Return to Articles Index An AMA Love Story — In a Nutshell By Alice E. Jones Esther and Gordon Preiser saved the walnut shell that cradled her engagement ring more than a half century ago The Gordon Preisers, retired Assemblies of God pastors, are enjoying their 55th year of wedded bliss. What a testimony to God’s covenant of marriage. The Preisers’ courtship and engagement story goes back to post-World War II days and a romantic interlude during the Christmas season of 1946. Young Gordon Preiser, using his typical creative ingenuity, was planning a marriage proposal to his beloved Esther. Working with a mound of empty walnut shells and colored pencils, he wrote expressions of endearment, tucking messages inside empty walnut shells, then gluing the shells together. Carefully separating one particular walnut, he filled it with cotton and placed an engagement ring inside. Driving from his home in Scarsdale, New York, to Esther’s home in New Rochelle, Gordon presented Esther with a Christmas basket of mixed nuts for them to snack on. As they were cracking and eating the mixed nuts, Esther was pleasantly surprised to find the hidden messages of love. Gordon opened the walnut with the engagement ring and offered it to Esther, exclaiming, “Look what I found in this one!” Astonished, Esther removed the ring and Gordon proposed with the words, “Honey, I’m nuts about you. Will you marry me?” Following a marriage ceremony the next June, the Preisers prepared for active ministry. Working tirelessly throughout their ministry they served as associate pastors, full-time pastors, and then spent several years ministering to children in Kids Krusades. Still happy together since that special engagement over 50 years ago, the Preisers related another Christmas story that took place recently about an Aged Ministers Assistance Christmas Caravan blessing. One afternoon at that particular Christmastime, the Preisers’ doorbell rang and there stood a UPS driver with a large carton. As Brother Preiser brought the carton into the house he mentioned that it was from GPH. Esther said, “It must be the BGMC barrels I ordered. But why would they send them here instead of to the church?” Not until they opened the box and began to remove all the “goodies,” did they realize the carton was part of the AMA Christmas Caravan. Accustomed to living modestly, the Preisers had just finished discussing their outstanding bills, including a $500 school tax bill that was due. Since they found they had just enough cash on hand to pay immediate bills with a small balance remaining, they decided they would not buy each other gifts for Christmas. That is when the doorbell rang and the carton of AMA Christmas gifts arrived to make their day and their Christmas. The Preisers, and all our retired ministers and spouses on the AMA rolls, continuously express their gratitude for such a caring and faithful program as Aged Ministers Assistance. As the Christmas season approaches, we, in the Benevolences Department, would like to express our heartfelt thanks to each one of you who help to make the AMA Christmas Caravan possible. May God bless and reward you for your thoughtfulness and continued support. Alice E. Jones is the editorial assistant for the national Benevolences Department.