Gunner Payne was a Quaker who ran a Bible study group in Yorba Linda, California, in the early 60s. John Wimber and his wife, Carol, started attending a Bible study, and Gunner took them 'under his wing' as a mentor and spiritual father. It wasn’t long before John and Carol began winning people to the Lord, adding to the group. In Gunner's group, John became a Christian. God began to unfold a plan for John and Carol's lives. It would lead to the start of the Vineyard movement with the help of Ken Gullickson.

 

While John and Carol's journey is fascinating, I want to focus on Gunner Payne. I wish I could find more information about him, but not much is available on the Internet. The truth is, he might not have seemed particularly remarkable in the eyes of the world.

 

Carol Wimber once shared how the devastating news that Gunner had lost his wife and child in a car accident, shocked them. They were unsure how to reach out to this godly man to console him. I can only imagine thoughts like, "Why Lord?" must have overwhelmed them. Then, the next moment, there was a knock at their door. It was Gunner. He knew they had heard the news, and as their mentor, he wanted to check on John and Carol to see if they were okay. Despite his grief, he was more concerned for them than for himself. He understood his identity in God's eyes and the purpose of his life.

 

On his blog, Andy Taylor wrote: Gunner's life had major obstacles. A migrant farmworker kidnapped, raped, and murdered his 4-year-old daughter. The incident received significant national media attention that lasted for months. It was a tragedy of epic proportions. The most fascinating part of the story is what happened next. Gunner Payne visited the prison where his daughter's murderer was held at least once a month. In the end, he led the man to accept the Lord as his Saviour!

 

With all these thoughts about Gunner Payne while writing this, I happened to watch a Channel 5 documentary that evening. It was about the manhunt for "The Child Snatcher" in Ireland. What are the odds that I would watch this while Gunner Payne's story was still fresh in my memory?

 

The story in this documentary began in Ireland in 1994. This too I find interesting, as my journal entry about Ken Gullickson and John Wimber was during that same time in 1994.

 

The account of this documentary is of a Christian couple with three kids. One was snatched and murdered. They waited 30 years for justice. The father said he would have killed the man who committed the crime if he had known him back then. However, after 30 years, he shared that those feelings had changed. The Lord made a profound difference in his life. He even tried to visit the murderer in prison, but the murderer refused the visit. [Book: ‘There Came a Day’: A Child’s Murder, A Mother’s Survival by Patricia Cardy.]

I have learned to ask, “What now Lord?” rather than “Why Lord?” Why do we experience all this hardship, and why are there accounts of others' struggles? it's all about what David Parker wanted us to understand: to learn with our hearts more than our minds.

 

He spoke to us about being genuine and having integrity. Do our lives reflect who we claim to be? One thing I sometimes regret is sharing my experiences of what God has done for me when I shouldn’t have. I wanted my friends to be happy for me, but instead, it cost me some friendships. For some unknown reason, they tried to emulate me and do the things I did because they wanted what I had. This made me very uncomfortable. I’m sure some of them now wish they had never met me, as I turned out to be another suffering and struggling believer.

 

Looking back, I do understand. I also admired a few people from afar. I admired their faith, their bond with the Lord, and their self-assurance. However, over time, I realised I didn’t want to live the lives they had. The message is clear: Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Be genuine about who you are and be honest with others.

Even if you have nothing, you are still someone. You don’t need much to get started. David Parker said it is easier to see your humility when you are not successful. It’s easy to understand that you are a servant when you are not trying to be Jesus. You have nothing to lose.

 

We do not have to be famous or successful to change a nation’s destiny.

The family's story in Northern Ireland showed me their integrity and humility. They have reached out to thousands.

 

God has a plan for your life, but He cannot work with you or bless you if you are constantly trying to be like someone else. Integrity and humility are crucial.

The same applies to Gunner Payne. Gunner mentored the Wimber family. Though John Wimber did not start the Vineyard Movement, he made it famous and influential. God used him to do so. Hundreds of thousands have come to know the Lord because of John Wimber’s ministry.

 

And that’s how Gunner Payne changed the world!