I recently had a call from a man in Colorado who was listening to the book, “Doc”, by Jack Olsen. It is a story that I was very much involved in, as the book reveals. The caller had googled me and called asking if my family and I still thought Doc was innocent of the hundred or so accusations of raping women in medical exams. I told him we did believe him innocent of the charges and I gave some reasons.
After the call, an internet search found that the book was republished in 2015 as a paperback (originally published in 1989). Some stories just don’t go away quickly!
That call got me remembering an incredible six years of life – of ministry – in a small Wyoming town.
1. Those five years began in 1982. About three months after arriving as the new pastor of a Bible church in a Mormon enclave, I was told that there were four active divorce cases among the church families. That month, one husband showed up in church and the situation with them became a very hard road, but they did get back together and ended together. She died about ten years ago.
2. That same year came the founding of a Christian school in the church. I had never done such and had nobody to learn from, so it was an adventure in a host of ways. It was a one-room school type with up to 19 students in one year from grades K to 12.
3. In 1983, I received a call from a despondent father about his son. I went to him and he blurted out, “How does this happen?” His son, in the military, was in a hospital in Texas. He had AIDS! I had NO idea what it was – almost nobody did in 1983! I buried his son in 1995.
4. About 1984, a woman from a neighboring town asked if I would help her friend who was losing a battle with bulimia. Bulimia? What was that? I called a doctor to gain some needed wisdom. He told me the cure rate was 3% and good luck! Good luck? What? Not in my world! It was a long slog, but we watched God bring victory.
5. In 1985, was the trial of one of our elders, “Doc”, which sent him to prison for 17 years of a 20-year sentence. It was a wild ride, to say the least. After the conviction, I was called in by the sheriff and threatened with the same fate. I retorted with, “You mean, without any witnesses or evidence, you will see that I am convicted and jailed.” He responded that he was only telling me what he was told by the county attorney. I pursued a resolve, but got none.
6. About 1986, a family began attending who were British Israelites. Again, what? And in 1986, there was no internet for me to search. Over the course of months, his true colors came to light. He attempted to take over a Sunday School class one morning, so I checked him and he responded with a demonic rant. After a few more encounters, Janet and I both came to believe he was possessed.
7. Also about 1986, a neighbor’s four-year old son choked on a caramel and died in his father’s arms. That translated into many hours of sharing and caring. Both parents came to faith in Christ.
8. About 1987, we began working with a girl from Iran who was adopted by a Mormon family. The combination of Muslim and Mormon teachings was a WOW! We also came to believe that she was demon possessed. (We dealt with a girl at our nearby Bible camp and another woman in Lovell who were also most likely possessed.)
9. About 1987, a plant manager was fired because he had released the plant HR head when discovered to be illiterate. The manager had permission from corporate to release the man, which he did on a Friday. The next Monday, a VP was waiting in the manager’s office and took his keys. We had many such events. Our children were shooed off sidewalks and we were shunned at ball games.
10. In 1987, the balance of our church elders found themselves either transferred or released from their employment. The hospital administrator, the hospital CFO, the high school head football coach who was 9-1 that year, and an oil patch foreman were all gone. All in one year. It was devastating!
In the span of six crazy years…
a PK Musing 
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