It was a day Cheryl Wilson would never forget. She and her husband Bob prayed that morning for God's protection before Bob left the house to sell religious books. Before selling, he headed for the local dump in his pickup truck to drop off building scraps. When part of his load scattered over the four-lane highway, Bob pulled over to reload it. As he bent over to place the last item in the truck, he heard the sound of a 3/4-ton Ford truck. Bob turned around just before it crushed both legs, below and above his knees. Both vehicles had the imprint of his body.

Fortunately, the accident happened near a fire station. Emergency personnel immediately rushed to his assistance. When they found no pulse, they discovered a severed artery in his leg. As they applied pressure, Bob was rushed to the hospital.

An orthopedic surgeon wanted to amputate his right leg at the knee because it was black due to a lack of blood circulation. However, a vascular surgeon "pulled" the veins together, “sewed” them, and Bob and Cheryl prayed the blood would start flowing. God's miraculous power answered their prayers.

After five weeks in the hospital Bob was released, but there was a place above his knee where the bones had not healed. Bob and Cheryl believe they providentially read in a magazine about how a battery placed inside the body would stimulate bone growth. Though their physician had never performed this procedure, he gave it a try—and it worked! Bob dreamed of walking again, and a year later it happened. There were other complications, but Bob and Cheryl learned that with God, they could handle anything. Cheryl says, “Trials are designed to make us into pure gold.”

Today, 26 years later, Bob is a Bible worker. At 86 years of age, he has helped raise up the Holt Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship. God used him to bring 18 people to Jesus, and they were baptized. Bob can't walk a lot because of the accident, but that doesn't stop him! He conducts Bible studies in the afternoons and evenings and prepares mass mailings of “Something Wonderful” cards to find additional Bible study interests.

Bob loves to lead young people to the Lord. Cheryl says he has a burning desire for them because when his oldest son wanted to be baptized and give his heart to the Lord, the pastor said he wasn't old enough and couldn't be baptized. Bob’s son never asked again and chose a different path for his life. One of the young people Bob studied with was Chris Larsen. (Read Chris’ journey to Jesus on page five.)

Bob looks back at all the miracles God performed when He saved his life. But he believes, “The greatest miracle, however, is when a sinner sees the plan of salvation and is drawn to Jesus, who died on the cross. Then God saves them eternally."

Bob and Cheryl believe Bob was saved to serve. Cheryl expressed, “We have all been saved to serve!”

Cheryl Wilson is the personal ministries and evangelism secretary in the Michigan Conference. Bruce Babienco is a Lake Union Herald volunteer correspondent.