STRUGGLES BUILD OUR CHARACTER
January 27, 2026THE GOD WHO SPEAKS!
January 29, 2026Man, since the fall in the Garden of Eden, has been trying to reform himself. Yet, every effort towards that desired end had ended in failure. It is not so much the effort and the sincerity of man, but that it is impossible for man to reform himself, on his own. The sickness of “sin” that he is plagued with is such that, it is impossible to reform himself on his own.
The story of Melvin Ernest Trotter (May 16, 1870–September 11, 1940) is a story which demonstrates this spiritual truth that, only the LORD Jesus Christ can and will transform, everyone who surrender their lives to Him, and seek His face for grace, mercy and forgiveness. Mel Trotter by his late teens, became a gambler and a hopeless drunkard, apart from other issues. On 19 January 1897, as a sixteen year old homeless man, hopelessly addicted to alcohol, whose life was beyond any human help, got himself totally drunk with an intention to commit suicide, because he had no hope left for his life. He wanted to drown himself in Lake Michigan, but staggers unintentionally into the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, a Christian rescue mission just for people like Mel Trotter. Here he finds the LORD Jesus Christ, and becomes a Christian.
Three years later, Mel Trotter walks out of Pacific Garden Mission as a free man – free from alcohol, gambling and every other evil that held him captive. Trotter, who experienced the love of the LORD Jesus, and His transforming power in his life, wanted the same for countless others on the streets. He starts Grand Rapids City Rescue Mission in 1900, and which is eventually renamed as the Mel Trotter Mission. In the forty years of running the Mission, Mel Trotter helped rescue many others by the power of the LORD Jesus. He helped them start 68 other Rescue Missions across the country, where hundreds upon hundreds of young people, addicted to alcohol and other such abusive substances were rescued by the power of the LORD Jesus Christ. HalleluYah!!!
The Bible records for our benefit what the LORD can and will do, to all who turn to Him for help. Isn’t that wonderful? It sure is, especially to the one who is rescued and transformed. I am one such man.
– “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
– “3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” – Psalms 34:3-8
Let us remember always, and never forget that the transformation is available only in the LORD Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us too, like Mel Trotter, this morning, come to the LORD, and place all what is troubling us at the LORD’s feet. He will take care of it, and will transform us into a blessing.
Let us praise God for His transforming power, which is at work in each of us. Let us praise God for the life of Mel Trotter, for His grace, mercy, forgiveness and the transforming power. Let us praise God for the ministry that the LORD entrusted to Mel Trotter’s care. Let us realise and remember always that, God who cared for Mel Trotter, and countless others like him, and transformed them into a blessing; the same God is willing to take what we are willing to place in His hand, and transform it as a blessing to many others. Even so, the LORD help us.
