My Testimony

MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY

The Radio Drama Program "Unshackled" Produced A Dramatization of My Testimony
in January of 2005. May God encourage you for listening.

Click Here To Listen

IN THE BEGINNING...

My name is Bruce Roberts. I was born in Jackson, Michigan on January 10, 1960. In the following pages, you will read my personal testimony of the marvelous grace of God. Friend, you may feel that you have gone too far into sin for God to save you, but I am here to tell you that it doesn't matter how terrible of a sinner you are or think you are. God loves you and wants to forgive you and give you everlasting life.

At the end of my story I will offer you an opportunity to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, just like I did so many years ago. It's the very same opportunity that I had. The choice is yours. The message is the same. It doesn't change!

MY STORY

I grew up in what most people would consider an average American family with a mom and dad and two younger brothers. My dad worked as a laborer earning meager wages here or there at the various factory jobs he held around town. We never had a lot of material possessions while growing up, but I can say that I never remember going to bed hungry. We always had a roof over our head.

The "downfall" of our home-life, according to my mother, began when my dad starting drinking. This evidently happened early in their marriage, as I personally do not have any memories of my father without a can of beer in his hand.

My mother put up with a lot of the abuses that go along with being married to an alcoholic husband. I recall her being beaten and slapped around quite often. We boys endured our share of abuse as well. On one occasion I remember my mother keeping us home from school for several days fearing that school authorities would see our bruised bodies and have us removed from our home. I was always in a state of fear around my dad because of his violent outbursts of temper. I remember one time when my dad punched me in the mouth with his fist wrapped around a beer can. He drew blood and I still have a lump on my lower lip from that incident.

My parents finally divorced in 1975, but not before one last traumatic ordeal our family had to suffer at the hands of my dad. One night, a few weeks after my mother and dad had separated, my dad broke into our home. Armed with a shotgun and enough ammunition to kill us all, he came crashing through the front door of our country home. He threatened to kill my mother and then himself. During a heated exchange of words with my mother, he managed to get off a shot that sent a slug into our living room ceiling. He then proceeded to break down the bathroom door behind which my mother and younger brother had taken refuge.

When the door finally splintered to pieces my mother instinctively lashed out in self-defense and struck my dad on the head with the wooden stock of a B.B. rifle. Bleeding profusely from the head, he stumbled backward and out through the broken down front door disappearing into the night. He was apprehended moments later by deputies as he pulled his car onto the road from an adjacent farmhouse. He was incarcerated in the county jail for awhile and then released. After his release he headed for Florida. That was the last of the threatening from my dad.

I could go on and on here with stories relating to the evils of having an alcoholic dad, but I won't. I have said what I have said to make a point. I want to show here that alcohol ruins lives and destroys homes. It will leave physical and emotional scars that may never heal. The Bible says in Proverbs 20:1 that "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." It does not matter who you are or how well you think you can handle alcohol, in the end you will lose! It will destroy you!

My mother was now forced to seek full time employment to support our family. She never received a dime of child support or alimony from my father. We boys earned money as well helping area farmers doing whatever needed to be done. I know my mother was thankful for the financial assistance of my grandparents as well.

THE TEENAGE AIRMAN

I was a very rebellious teenager. Not really into the drug scene I turned to alcohol. Pretty ironic after seeing what alcohol did to my dad. I even began to dabble some in the occult. At age 17 I decided to quit school, take a GED test, and join the Air Force. I thought my troubles would be over and I would finally turn out to be somebody. How wrong I was! Immediately I became entangled in the wrong crowd and my troubles started all over again. They followed me from basic training in Texas to technical school in Mississippi to my permanent duty station in North Dakota. It was while at tech school in Biloxi, Mississippi that a series of events led to my attempting to take my own life. This caused me to have to spend several weeks in a military mental health ward. Then while stationed in North Dakota I went AWOL several times and finally was classified as a deserter after being absent from duty for more than 30 days.

While AWOL I made my way back to my home state of Michigan. Nothing in my life seemed to be going right. My mother wouldn't have me back at home for fear of being charged with harboring a fugitive. I was a desperate young man with literally nowhere to turn. Most nights were spent on the street. I usually ended up "crashing" in a restroom stall at the 24-hour Denny's Restaurant in Jackson. I even hid out in a "friend's" attic until his mother caught me and threw me out.

I began burglarizing homes with two acquaintances from my school days. We burglarized several homes in the area. We were so foolish. Our crime spree didn't last long however. The Bible says in Numbers 32:23, "...Be sure your sin will find you out", and in Proverbs 13:20 that, "...a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

BEHIND BARS

I soon found myself in jail. The charges were serious. Several felony charges with the possibility of even doing some prison time. My bond at my arraignment hearing was set at $10,000.00 which in 1978 was a substantial amount of money and even so by today’s standards. But bonding out of jail was impossible because Air Force officials had learned of my whereabouts and had placed a military hold on me. I spent nearly a year in the Jackson county jail. I had many sleepless nights and even feared for my life on occasion as I shared a cell with 11 other ruthless individuals who were awaiting trials on much more serious offenses, such as rape and murder. It was a very fearful and humbling experience.

