Testimony of Salvation

I was saved at the age of 19. I did not grow up in a Christian home and never went to church. I knew nothing about God or His saving grace. While growing up, I lived with my grandparents for extended amounts of time. My grandfather was an alcoholic while my granny was a religious lady who prayed a great deal. My earliest introductions to the Lord came from that praying granny who once told me that one day I would come to the end of life's road. She said life was like a dead end street, when you come to the end there is no where to go. Once you reach that point she added, call on God – He will be there.

The last week of July 1990 I came to that end. I too had become a drunkard and wasting my life on riotous living. Somehow, the Lord began convicting me of my sinful condition. One day I fell on my knees beside my bed as I had seen my granny do and told the Lord my life was in a mess and I was at the end of the road and reminded Him that granny said He would be there for me. I asked the Lord to show me a way out of this mess and I would take it.

A few hours later an old high school classmate stopped by and invited me to come visit his church the following Sunday. That Sunday ( July 29, 1990 ) I attended the Eastside Baptist Church of Greeneville Tennessee. That morning Pastor Jerry Mullendore preached on “Why Paul Couldn't Quit”. I found this rather amazing because the morning I decided to ask God for help I had been contemplating suicide. This message deepened my conviction. That night the church was starting a Bible Conference with preachers: Carl Hatch, Bill Pennell, Doug Ripley and J. Harold Smith. Evangelist Carl Hatch was the first preacher. He preached on “What if God Took it all Away”. The message tore me apart. When the invitation was given I nearly ran down the isle in tears where “Preacher” Mullendore met me with open arms.

I was then shown in the Scriptures how to be saved. I repented of my sin and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sin, come into my heart and save me. HE DID! Now I am saved to the uttermost, washed in the blood, born from above, filled, sealed and indwelled by the Spirit, heaven bound with the hammer down and enjoying the journey.


Testimony of Call to the Ministry

As soon as I got saved I became involved in church activities. My getting saved had completely altered my life. I couldn't go to the same old places, do the same old things, nor feel comfortable with the same old friends. All I wanted to do was hang around the church, the pastor, his family, the deacons and the church family. I began going out on visitation with one of the deacons, Bro. Fred B. Dearstone. We would go out every Thursday night and many days in between. We were constantly going to revival meetings and Bible conferences. Preachers became my heroes and best friends.

Living for the Lord quickly consumed my life. Not long after getting saved God began dealing with me about full time Christian service. On October 3, 1991 I submitted to God's will for my life and entering the ministry.

I proceeded to Tabernacle Baptist Church & Bible College in Greenville , SC , under the ministry of Dr. Harold B. Sightler. There I got quickly involved as well. We had weekly street meetings and soulwinning. We had weekly nursing home ministries which were a tremendous joy. While at Tabernacle I was blessed with the privilege of serving as the church Youth Director under Dr. Sightler. It was a great honor to serve under this great champion of fundamentalism and old time religion.

There too, I got under the wing of another man of God who helped form my life – Dr. Grady Green. Bro. Green was the greatest soulwinner I ever met and he wanted everyone else to be one also. He and I probably knocked on over five thousand doors in Greenville SC. I sure do appreciate the impact this dear man of God has made on my life.

While at Tabernacle, I met and fell in love with a young lady who later became my eternal help meet and companion – Amy Richardson. We were married on January 8, 1994 .

While serving as the Youth Director of Tabernacle my wife and I were praying for God to call some of our young people to missions. God answered our prayer with a conditional promise. If you will be the example others will follow. We submitted to the Lord's calling into missions on March 5, 1995 . Since that time we have been missionaries to the Philippine Islands. By the way, several of those young people ended up submitting to be missionaries in the months that followed. Thank the Lord!