[Video starts]

Donovan Rhodes: Literally several miles down the road, for some reason, I pull over. 

Judith Rhodes: And I said, “Why are you turning around?”

Donovan Rhodes: And to this day, I cannot tell you why. And Judith asked me, “What’s going on?” And I said, “We’re going back.” 

Judith Rhodes: And then we ended up back at the chapel. 

Donovan Rhodes: That is when God really touched my heart and He opened my eyes to the truth. 

[Show open] 

Donovan Rhodes: My name is Donovan Rhodes. I was born and raised in a little town in northern Michigan called Indian River. I spent my first 18 years there. 

On the Back Burner

Donovan Rhodes:  Growing up we were a member of a community church which was more Episcopalian than just a regular church. I always believed in God. And I always had faith in God and Jesus. As I reached my late teens and my early 20s when I was on my own, I kind of, I kind of put that on the back burner. After high school, I actually joined the Navy with two of my other classmates. So I spent almost four years in shore duty and finally, the Navy decided to send me to sea duty. And then we’re off to the Philippines. The first night we were in the Philippines, I went out in town with my friends. And I just happened to meet my future wife. I fell in love head over heels right away. 

 Partner in Life

Judith Rhodes: I’m Judith Rhodes. I’m the wife of Donovan Rhodes. When I grew up I was a Protestant. I was really exposed to church and we’re always active. Donovan is kind of a conservative person, and that’s the one [reason] I liked him very much. It happens he likes to go to church also. I said if I’m going to have a partner in life, I want somebody [who] is a God-fearing person. 

Donovan Rhodes: While we were courting there in the Philippines, we talked and we both confessed that we believe in God and we like to go to church. And so, we decided that every Sunday, we would go to the chapel on the base, and we’d go to worship service.  After Judith and I were married, we went to Guam for two years. And then we transferred back to Memphis, Tennessee where I went and did my training [at] the very beginning of my service.

Judith Rhodes: In Tennessee, we’d been looking for a church.

Donovan Rhodes: And to be honest, several were a bit scary for me so nothing really worked out.

 The Right Direction

Judith Rhodes: I said I know God, you know, I love you. I want to go to the right direction. And… so I asked Donovan, I think… we have to have our prayer that God will take us to the true Church. Especially, you know, when you have kids, you want the kids to know God.

Donovan Rhodes: After our tour in Tennessee, we were sent back to Lemoore. Joined the squadron that was again getting ready for deployment.

Judith Rhodes: So I met a friend and she’s a Filipina. And she likes to go to Bible study also. I think her name was Elvie. So we called each other “sister.” She said, “Sister Judith, I know we are going to have a Bible study today.” I said, Oh, really? I said, “Okay.” That afternoon it happened I was outside. And then Sister Gaye, she said, “Are you Filipina?” I said, “Yes, I’m a Filipina.” And she said, “May I use your phone?” I said, “Go ahead.” And she said, “Oh, we’re going to have a Bible study tonight in my house. Would you like to come and join us?” And I said, “Oh, I’m so sorry I have already other appointments.” Maybe, you know, maybe next time.

Interviewer: Who was Sister Gaye? Who is she?

Judith Rhodes: I hadn’t met her before. I didn’t know that she was Iglesia [a member of the Church Of Christ]. That’s the first time I met her when she approached me if she [could] use the phone. So after that, we went to that house. And then when Sister Gaye opened the door, it was her. I said, “Wait a minute. That was you that invited me this afternoon.” And she said, “Yeah. Okay, so here we are in Bible study.” And then that’s where I met [minister] Brother Ruben Garcia.

When he did the Bible study and he talked to me, you know, just listen and then you decide afterward. Of course, I was searching for the true God. So I want to know about the Iglesia [Church Of Christ]. And so I went through the lesson. Of course, Donovan came home from sea duty. So when he came home, I started sharing to him about the Iglesia [Church Of Christ]. And we ended up arguing. We’re fighting or arguing about the lesson. It was the trinity. Donovan was so hard-headed. He won’t go and listen. So it happened that Sister Elvie, they’re going to have a birthday party. And then, we had Bible study with Brother Ruben. 

Donovan Rhodes: After the Bible study at the birthday party, Judith and I had a quite long discussion. She kept encouraging me to go and attend the worship service the next day along with the kids.

Judith Rhodes: So that’s why I asked Don, “Just listen.” There’s nothing wrong to just listen, you know? And open your mind, you know. If it’s the true Church, we’ll go and join. And let’s see where God [is] leading us.

Donovan Rhodes: She was really trying to talk me into it. So finally later that evening, I agreed. And the next day, Sunday, we went to our first Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) worship service.

