Bro. Starks Homegoing "Let's go to Prayer Meeting tonight," Bro. Starks said. It was Thursday night Intercessory Prayer meeting on December 9, l999. I took him and dropped him off at the men's prayer room door and went to park the car. He told me, "I don't think I can climb the stairs. OK, no problem, we will just pray here for a while and then go home."

Dale R. Starks Missionary & Author

Bro. Starks had just finished ten radiation treatments the day before and was weak, but had no pain medication since the day before. He went through many times of not being able to talk clearly or breathe properly.

As prayer began, everyone entered into a wonderful spirit of victory and power. Some were sitting on the floor, others on their faces before God and Oh, how the power of God rained down. They gathered around and prayed for him and me. A chorus was started, and another, and then another from the pew, where he was too weak to sit, so now he was laying with his head on a jacket on the end of the pew. Beautiful....glorious....victorious and then came the victory march around the pew with many falling in behind as Bro. Starks led the march. Oh how good our God is!

More prayer was made for Malaysia where we have spent over 16 years of our lives. A crusade was to begin that very day. Strong prayers with intercession was made and suddenly one sister began to speak in tongues. Bro, Starks sat up and began to motion "Listen, she is speaking in the Malay language." He spoke that language very fluently and recognized the words she was saying and began to interpret for us, "Most high praises;" "Holy and righteous is His name;" "Spiritual".

Friday evening, He asked for his glasses and the newspaper. I brought them to the table where he sat and went back to the kitchen sink and continued to work. "Here it is! I need $150.00," he said. "Oh, honey, what do you want to buy?" "I want a puppy!" was his reply. I was to call right then. By Saturday afternoon the puppy was found and Sis. Dunn and I were on the road to get it. She was a little German Schnauzer not two months old. She was a little sweetheart.

We entered the front door and he was sitting in a chair beside the phone. "I went to sleep and dreamed three time that I would not like her."

We laid her in his arms and the ceremony began. Little Fraulein began at the bandage on his neck and began to lick him on his face, up his head and over, down the other side. And then when she was finished she fell down contented on his chest. It was beautiful to see that little puppy minister to Bro. Starks. She loved him so dearly. She was in his chair with him, on the bed with him, wherever he was she was with him.

On Sunday morning he asked me to call for prayer. Sis. Dunn came by after church and we had a very wonderful prayer meeting with rejoicing. We were believing God for another miracle. He asked me to call John, our son and tell him about victory that was to come. He wanted him to be praying also over in Texas where he lives, so that he would also be a part of the victory celebration.

Bro. Starks was having difficulty breathing and so in the evening we had a visit from a registered nurse. He helped us and encouraged us to get help. After church was over, Sis. Dunn and her husband came by for more prayer. The Lord's presence was so sweet. Victory was so close. He was encouraged to go on the emergency room. It would be less crowded now. "No, no, no we will give God one more day for His will to be done." After prayer, he relaxed and was about to fall asleep sitting on the couch and told us he needed to go to bed.

Another Sister came in and we ladies went into the hall by his door and began to pray again. Oh it was sweet. The sister began again to speak with tongues of Malay. I could understand "Rohani"- meaning spiritual. Then we began to hear him in the bed as he praised the Lord in tongues with rejoicing.

Around midnight as we prepared to sleep, he asked me to sleep with him. He began to speak, but I could not understand him. Very upset at not understanding what he was saying to me, I got up and went for paper, pen and his glasses. "Please write down what you are saying to me. I want to understand your words." Then clearly he said "I wrote something on a paper. Do you find it?" There was no paper written on. "Oh, I must have been thinking it in my mind."

As we lay down again, he began to speak clearly again. "This surgery today is a small thing. Nothing to worry about, a very small thing. TODAY IS GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL DAY!" That was the last clear words I understood. After awhile, his breathing got worse and he went to his chair in the living room, and I went to the couch to be near. Sometime after 2:00A.M I went to sleep.

At 5:40 A.M. I suddenly woke up to a very still house. No loud breathing sounds were to be heard. I ran to the back bedroom to see if he had gone there and closed the door. It was open and the bed was empty. I ran to our bedroom and there he lay...a beautiful picture of PEACE! So relaxed, rested and at peace with his head on his arm--AND GONE TO BE WITH JESUS! For Bro. Starks it was a wonderful day!

To all of you who have sent cards, e-mails and phone calls, THANK YOU FROM OUR HEARTS. Thank you for all the prayers through the months for us. With the Lord's help, I will continue on with the on-line Bible School. Our son, John is working with the web now. Thank you and God bless you.

Note: Homegoing video is available through White Steeple Books and Music, Alexandria, LA; Tel. #1-888-443-2113

Sis. Josephine S. Starks, Missionary & Teacher and Family