The Holy Spirit’s Divine Detour

Chapter 1 excerpted from:
RUNWAYS of the HEART:
My Journey Empowered by the Holy Spirit,
By Dr. Russ Frase, Jr.
with Marla Lindstrom Benroth

Copies of this book can be found
here on Amazon.

What if your life became a landing place for the miraculous?

In Runways of the Heart, Russ Frase invites you into a raw, riveting journey of surrender—one that transforms an ordinary life into a Spirit-led adventure marked by risk, resistance, and unmistakable encounters with God.

I sped in my SUV toward Denver International Airport, my mind racing. Had I packed all I needed for two weeks of ministry in the Philippines?

Also, I couldn’t stop thinking about my friend Dave Wurtsbaugh, fighting for his life in the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City. He had been a dear friend for many years and a true armor bearer. We had fought many spiritual battles together and traveled the world, and ministered together. I loved him as a brother, and we both shared a deep passion and love for the Lord and for people.

Halfway to the airport, my cell phone rang.

“Pastor Russ, this is Roxi,” Dave’s wife said in a low trembling voice. “Dave is in really bad shape. His kidneys shut down, his temperature is very high—when brain damage occurs—and his blood pressure has plummeted to dangerous levels. Doctors don’t think he’ll make it through the night.”

My heart felt like it had been torn to pieces. I needed to catch my plane to the Philippines in two hours, and my dear friend was at death’s door. His wife stood watch alone at his bedside.

What should I do, Lord? I cried out in anguish. Then the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance the story of Jesus who, while on His way to minister to someone in dire need, was interrupted by another who needed ministry.

I sensed His clear answer: Go immediately to Salt Lake City.

Yes, I need to reach my best bud! But how? I was five miles from the airport with luggage to check and an international ticket in my pocket. How would I make my connection so I could travel on to the Philippines in time to minister to Youth With A Mission (YWAM) students?

Call your son, I sensed that voice I’d become so familiar with tell me.

My son, Rusty, works for the airlines, which makes it possible to fly many of my trips around the world at no cost.

Surprisingly, he wasn’t in the air somewhere and answered to phone. After I explained the situation, he said, “I’ll see what I can do and call you right back.”

Now two miles from the airport, I anxiously clutched my cell phone, and almost dropped it when it rang.

“Dad, park and leave your luggage in the car. I booked a flight for you to Salt Lake City in two hours, returning tomorrow morning. I was also able to book a new flight to the Philippines. You’ll still make it there on time.”

“Thank you, Rusty!”

I wept as the burden fell from my shoulder and relief rushed in. How perfect is the Holy Spirit, who knows what to do! I’d obeyed Him, even though it seemed impossible. And He honored my willingness to do the right thing and put my friend’s needs in front of a mission trip, even if I had to completely cancel it. I learned a lesson from the Lord that no mission is so important that you can’t take care of a divine interruption.

At DIA, I hurriedly dialed Roxi’s number. “I’m coming to you and Dave! Will you pick me up at the Salt Lake airport?”

In Utah, the she pulled to the airport curb, I looked into Roxi’s eyes, and I could see her exhaustion from the long ordeal. I sent her to her hotel to rest. And I spent the night in the hospital room constantly praying in the Spirit for God to heal Dave’s kidneys, for his body temperature to come down, and his blood pressure to come up. Off and on, I helped him out of bed to the restroom.

Then, in the morning, Roxi returned, and after I prayed with her, she took me back to the airport.

Before I boarded the plane for the Philippines, Roxy called my cell number. “Pastor Russ!” Her voice sounded bright. “Dave’s kidneys are working, his blood pressure is normal, and his body temperature is normal! And you know what?” she added with a laugh. “Dave doesn’t remember you came!”

I grinned. Somehow it didn’t matter.

As I sank into my seat, my heart burst with joy for the way the Holy Spirit had worked out all the details, and allowed me to pray for Dave and still make it to the YWAM students in time. I glanced out my small window at the crew as they scurried on the ground loading the plane with our suitcases and filling the tank with fuel.

I wept as memories swept over me—of Dave ministering with me in a dusty schoolroom in Pakistan, as we laughed at the practical jokes we played on each other, as we ate rubber chicken and saw the Holy Spirit set people free from bondages.

Thank you, Lord, for Your divine detour and for saving the life of my dear friend! With clearance from the air traffic control tower, the pilot skillfully picked up speed. I could imagine him with his copilot carefully monitoring the radar and listening to the radio frequency that guided him into the airspace reserved just for us.

I looked out my portal at the blue sky, the clouds, buildings, and houses below as they grew smaller and smaller while we climbed higher and higher. And the faces of the youth we’d be ministering to flashed in my mind, and brought joy and peace to my soul.

I leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes with a smile, tears still brimming, know this is what God prepared me for—taking off from this runway to soar and land across the ocean in my adventurous journey with the Holy Spirit. It was one of the most satisfying things in the world to me.

I eagerly looked forward to more of Him.