Remember the Whole Way by Which He Has Brought You: Part 1

The Lord took me far from home to single me out for a lifetime of ministry.

When he brought me back, he led me to Dallas Theological Seminary, where I would receive my training for lifelong service. Each time I look back at my story—really, Cynthia’s and my story—I’m overwhelmed by his grace and the hope I’ve known as he faithfully led us each step along the way.

 After high school, I completed a four-and-a-half-year apprenticeship at a machine shop. During those years I met and married Cynthia. Two years later, I joined the Marines; back then, military service was mandatory. My first tour of duty was in San Francisco. Cynthia and I were blissfully happy. She was the most wonderful individual I’d ever met. From the beginning, she has always loved me simply for who I am, which is the best way to be loved. In our first two years of marriage, we enjoyed a wonderful time together in a little home outside Houston, and then for a few months in San Francisco. And then one day an unexpected letter arrived: I learned that the Marines were sending me overseas . . . to the island of Okinawa. At that time, wives were not allowed to accompany their husbands to overseas assignments. Talk about a shock! We were to endure sixteen long months apart, during which time I wouldn’t even hear her voice, since phone calls were too expensive. Deep within our hearts we knew we’d make it. But I felt dreadfully disappointed in God, even bitter, asking him, “How could you let this happen?”

Little did I realize what he had planned for me during those many months on that South Pacific island. It started on the troop ship on the way there (twenty-one days at sea). I read a book my brother had given me:  Through Gates of Splendor. In that excellent volume, Elisabeth Elliot tells the story of her husband and four other men who gave their lives to reach the Waorani of Ecuador in 1956. I thought, “If they would do this, and those wives could go on without their husbands—and they were all martyred—then Cynthia and I can certainly survive this.” That became a turning point for me in my attitude about having to leave my sweetheart and lifelong companion, Cynthia. Once I arrived on Okinawa, God favored me with a special role in the Marine 3rd Division Band, which allowed me extra time for Bible study, Scripture memory, and spiritual formation. I met Bob Newkirk, who served with The Navigators. Bob became a devoted spiritual mentor and a dear friend. That wonderful man built into my life and encouraged me to pursue a Scripture memory program that I remain committed to. In our free time, we’d go out and hold public meetings on a flatbed truck. A crowd would gather for an evangelistic street meeting. Eventually, Bob said, “Chuck, you can sing—I also want you to sing and preach. You just lead the whole thing.” 

So that’s what I did. On the way back to my military base, he’d say to me, “You’re a natural, you know that? You’ve got it.” His words came as a total surprise! After some months of digging into the Scriptures and singing and preaching, I said to Bob, “I think I’m going to study for the ministry.” Bob enthusiastically replied, “Now you’re talking!” I’ll never forget his prayer that evening. I sensed the Lord’s call on my life from that day on. I wrote to Cynthia to tell her I’d surrendered my life to the Lord for ministry. She went into orbit, she was so thrilled.

So, after those months on Okinawa, I was honorably discharged from the Marines, took the next flight home to Cynthia, and decided to apply to Dallas Theological Seminary. We were so excited! I knew I didn’t have all the academic credentials to be accepted—I hadn’t even graduated from college!—but I trusted in God’s leading, and I held on to hope. We drove to Dallas, and we went to campus to meet with Dr. Donald Campbell, who served at the time as the seminary’s registrar and top admissions officer. Oh, how I loved that man. He said, “Let’s give you a few tests and see if you can do master’s-level work at a theological seminary.” He gave me three tests, telling me to be sure to add verses of Scripture where they applied; after all my Bible study and Scripture memory on Okinawa, I was able to pack every answer with verses. By God’s grace, I did very well on all three tests. Dr. Campbell said, “Okay, Chuck, we’ll accept you on probation.” I teared up. I was so thrilled, so honored; the seminary rarely allowed that kind of probationary admission. I took a job as the seminary’s lawn keeper, mowing the grass on campus—75 cents an hour, paid toward our $63 monthly rent. That job allowed me to meet many of the faculty members. I knew this was all made possible by the grace of God. So, with eagerness, I started classes. That first year, 1959, amazingly, I made straight As. Dr. Campbell called me in and said, “You’re certainly doing the work. I’ll take you off probation, but I want to see you at the end of your second year.” To my surprise, I made all As again in my second year. I continued in Greek, and I took Hebrew with Bruce Waltke. I loved the languages, loved theology, loved Christian education, loved church history, and loved Bible exposition. I loved it all! As I studied, I realized that ministry is not about brilliance as much as discipline. I didn’t have a history with any prestigious institutions, but my years in the Marine Corps had certainly taught me the essential value of discipline. I did all the work each semester in my classes; I worked diligently, and I loved it. I absolutely loved it—as did Cynthia, who typed all my papers.

Nearing graduation, as Cynthia and I wondered where God would lead us, we claimed Deuteronomy 8:2 together: Remember the whole  way by which he has brought you  these forty years  through the wilderness so  that he might, by humbling  you, test you  to see if you have it within you to keep his  commandments  or not.

I received four ministry offers, including an invitation from Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost to become the assistant pastor of Grace Bible Church in Dallas. Cynthia and our young family had weathered a lot during my years in seminary, and staying in Dallas was just what we needed. God is good! We had four and a half wonderful years serving at that church before God moved us—first up to the Northeast, then back to Texas, and later out West.

But I could never have imagined a call from DTS years later, in 1993, with an invitation I had neither expected nor desired. God was going to invite me to step out once again in hope, trusting in his grace, to consider becoming the fourth president of Dallas Theological Seminary. 

It was virtually unbelievable!

WATCH FOR PART TWO OF THIS ARTICLE IN THE FALL 2024 ISSUE!

About the Contributors

Charles R. Swindoll

Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word and His grace. A pastor at heart, Chuck has served as the founder and senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. His leadership as president and now Chancellor Emeritus of Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation for ministry. Chuck and his wife Cynthia, have four grown children, ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.