Road To Salvation

My Testimony of Conversion

As a child I was in the Church, Zion’s UCC here in Pottstown. PA. My parents insisted on mandatory attendance. At a young age I went to Sunday school, I sang in the choir, was an acolyte, had my conformation classes and took my first Holy Communion.

When I turned 16 in rebellion to my parents authority I went into my life I packed up and left home. I became a prodigal. For 38 years I traveled the world spending time in many foreign countries. I was solely in charge of what I did and where I went.

For a while this worked out just fine. But in time I found the world to be a hardhearted place. To get what I wanted or felt I was cheated out of I believed I needed the same dead heart. So, I played the role, hardened my heart, lost my faith and became a poster child for the Devil. I indulged myself in it all. Broken marriage, destroyed relationships, abandoned children, desertion, drunkenness, drugs, debauchery the whole gambit. In my pride, life was all about me. So, it was most of my adult life. I squandered my inheritance.

I eventually returned to my home and parents in the early 90’s. My Dad accepted me with open arms. I however continued in my selfishness and rebellion. Until the summer of 2007; this was when I finally reached the end of myself. With my health in question from constant drunkenness and drug abuse.

My job prospects gone, a personal concern for my sanity and on the verge of losing what little bit of my world I had left, I fell to my knees and admitted to God that I could not go any farther on my own. I was broken and defeated. Everything I had attempted in my life ended up as a dismal failure.

I began turning back to the Jesus I vaguely remembered from my youth. I had to re-learn how to pray for I found I had forgotten the words. But pray I did. I asked the Lord for help, I was lost. I needed direction; I had lost direction for my life. 2007 was a tough year but I never stopped asking the Lord for help. I had even picked up the Bible and was trying to read it. What was it I needed to know?

Then in February 2008 I came to the Berean Bible Church for Pastor Jace’s Wild Game Dinner. For the past several years (at my Dad’s invitation) I had attended this gathering it had become a diversion from the mid-winter cabin fever. I always figured it was a good deal. For 5 bucks all I had to do was listen to some Jesus talk and I could get all the wild game I could eat.

BUT this year was different! When Pastor Jace spoke I could actually hear what he was saying, like he was speaking only to me. I’m not real sure what his topic was. All I kept hearing was that everything was going to be OK. That Jesus loved me, and my prayers were answered. Our Father accepted me with open arms!

I broke down and as the tears flowed, I felt such a weight lift off of me! The Lord came to me that night. God shed his grace on me, and the Holy Spirit opened my heart. I felt then and feel now humbled and ashamed. I’m nothing but a worthless sinner.

Revelation 1:17-18. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last. I am the living one; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

My life is now in God’s hands, to serve and glorify his name. Through his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen