The book that will inspire you to live life well and say yes to Jesus!
Why have a book about myself written? It is NOT about me, but about a loving God who has had mercy upon me and saved me from sin, shame, condemnation—a loving God who longs to save every man, woman, and child.
Throughout life, He has opened door after door for me to walk through, always pointing the way, always sustaining me, always lifting me up when things were tough. It is He and He alone Who is to be worshipped, honored and thanked for the "Great Things He has done." I just want everyone to know the Lord and His glorious salvation and guidance throughout life.
I want to express my appreciation to Gideons International, (especially Ken Speakman), and to Gideons in the old Area 9 (South Pacific and Far East) and Area 5 (Europe and Russia), who welcomed me and my wife, Gail, into their homes and lives, as we trained and shared God's love through placing Gideon Bibles and New Testaments in schools, hospitals, hotels and lodgings. What a privilege to hand a student or patient, or hotel manager God's Word and see the smiles and expressions of joy on their faces!
Thank you to the SC Gideons and Auxiliary, who prayed for us as we traveled and rejoiced with me as I reported to them how God had honored and answered their prayers.
Thanks to employees at Schofield Ace Hardware in Florence, SC and especially the late Phil Baugh, who kept the "ship" going while I was away.
I am forever grateful to the other three founding board members of Leadership Ministries Worldwide—Carroll Howe, Dave Luikaart, Scott Myers—and to our attorney John Stophel who soon thereafter became a board member. All these men—out of their love for Christ—readily stepped out in faith to begin a journey that today has made possible for millions of Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bibles to be in 170+ countries around the world and in 18 languages.
Finally, thank you to our families and especially to our two sons, Hank and Ron, who encouraged us to go forth for Christ while they kept the home fires burning.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
I will never forget the first time I talked to Harry Lyles. He had made an appointment to come to my office and speak to me about coming to our church and presenting the work of the Gideons. When the secretary ushered him into my office, he was bent over and walking sideways. Intense pain was written all over his face. My first impression was to feel sorry for the man—why had he come? After a few minutes, he asked if he could move from the chair where he was sitting to the couch. Of course, I agreed, and Harry moved, half sitting and half leaning over but never stopping his story of what the Gideons were doing around the world and the importance of supporting them in their desire to get the Word of God into the hands of everyone possible. I had rarely seen such a passionate desire before. Later, I was to discover that Harry approaches every task with that same level of passion, focus and determination.
One day, a few years later I was in the Hardware store and I remember Harry taking me to a back hallway where pictures of the many missionaries he was supporting through the store were hung on the wall. I saw at that time the heart he had for world evangelism.
Sometime later I was surprised to see Harry and Gail sitting in the congregation one Sunday morning. After the service he came by to speak and asked if I would come and visit with them in their home. Arriving there a few days later, he told me they felt the Lord was leading them to join our fellowship. A few weeks thereafter, they did. Since that time, nearly 28 years ago, they have been among the most faithful members in our entire congregation. Whether teaching, serving as a deacon, ushering, witnessing or just ministering to the people, Harry Lyles has been faithful, productive, supportive and one of the most committed men to the cause of Christ I have ever known.
Later, Leadership Ministries Worldwide (LMW) came into being and Harry put the same heart, vision, commitment and determination into it. Today, it is a significant player on the international missions’ scene of getting the Gospel to the unreached world. Much of what has been accomplished through Leadership Ministries Worldwide is a tribute to the passion of Harry Lyles.
I have been honored to be the Harry’s pastor for 29 years. He has been a great encouragement to me personally, a powerful influence in our church and an important figure in the work of the Lord internationally through the Gideons and LMW. You will be blessed as you read “the rest of the story.”
Pastor Bill Monroe
Florence Baptist Temple
Florence, S.C.
Click on this cover to order Touched By Him
“I need your help.”
Those were the words that were spoken to me over my shoulder as I was cutting a key for a customer at the hardware counter at Aisle 31. When I heard this request from my dear friend and long-time brother, I smiled. Finally, I thought, the world is going to hear the story about a man who has lived a remarkable life.
I have known Harry and Gail Lyles for nearly forty years. Of those years we have ministered together and worked together. I’ve taught the Scriptures in their home and I’ve led devotions and worked in their store. I know them and count them and their two sons some of my dearest friends.
Why me? Why am I afforded the honor of writing the story? First of all, it has to be the grace of God. Two, they trust me to tell the story in a way where Jesus gets all of the credit. And three, I love hearing great stories and then re-telling them in a way that goes beyond the mere facts, inviting the reader to enter in and enjoy the experience with us.
After hours upon hours of personal interviews and scanning reams of historical documents, we are so grateful to the Lord for His strength and encouragement to finally tell the story of TOUCHED BY HIM.
Dr. Denny Bates
Harry F. Lyles and Dr. Denny Bates
Harry Lyles is the husband of Gail, and father to Hank and Ron, and the proud grandfather of three granddaughters, Hannah Rachel, Olivia Grace, Amelia Claire and a grandson, Harrison Luke. There are 3 great grandsons, Rivers, Shuler, and Harrison. He is also a devoted follower of His Savior Jesus Christ. He is a graduate of East Carolina University.
It is because of Jesus that Harry became the owner of Schofield Hardware and was used by the Lord to travel the world and distribute God’s Word as a Gideon. As a Gideon he was given the privilege of serving as a Gideon International Extension Representative in the South Pacific and in Europe, as well as in the old Soviet Union. He also had the privilege of serving as President of the Gideons of South Carolina and Trustee of four Southern states: NC, SC, FL, and GA.
He and three other Gideons founded Leadership Ministries Worldwide, which publishes the Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible, as well as other Outline Bible Resources.
He has served as a deacon and teacher in his church and always has Biblical tracts in his pocket to share with those who need to know Jesus. TOUCHED BY HIM is his story, and his prayer for you is that you will be touched by the Lord also.
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. (1 Timothy 1:12)
'But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. ' (2 Timothy 4:5-8)
Dr. Denny Bates is the founder of Something New Christian Publishers, Principal Consultant for Quality Leadership Consultants, founder of Something New Ministries and The Quality Disciple, adjunct faculty mentor in the Columbia Biblical Seminary online Doctor of Ministerial Leadership program, and a founding member of the John Maxwell Team of certified coaches, speakers, and trainers.
He has degrees from Francis Marion College [B.S.] and Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions [MDiv, DMin]. With a doctoral degree in personal and organizational leadership, he is well equipped to serve as teacher, life coach, mentor, disciplemaker, motivational speaker and writer for his own leadership and personal growth titles as well as helping others like Harry write their stories.
(See www.HelpMeWriteMyStory.com
for this custom service).
Denny’s life mission is to make disciples who make disciples for Jesus. He has written for an international publisher of Bible commentary, served as the Discipleship Pastor in the local church, as well as being a leader in the marketplace by creating the social networking brand #Aisle31. By God’s grace, he seeks to live above the fray and “Press on!” Visit www.dennybates.com.
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
(2 Timothy 2:1-2)
What does a disciple-making ministry look like?
It looks like Something New!