Beulah Derstine, wife of charismatic preacher Gerald Derstine, died over the weekend, daughter Joanne Derstine says.
"SO blessed and privileged to have been given so many years with my precious mom! Thanks for the outpouring of love and support for our family," Joanne Derstine posted to Facebook.
Gerald Derstine, a former Mennonite pastor, founded his ministry in 1953.
In 1955, after witnessing supernatural events such as exuberance in the Spirit, being slain in the Spirit, speaking in tongues and other charismatic manifestations during a revival in his Strawberry Lake Mennonite Church in Ogema, Derstine was removed from the Mennonite church, Charisma magazine previously reported.
"They thought we'd gone crazy, or that it had to be a work of the devil," Gerald said. "But there were too many confirmations that it was from God."
He, Beulah and their four children traveled in evangelistic ministry throughout the world. In 1965, Derstine founded Strawberry Lake Christian Retreat in Minnesota where the revival had taken place. In 1968, he established Christian Retreat on 110 acres in Bradenton, Florida, envisioning a Christian community where year-round conferences could be held, according to the Christian Retreat website.
Today, the ministry has a local church, Christian Retreat Family Church pastored by Phil Derstine; a TV program named Reality TV; a series of "extreme" evangelistic ministries such as its racetrack ministry—with a car that races for Jesus; the 10-week Institute of Ministry; missions work around the world; and a mobile semitrailer ministry to truck drivers.
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