A Deep Settled Peace
by Melanie Hemry
On Sept. 9, 2011, peace settled over the Horton home in Tulsa, Okla. Friday evening was winding down for David and Cherie Horton. Cherie had slipped upstairs to check emails in her little study next to their bedroom. David stood at the kitchen sink rinsing a few stray dishes.
David sighed with contentment. As hard as it was to believe, it had been 34 years ago, in 1977, that Kenneth E. Hagin had hired him to play piano and organ for his crusades. He also taught Healing School.
David’s parents, the Rev. W.M. (Doc) and Jeri Horton, had pastored Pentecostal churches and been friends with Kenneth Hagin, who’d loved Jeri’s cooking. David had shared many meals with Kenneth and his wife, Oretha, and Kenneth and Gloria Copeland around his mother’s dining table.
During that time, David had met and married Cherie Bonnema. Cherie not only played piano for Healing School, but she was the first pianist for the Rhema Singers. Thinking of their wedding always gave David pause. It was no surprise that Brother Hagin had prophesied over them. What he prophesied, however, was unexpected.
“When the dark clouds come,” he had said, “you will cling to each other, and many will rise up and call you blessed.”
Brother Hagin often said, “The crises of life come to everyone.”
Each time he heard it, David whispered, “I don’t receive that in the Name of Jesus.”
It sounded like a bad confession to him.
Besides, all these years later, he and Cherie had experienced very few dark clouds. They’d started David Horton Ministries, had three children and traveled the world preaching the gospel. From 1985 through 1995, David had preached inner-city tent meetings with Rosey Grier, a former professional football player, actor and singer.
They’d held tent meetings in some of the toughest cities in the nation. They’d led thousands to Christ and seen multitudes of drug addicts delivered and set free.
Back in 1997 and 1998, David had preached 18 “Miracle Mondays” at Eagle Mountain International Church, on the grounds of Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Texas. During that time, he and Cherie had also become close to Pastors George and Terri Pearsons. David was happy to admit that their wedding prophecy hadn’t come to pass.
A knock on the door shattered the quiet. David looked at his watch. Who would be arriving at 10 p.m.?
Opening the door, David saw their daughter-in-law, Jane. Married to their 26-year-old son, Chris, Jane stood flanked by two men in uniform. With a sinking heart, he realized that this couldn’t be good.
Inside, Jane breathed the words that would change their lives forever.
“Chris has been killed in action in Afghanistan.”
BVOV : 13
