On this day, we remember the courage of a great believer and minister of the 20th century: Grady R. Kent (1909-1964). He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1931. About a year later, he became a member of the church that later came to be known as "Church of God of Prophecy."

Membership in that church was acquired by covenant. The prospective member was asked, "Will you sincerely promise in the presence of God and these witnesses that you will except this Bible as the Word of God ? believe and practice its teachings rightly divided ? the New Testament as your rule of faith and practice, government and discipline, and walk in the light to the best of your knowledge and ability?" To this question, Brother Kent offered the required response: "I will."

This promise, however, has a built in problem. If you receive light from God, you must walk in it, as promised, to the best of your knowledge and ability. If that same light has not been revealed to, or accepted by, the fellowship with which you are covenanted to by this very promise, they may forbid you from walking in it.

This was precisely the case for Brother Kent. As God was revealing new light, he was faithfully preaching it among the churches of that fellowship. When those in authority did not like some of this new revelation, they forbade his teaching of it. Their ultimatum to him: cease from your preaching of this new light, or resign.

This was the most difficult decision he would probably ever make in his life. He loved God. He loved the Church of God of Prophecy. He loved that church so much, that he once told my grandfather, Bro. Cecil J. Cunningham, his fellow-minister there, that if he ever left that church, not to go with him, because he would have gone crazy.

But once the church had taken its stand, Bro. Kent saw the folly in making such statements, as harmless as they may seem at the time. They were forcing him to choose between the church he loved, where he had been a member for around 25 years, and God. As heart-breaking as it was, the choice was clear. On February 13th, 1957, Brother Grady R. Kent, with tears in his eyes and a trembling voice, offered his resignation.

God had opened his eyes to things in the Bible that he could not simply walk away from. He chose God over his fellowship, his family, and his friends.

Because he remained faithful to his promise, God blessed Brother Kent as he went on to form a new fellowship: The Church of God. Let us also have the courage to stand for God?s Word, no matter what the cost.