 Transcript and audio file of an excerpt from an oral history interview with Chicago businessman Andrew Wyzenbeek, May 16, 1978. He talks about the early days of YFC and his financial support of the movement. From the Interviews of Andrew Wyzenbeek, Collection 40, audio tape T1. Duration = 2:40 minutes.
SHUSTER: How did you come to know Torrey Johnson?
WYZENBEEK: Well, Torrey Johnson was around Moody Church.
SHUSTER: He attended there?
WYZENBEEK: And when he became an ordained preacher, he started...he worked from the Midwest Bible Church on Cicero Avenue. And that's where I got acquainted with him. And then when he got active in Youth For Christ.... He and Paul...he and Billy Graham started Youth For Christ. And I felt that was very well worthwhile work. And when they started holding Saturday night meetings for the young people, I...I thought it was a very timely work to get the kids off the street and into a Gospel meeting on Saturday night.
SHUSTER: That was during World War II?
WYZENBEEK: Yes. And of course that's where I got acquainted with...with Billy Graham too.
SHUSTER: Did you use to attend the rallies, the Youth for Christ rallies?
WYZENBEEK: Yes, I used to attend them. I attended them quite regularly. And they were in different churches and so forth, so they wanted to make a real impression here in Chicago. And both Billy and Torrey Johnson came storming into my office when I was in business here, and they said, "Andy, we got a chance to rent the Auditorium." That's the....
SHUSTER: Soldier Field?
WYZENBEEK: ...that's on the northwest [unclear] Avenue there. Yeah.
SHUSTER: Oh! Yeah. Roosevelt University.
WYZENBEEK: Yes. And I said, "How much does that cost you?" And they said, "Five thousand dollars." And I said, "Have you got any money yet?" They said yes, they had three thousand. So, we were prospering. I turned to my bookkeeper. I said, "How's the exchequer?"
SHUSTER: [Laughs].
WYZENBEEK: He said, "It's in good shape." [Laughs] I said, "All right, boys. I'll give you a check." [Laughs].
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