What Harry Ironside Told Jack Wyrtzen

Tonight at Word of Life Florida Harry Bollback preached for the Monday night missionary service. For those who don’t know him, Harry is 83 years old and has been with Word of Life for 66 years, which if you do the math means that he started as Jack Wyrtzen’s piano player in 1941. He is full of energy, enthusiasm, excitement and exuberance along with a full helping of passion for the Lord. In many way he embodies the spirit that made Word of Life a worldwide youth ministry. During his message on “What Are You Doing With the Rest of Your Life?”, he mentioned a time in the early days of Word of Life when Harry and Jack went to visit Harry Ironside, the famous Bible teacher who served for many years as pastor of Moody Church in Chicago. He said they went through a winding library filled with books in order to get to Dr. Ironside’s office. When they finally got there, Dr. Ironside asked Jack Wyrtzen how much money Word of Life needed every week. When Jack replied $3000 (this was back in the 1940s), Harry Ironside said, “That’s a lot of money. What would happen if you didn’t get the money?” “I guess they’d put me in jail,” Jack replied. You don’t have to worry about that, ” Dr. Ironside said. “God has never failed anyone yet, and you’re not important enough for him to make an exception now.”