Lay It on Me

D ATERS AND R OMANCERS / 27

drums (I had played for eight years). When he realized I intended to preach, he couldn't believe it. I recall him saying, "I always thought Perry would end up being a comedian." At 18 years of age, I entered a time of fasting and praying for personal direction. During this season of prayer, I went to the Virginia State Camp Meeting in Roanoke, Virginia. In that meeting, a respected minister asked me about my plans in ministry. When I told him, he said, "You will never amount to anything unless you follow the pattern of our denomination." Years later, several ministers confessed that when I was a teenage preacher, they said among themselves, "He is full of wildfire, and it will soon blow over." Others bet on how long I would last before quitting. Still others felt that because I was ministering in extended revivals and seeing great spiritual results, I would succumb to pride, and fail in the ministry. All of this negative attention began to take its toll. In fact, I lived under a cloud of depression for about three years. I have often wondered why I did not just give up and quit the ministry. If some had experienced the criticism and discouragements that I have, then they would have selected another occupation. After years of wondering how I made it through all that, I believe I have the answer. Something within me was restless. That restlessness has never ceased. In 1976, when I was preaching to 15 people, I knew there was something more. I have since preached to 10,000 in just one service, and I still feel that there is more! When I witnessed the first soul converted under my ministry, I knew there was more.