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Irene's parents were very grieved over what they called her "foolishness." Her father told her if she was baptized, she could not come home anymore. For two years, she was forced to stay away but she remained true to Christ. Then her father called her to come back home. He tried to get her to be more liberal and more moderate, to compromise, to keep quiet about Jesus,. but Irene says, "I'm glad I did not listen to my father, for a few weeks later I was cleaning my mother's bedroom as she was lying down, and I was singing to her in our language, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus.''' While I was singing, my mother began to weep. She said to me, 'Oh, Irene, I would give anything in the world if I had the hope beyond the grave that you have.' I stopped sweeping, knelt by her bedside, put my arms around her and I thank God my precious mother cried out to the Lord, and the Lord heard her and forgave her sins. She was gloriously saved. She witnessed to my father and witnessed to my friends who came to see her. My father would not accept her conversion, but a few months later God took her home."
Later, because Irene remained true to Christ, her father also was converted. She received a wire from her brother telling about it. She hurried back home to East St. Louis, called him, and then called a taxi and went to see him. He begged her forgiveness for the way he had treated her and of course, he was forgiven. Then Irene asked, "How did it happen?" He said, "Sunday night I was walking the streets. I was very lonesome, missing your mother, when I heard the singing in a little Methodist Church. I went in. The preaching had not begun, but while they were singing, I went down to the front and got on my knees. And then, Irene, Jesus came into my heart. He has forgiven me, will you?"
Today, Irene's father, also, has gone on to be with Jesus. How glad she is that she stood true to God and was able to win both her parents to Christ. "I thank God for the school teacher who faithfully prayed for me and so earnestly witnessed to me that one day I came into the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ," Irene says, "I am so rich in Him to think that all this is mine and Heaven, too, because someone loved the soul of this Jewess."
(Taken from Irene Hanley's book, Hallelujah! He Found Me! – used by permission.)
In Straight Paths Page 11