After spending nearly a year in the county jail I was graciously sentenced to time served, a lengthy probationary period, and ordered to pay restitution and court costs. I walked out of jail that day and right into an awaiting military transport unit. They placed me in a temporary holding tank somewhere near Detroit to await Security Police (SP's) from a nearby Air Force Base. I spent the afternoon in a small cage. Finally two SP’s arrived to transport me to another base somewhere north of Detroit. Here I was to await SP’s who would be arriving to transport me back to North Dakota for a court martial.

The facilities at the Air Force Base in Michigan were very trying on me. I spent about four days in some sort of steel tank with no windows. I was escorted out for meals and restroom use only. When the SP’s arrived from Minot, North Dakota I was ready to go. I couldn't wait to fly back to North Dakota to get the whole mess over with. I was very disappointed to learn we weren't flying back. I was going to ride over 1,000 miles in an automobile.

During the first leg of the trip I rode in the back seat of an unmarked military police car. I rode in handcuffs and leg chains most of the time. Each evening I was dropped off at the nearest city or county jail, while the SP’s enjoyed a motel room. My first night was sleepless in Chicago. I honestly didn't think I would make it out of that place alive. I spent the next night in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, then on to Jamestown, North Dakota. The small Jamestown jail was literally the jailer's home. His wife cooked for us and we ate at their kitchen table. It reminded me of the old west.

When we finally arrived back at the Air Force Base in Minot, North Dakota, I was jailed in a somewhat friendlier environment. Three times each day I was transported by police cruiser to the base chow hall for meals. A Security Police Officer was at my side continually with a loaded large caliber weapon. One guard was a bit trigger happy and even dared me to run. I didn't think it was funny.

I was now awaiting a court martial on charges of both AWOL and desertion. I was only 18 years old and my whole life seemed to be crashing in on me. I was desperate and even contemplated taking my own life again. One night though, while lying on my bunk, I noticed a little paperback book on the table next to me. The title of this book was "Peace with God", by Billy Graham. As I began to read this little book tears began to flow down my cheeks.

Other than a few times as a young child, I never went to church. I didn't know anything about God. Suddenly I realized for the first time ever that I was condemned by God and in need of a Savior. Somehow I knew that the words I were reading were true and meant for me, personally. The little book came alive to me and I knew somehow in my heart that I desperately needed this Jesus I was reading about. I have always felt that this was God planting a seed in my heart. I attribute my actual salvation experience to a later time, as you shall read shortly.

My court appointed military lawyer had plead my case and we miraculously avoided a court martial. After a couple more months of wading through bureaucratic red tape, I was discharged from the Air Force with a "less than honorable" discharge.

A CIVILIAN AGAIN

I was now officially discharged from the military and back home in Michigan. I reported to a probation officer monthly and made payments to the court whenever I could. It wasn't long before I was in trouble again. I foolishly fled the state, violating the conditions of my probation. If apprehended on this type of warrant I would remain in jail unable to bond out.

Traveling south I ended up in Seymour, Indiana, a small town just north of the Kentucky border. Here I found and stayed with an elderly lady who had been a friend to my dad for many years. I managed to obtain a full-time job at a canning factory in Brownstown, where I worked 10 hour shifts each day for about four months.

Things transpired in Seymour that caused me to have to literally run for my life. In true vigilante style, shotgun-toting men in four-wheel drive vehicles were hunting me down like an animal. I won't elaborate here as to why they were after me, other than to say it was a serious situation. I narrowly escaped with my life by slipping into a snow-covered barn. There I broke open several bales of hay to try and keep warm. I woke just before daybreak to the chomping sound of cows eating hay just over my head. On foot, I headed for the highway, still under cover of darkness. I quickly thumbed a ride south on the interstate.

Once in Florida I looked up my dad whom I hadn't seen in years. My locating him was a miracle story in itself. We didn't recognize each other. I stayed with him for about three months. After my parents divorced, my dad was emotionally and financially devastated. He moved to Florida with little more than the clothes on his back. He landed a job as a fernery worker. He lived in a small one-bedroom trailer in a field and was responsible for monitoring temperatures and cranking the pumps on cold mornings to protect the fern plants. I helped him some in the fernery and we picked oranges too. Life seemed simple then, but in the back of my mind I knew I could be picked up at any time on the Michigan warrant.