Judith Rhodes: And then it happened that lesson was [about] the only church that would be saved is this Church.

Donovan Rhodes: By the end of the service, I was, to say the least, I was quite upset.

Judith Rhodes: Oh no, I hope he’s not offended.

Donovan Rhodes: My wife would say, I was probably mad. And so at the end of the service, I told my wife to get the kids, to get in our van because we were leaving.

Judith Rhodes: I said, “Oh God, please be with me and Donovan.”

Donovan Rhodes: I wasn’t going to do this anymore and we left. The reason I was so upset, it was not the norm for me. It was somewhat shocking to tell you the truth. It was so foreign, so different for me. 

Judith Rhodes: You know, I kept talking to him. I said, “How would you know if it’s the true church or not if you don’t listen?” When we hit the base—

Donovan Rhodes: literally several miles down the road for some reason, I pulled over.

Judith Rhodes: And I said, “Why are you turning around?”

Donovan Rhodes: And to this day, I cannot tell you why. And Judith asked me, “What’s going on?” I said, “We’re going back.” 

Judith Rhodes: And then we ended up in the chapel.

Donovan Rhodes: That is when God really touched my heart and He opened my eyes to the truth. And the truth has set me free. So I had many questions.

Judith Rhodes: And the one that really hits Don is the prophecy in Isaiah.

[On-screen graphic]

From the far east will I bring your offspring. And from the far west I will gather you. (Isaiah 43:5 James Moffatt Translation)

Donovan Rhodes: I asked, Why? Here I’ve been 35 years old, and you’re showing me things in the Bible that no one else showed me. He showed me a prophecy that was black and white, plain as day. But no one showed me this. No matter how many different sects or denominations we went to, none came close. The prophecies about the Church and the name, Church Of Christ. I had many other questions about how do we know that Brother Felix [Manalo] was the true Messenger of God. Brother Ruben is kind of a historian buff. And so, he had all of the material to show me to back up what the Bible was talking about, and the truth that the Bible was telling us. And finally, the year 1989, my wife and I were baptized into the Church Of Christ.

Greatest Blessing

Donovan Rhodes: After the military retired me, we went to Phoenix, Arizona. The Phoenix area didn’t have a local [congregation] yet, but they had a group worship service. And so when I moved down here shortly after my transfer, we got word that we were receiving our first resident minister. So when the resident minister came, Brother Randy Weir, he started to put together the leadership, all of the officers that a local [congregation] needs. I was asked to be one of the Head Deacons in the leadership. I didn’t know. So I prayed. Judith, my wife, was still in Washington. So I called her and she said, “If you want to.” And so, I accepted. And that probably was my greatest blessing from God. 

Interviewer: Why was that your greatest blessing?

Donovan Rhodes: Once I became a Head Deacon, of course, my responsibilities increased, but also the talents that God gave me. And the wisdom that God imparted to me, also increased. We were able to get our chapel here in the Phoenix area and it was dedicated. And to be able to perform on the podium, there’s no describing it. Being a head deacon is my greatest blessing because you’re so close to God. You can really feel his love and His guidance. 

Once my MS [multiple sclerosis] started to get worse and worse, and my physical abilities started to decline. It would be ease for me to just ask God, “Why? You blessed me so much, but now you’re giving me all of these trials, these hindrances.”  But I never asked God, “Why, why me?” I just accepted it that this is my journey. This is my trail. And God’s gonna see if I can get through it. 

So yes, I miss my office. And I believe that through God’s mercy, that I will be back there someday. 

This Precious Gift. 

Donovan Rhodes: I understand that God watches over us even before we really truly know Him. He loves us and He guides us. He took [and] brought Judith and I together in the Philippines. And He took us to Lemoore so that we could begin our journey in the Church Of Christ.

Judith Rhodes: I’m so grateful and happy too. Finally God, you know, touched his heart and we’re both in the Church right now in the Iglesia [Church Of Christ]. And we will continue to worship God. And, that’s our goal, to worship Him and to have that everlasting life.

Donovan Rhodes: It’s not just myself and Judith. It’s also our two children and our grandchildren. You know we want to be an active part in their lives. Raising our grandchildren so that they know God, they love God, and they want to serve God.

Even though I have this disability, I can say each and every day, I feel Him and that He answers my prayers. He recently answered one of our long-term prayers of being healed. 

Recently I found out that my multiple sclerosis has gone dormant which means it’s not attacking my body anymore, which means God’s given me a chance to be healed. So God does answer our prayers when He sees fit. I long to be able to perform my duties once again. I believe God will heal me and allow me to be back once again. And to have this precious gift, words cannot describe how happy and the feelings that I feel for being a member of the Church Of Christ.

[Video Ends]