In Step with Jesus Christ Worship times during the first 30 days of this 2011 – 2012 school year are being devoted to the 30 principles of learning to follow Jesus as outlined in the book, Steps to Christ, by Ellen White. We have learned that Jesus loves us, why God loves us, that Jesus connects us to Heaven, and during this week we learned that really being sorry means changing.
We spent two days learning about the life of Harry Orchard, the Dynamite-killer. Harry was a “hired gun” during the early part of the 20th century. He was willing to kill anyone, any place, any time, for the right price.
The biggest “hit” was Governor Frank Steunenberg, who had broken up the Western Federation of Miners (WFM) in the state of Utah. One cold, snowy night in December the now, ex-Governor Steunenberg went home and opened his front gate which tripped a bomb which killed him and led to one of Utah most famous criminal trials.
Dynamite evidence was found in Harry Orchard’s hotel room, and he was immediately arrested and thrown into jail. Harry was furious with God, himself and Bob Haywood, president of the WFM.
While incarcerated, Mrs. Steuenberg, wife of Governor Steunenberg sent Harry a little book entitled, Steps to Christ, and told him she had forgiven him for killing her husband. Now, Harry was furious at her, the one person who had shown him kindness. Harry Orchard was sentenced to life in prison and eventually picked up the little book and began to read. It was a message of God’s love and forgiveness. His hardened heart was strangely warmed.
Harry was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church and became a model prisoner. This same book which helped change a hardened criminal into a follower of Christ is the same book our students are studying right now. Please pray that our students will forever follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Susan Zimmermann
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