Dan Vestal Sr., Tribute
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Dan Vestal Sr. 1918 - 1980
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Written in 1939 in a newspaper, “Dan Vestal may be a diamond unpolished, but he sparkles all the same. Using an electrical term, he is a live wire and every time he touches you he shocks you. As the electric shock is good for physical paralysis so his sharp shocks are good for spiritual paralysis. His characteristic grammar and spontaneous slang would not serve to cover the King’s English with a classical robe, but it conveys gospel truths to the hearts of men with pungent power. By experience he knows men and by a skillful manipulation of the laws of psychology he is a consummate artist in the mastery of strategic situations. He has a magnetic personality, a fascinating smile and an effective dramatic turn. His sermons on “Hell’s Angel’s” are a masterpiece, but on the whole he appeals to the heart rather than the head. Some of his quick, decisive conclusions are forceful and brilliant.
Adjectives are inadequate to express his splendid work, where-ever he goes. His force marches the atrophying cold of two fierce blizzards like conquering heroes. No external power could stay the upward success of the tremendous spiritual tide. Strong men who had dived to the depths of sin pushed their way through the throngs to seek peace and pardon in surrendering to God. Brother Vestal has seen the stubborn wills that had clashed and flashed in personal misunderstandings become as one under the will of the Supreme Ruler. He has seen the Moralists, bankers, capitalists, ranchmen, judges, doctors, policemen, ex-saloon men, all come to live closer to Christ. Dan Vestal is a young man, a hard worker and if permitted to live he is destined to become a great evangelist of international repute.” |
 Joel Vestal with his grandfather, Dan Vestal, Sr. in 1976 |