INTRODUCED TO JESUS

Once a week my dad and I hitchhiked thirteen miles into Deland, Florida for supplies. On one particular day a fellow in an old Southern Bell truck stopped to offer us a ride. We climbed in and immediately the man popped a question I had never heard anyone ask before. He asked us, "If you died today do you know for sure that you'd go to Heaven?" He then went on to explain God's simple plan of salvation. Neither my dad or myself made any kind of decision at that time and before we knew it, we had arrived at our destination.

My dad was very belligerent as the man witnessed to us and later said to me, "I hope you don't believe any of that religious stuff." Pondering all of this myself, I didn't answer. I distinctly remember hoping I would be able to talk to that man again. But who was he? I thought I'd probably never see him again. At this time I remember my mind drifting back to that little paperback book I had read in jail in North Dakota. What did all this mean? Looking back now I can see how God had His hand on my life and was drawing me to Himself.

After awhile I decided to leave my dad and return to Indiana. I stayed there about six months. More trouble followed however, and I decided it would be best for me to return again to Florida. With absolutely no money and no food I set out for the interstate. If I could only get back to Florida I knew I could make it. I hitchhiked as far as Chattanooga, Tennessee but couldn't seem to get a ride going any further south. As darkness fell I became discouraged and sat down on the side of the highway. I had a small suitcase in one hand and my guitar in the other. I continued trying to hitchhike south but couldn't get anyone to stop. I was getting cold, lonely, and scared. I felt I was at the end of myself. Not knowing what to do or where to go, I began to cry. I was literally 500 miles from my mother’s home in Michigan, and 500 miles from my dad’s place in Florida. Desperate, my thoughts turned to God. I didn't really know Him but I decided to pray anyway.

ANGEL OF MERCY

Suddenly a strange thing happened. I immediately felt impressed to cross over the median to the northbound lanes of the interstate. It was like a tiny voice in my head telling me to cross over and go back north. I remember trying to resist this thought. I had my heart set on Florida. Finally though I surrendered to the urge and crossed over to the northbound lanes of I-75. It was completely dark now. Suddenly, before I even had a chance to put my thumb out for a ride, a late model automobile bearing a Michigan license tag pulled up and stopped next to me. The man inside asked, "You need a ride don't you?" Now you can call him a man or an angel, or whatever you like, but I believe God sent him, for just such a time. In minutes I was asleep in the back seat of this mysterious car, which had appeared literally out of nowhere. I guess I was going "home" to Michigan, where I hadn't been for quite some time.

Just after daybreak the man stopped the car, tapped me on the shoulder, and said, "This is where you get out." We were at I-94 near Ann Arbor, in southern Michigan. Jackson was less than 50 miles to the west. The man handed me a twenty-dollar bill and told me to get something to eat. With that he pulled away and was gone. I scurried up under the overpass, opened my bag and put on as many shirts as I could. It was freezing cold! I walked a short distance to a truck stop and ate some breakfast. I still did not understand everything that was happening to me. After breakfast I called the local Greyhound bus station and priced a ticket to Jackson. Unbelievably the cost of the bus ticket was exactly the amount of money I had left over from breakfast, to the penny!

Once in Jackson I easily hitchhiked the nearly ten miles to my mothers house in the country. Walking up the driveway I was surprised to see both my brothers and two of their friends loading up the car. Someone hollered out. "Hey Bruce, you're just in time, we're going to Florida." The whole thing seemed more unbelievable by the minute. I pondered the situation. What could all this mean?

In no time at all we were on our way to Florida in a red 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. We took turns driving and made the trip in just over 18 hours. I forget now who was at the wheel when the officer handed out the speeding ticket. I remember being afraid he would check our I.D.'s and find a warrant on me.

We arrived in Deland, Florida late in the day and checked into a local motel. The next day we bought a Deland newspaper and scanned the rental section. We looked at a couple of apartments but nothing appealed to us. Finally we ended up just randomly driving up and down city streets looking for "for-rent" signs in windows. Turning down the 400 block of W. Church St., we noticed a sign advertising a furnished upstairs apartment. We liked it, rented it, and moved our things in.

Later that evening, while sitting in front of one of the upstairs windows facing the street, I saw a familiar truck pull up into the driveway. It was the same man in the old Southern Bell work truck that had picked my dad and I up hitchhiking. I ran down to greet the man. He remembered me. I was very excited about the prospect of being able to talk with him again about the things of God and about salvation. I was surprised to find that he and his family lived right there next door to us and that we actually rented the apartment from his parents who lived on the other side of us. What were the odds of such a precise move, right next to the man whom I so much wanted to meet again? God knew exactly what He was doing! He was continuing to draw me unto Himself!

MOMENT OF DECISION

This man, Mr. Don Shaw, invited me to church and I went. One evening not long after I had been visiting the church, he and the Pastor, Bob Kenyon, stopped by for a visit. After some small talk, things turned serious. They had come to speak with us concerning our souls. We heard a crystal clear presentation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I recall how that my brother Dave, along with friend who was present, and myself all got down on our knees to pray and ask the Lord to save us. My life changed that night. I didn't understand it all. But I knew that I was born again!

