by Doug Bing, Washington Conference president
Do you have duct tape in your home? There is a very good chance that you do. There is also a very good chance that you have used duct tape at least once if not multiple times.
There are several sayings about duct tape. One is that “if you can’t fix something with duct tape it can’t be fixed.” Another is “If you can’t fix it with duct tape use more duct tape.”
It is a great thing to have a roll of this very useful tape around.
Like most things, however, duct tape hasn’t always been around. Back in 1943 there was a lady named Vesta Stoudt who was working at the Green River Ordnance plant that made ammunition for the war effort.
Vesta’s job was to inspect the boxes of ammunition and realized that there was a flaw. The boxes were sealed with paper tape and then the entire box was dipped in wax in order to make it waterproof.
However, the paper tab that was supposed to be torn off to open the box was thin and easily would tear without opening the box. Thus, when soldiers were under fire they would have to frantically try to open the box. It was a flaw in the system.
Vesta developed an idea to have a waterproof tape to seal the boxes instead. She drew up diagrams and presented it to her direct supervisors.
They did not like the idea.
Vesta, however, was not to be deterred. She wrote directly to President Roosevelt who was so impressed by the idea that he ordered the War Department to develop her idea.
Thus, the birth of duct tape that now comes in standard gray as well as all sorts of designer patterns. Now duct tape is in most homes around the country all because a lady wouldn’t give up but instead wrote directly to the president. She went to the top.
We have that same opportunity every single day of our lives. We can go directly to the top with our prayers, ideas, concerns, frustrations, praises, anguish, and intercessions.
We can go directly to the top knowing that God truly does listen and communicate with us through the Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:9-10 tells us ask, seek and knock on the door of heaven. Keep talking to God about the things on your heart. Luke 11:13 also tells us that God knows how to give good gifts to us and that the Holy Spirit is a gift that is given as we ask.
Recently I heard one of our pastors in a sermon challenge the congregation to add just 10 more minutes to their daily prayer time and see how much more God would share with them.
What a great challenge and what rewards come from sending those letters to heaven!
If each member enters into a covenant relationship with God, we would see even more amazing things happening in our churches and schools that we do now. Would you join in that commitment?
Our Conference Prayer Goals
Our prayer is for the gospel to all of western Washington with every member filled with the Holy Spirit and in a covenant relationship with God.
- Every church a growing revitalized church
- At least 3 new churches planted in 2023
- Every church experiencing baptisms in 2023
- At least 1,000 baptisms this year (an average of 8 baptisms per church)
- Every school being a growing, spirit-filled school