, Clyde smiled at the realization that there was no place on earth he’d rather be than right here, about to serve the people who’d come to this Believers’ Convention. He was living his dream. Then without warning, his wife left. Colette, their daughter, was 5 years old. Their son, Doug, was 3. Suddenly, Clyde was a single parent. “My first thought was that I needed to move back home to Virginia so my mom could help me with the kids,” Clyde said. “About that time, I was overwhelmed with a memory. I was the oldest of seven children. After my mother gave birth to the sixth child, she had a nervous breakdown and was admitted to a hospital where she stayed for seven months.” Because the relationship between Clyde’s parents was strained for most of his childhood, Clyde’s father was rarely present in the home, Clyde said. So, there was no one to take care of the children. “We kids were divided up among different family members,” Clyde explained. “One day I overheard some of the family members complaining about the problems that created. School was already out for the summer, so I stepped forward and suggested that they let us all go home. I would look after my siblings. They agreed to give it a try. “I was 10 years old and used to helping my mother with chores. I cooked, cleaned and took care of the kids. They were thrilled to be home and back together, something they still thank me for to this day. Family members checked on us regularly to make sure we were OK. “Mom recovered and came home by the end of summer. She was a great stabilizer in our lives and still is today. As I pondered these things, I realized that if I could take care of my siblings when I was 10, with God’s help I could surely take care of my children. “It was rough. I didn’t tell anyone what had happened for several months. I just went on with my work. I had a little plaque on my desk that said, "I Will Bloom Where I’m Planted." For a long time I ached when I looked at that plaque. Sometimes the growing process hurt. I often thought about Psalm 34:19, ‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.’ “I had to believe that somehow, the Lord would deliver me out of the pain of this loss.” Not knowing what to do, or who to talk to, Clyde finally confided in Barry Tubbs, who was the associate minister at KCM, and his wife, Sue. 12 : BVOV

• Cover