Fall 2011

Millhuff brashly pulled a chair upclose to me and asked me to attendSunday morning church withhim the next day. Without hesitationI said yes, which was the firstof many to follow.I soon learned that ChuckMillhuff had a burning passion topreach...that beneath his appearancelay an unusual commitmentto God, a great yearning to touchthe lives of others, and an abundanceof natural talent and intelligence.The main focus of his lifewas to become an evangelist. Hehas never entertained any otheroptions. I was aware that somespeculated that this was impossible.He would be like "a meteorflashing across the horizon." Trustme; I knew for certain God hadhis hand on his future as well asmy own, and we went right onlooking forward to becoming allthat God had in mind for us to be.Now as we look back, we revel inthe grace of God that has producednearly 60 years in evangelism,a long and fruitful ministry,and a wonderful commitmentto each other that has lasted 54years.Walking Through the DoorHaving struggled throughyears of unsuccessful schooling inthe Chicago school system, Chuckwas determined to attend college.His lifelong friend Paul Cunningham*made it happen when thesummer before their freshmanyear (l956) he had said to Chuck,"Let's go to Olivet and roomtogether." From then on it wasthe major step in his goal: to bewell-educated for his profession.He soon learned while registeringthat his high school gradeswould prevent him from admission.On hearing this, Paul wentto the other end of the hall andmet President Harold W. Reed andpresented him with this proposition:"Could you give Chuck sixweeks to try in a probation periodand then make your decision?" heasked. Dr. Reed agreed, and thatact of kindness became the catalystfor a major change in Chuck'slife.During that six-week period,Evangelist C. William Fisher cameto hold the fall revival on thecampus. He was impressive. Hisarticulate speech and courtroomlikeapproach, as well as his fineappearance and musical abilitycaught Chuck's attention. Heplayed the trombone masterfully,as if the rest wasn't enough. Onemorning, with his back againstthe rear wall of the chapel in thebasement of Burke AdministrationBuilding, Chuck says he was "slainwith conviction by the message."A student stepped up beside himand asked, "Chuck, would you reallylike to be a Christian?" "I havefailed at this too many times," hesaid, his hands gripping the seatin front of him, clearly thinking itthrough.Chuck knew he had failed atmany things that appeared tomilitate against the possibility of aconsistent Christian life. His mindspanned the years: memories ofbeing sent home on his first dayof elementary school for misbehaving,failing the third gradewhen his twin brother went on tothe fourth (a stinging defeat laterrectified by a double promotion),longing to be an athlete but hisgrades sinking that dream timeand again. All of this culminatedin the ringing conclusion of hisCalumet High School counselorwho told him: “Charles, forgetcollege. You’re not college material.”Most of the goals he everhad were sabotaged by patternsof failure which would forevermark him as an outsider. Or soit seemed…unless God had thepower to make a difference. As aseven year old sitting in the sideof the horseshoe balcony with hisfamily in Chicago First Nazareneduring a revival with EvangelistU. E. Harding, Chuck had heardGod telling him that some day hewould be doing what that manwas doing, preaching as an evangelist.The one thing he was certainof was the call. The studenttouched his shoulder, “If I go withyou, would you go?” she asked.It was all he needed. He steppedout into the aisle, walked to thefront where (continued on next page)Fall 2011 / EVANGELISTS' PERSPECTIVE / 7