The following morning I remember going outside and sensing that something had really happened to me. I couldn't exactly put my finger on it, but I knew somehow that I was different. I began to grow as a newborn babe in Christ desiring the sincere milk of His Word. I read my Bible daily and went to Church. It was exciting! The word of God was refreshing to me! It had come alive to me as never before! I recounted in my mind how that God had planted the seed in that little jail cell in North Dakota, and how that He had led me along and brought me to where I was this day. A decision for Him! What a God! What a Savior!

After receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, my dad and I got together and talked. He was indifferent about my becoming a Christian. While walking down a street near where he lived we came upon an animal that lay rotting. "There!" He said, "That's what happens to you when you die; the maggots eat you! There's no Heaven and there's no Hell." I was very sad to hear my dad speak these words. I wanted him to get saved too and have a home in Heaven one day.

One day not long after that walk with my dad, my life was changed again. Two police officers from the Deland, Florida police department approached the construction site where I was working. I thought the Michigan warrant had finally caught up with me. My heart sank as I heard the officers ask for me by name. I contemplated running. I didn't want to go back to jail. Approaching me one of the officers asked if I could identify a wallet as being my dad’s property. I recognized it at once and affirmed that it was my dads. They proceeded to tell me that my dad had been killed in an accident the night before.

My heart sank! I thought of the conversation I had with my dad just days before. To this day I believe my dad is in Hell. He's still there. He's been there since November of 1980! That ought to make every person who reads this think of their own family and their own soul. Where would you go right now if you were to drop dead? It's a sobering thought isn't it? You must trust Jesus today! No one is guaranteed tomorrow.

I met a girl several months before my dad had died in 1980. We were married, and became proud parents of a beautiful baby girl. My dad never had a chance to see our daughter. He missed becoming a Grandfather by just three months. As a new family, my wife and I had our share of difficulties. I figured we just needed to get away and start fresh somewhere. We moved over 1,300 miles away to Traverse City, Michigan. Here I began working at a small family owned restaurant. The change was refreshing but I was very fearful now of being picked up on that warrant, and literally "grew eyes in the back of my head." Have you ever known that kind of fear?

Being away from the Lord, and church, and the influence of Christian people, our young marriage became more and more strained. Then one day it happened! While at work I received a frantic telephone call from my wife. Sheriff deputies had arrived at our home with a warrant for my arrest and were now on their way to the restaurant. Again I found myself fighting the urge to run. When deputies arrived however, I cooperated fully. I was read my rights, cuffed and taken downtown. I was so afraid. The scenario seemed all too familiar to me only now I had a wife and baby daughter depending on me.

Detectives from Jackson, Michigan arrived at Traverse City in a couple of days to transport me back to Jackson to face charges of violation of probation. I rode the 150 or so miles to Jackson handcuffed and shackled with leg chains in the back seat of an unmarked patrol car. I remember telling the two detectives how my life had been changed and that I had been born again. They laughed at me. With no bail on a violation of probation warrant, I knew I could sit in jail a long time waiting for a resolution. I had no idea how long I would have to wait to see the judge. Last time around, it took nearly a year. I had made arrangements for my wife to stay with my mother in Jackson while I was incarcerated. Being in jail seemed different this time somehow. I had access to a King James Bible and read and studied it several hours each day. I had a peace in my heart this time that others could not understand.

In less than two weeks I was called out and escorted to the courthouse. Appearing before the judge I told him that I was truly sorry that I had left the state and violated my probation. I went on to tell him that I had been saved and had become a Christian and that I had a wife and daughter now too. I was pretty shocked when the judge, in his mercy, wished me well in my new life as a Christian husband and father. Before I left the courtroom however, the judge sternly warned that I had better not appear in his courtroom again. If ever I did he assured me that I would be sent to prison to serve time on the original felony charges.

I had become a free man again. Back home with my family in Traverse City, Michigan. I went back to work for the same restaurant. Everything seemed to be going well. That was until a state Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) investigator showed up at our home. I was at work at the time and my wife had to handle them alone. They oddly demanded to see a marriage license, proving that my wife and I were really married. They wanted to come in and examine our infant daughter as well. Evidentially someone had suspicion that some form of abuse was going on. My wife refused them entrance into our home. They promised to return with a counselor from the state to do whatever they deemed necessary. Their tactics were reminiscent of Hitler's Germany. The whole situation seemed bizarre. Why this? Why now?

ON THE RUN AGAIN

When I arrived home that evening we had a decision to make. We could either pack up and flee to Florida or face the state of Michigan. I was literally ripped in two! Afraid to lose our daughter to the state for whatever reasons, and afraid to leave the state again, violating my probation and the judges orders. I knew the next time in his courtroom meant prison. My instincts to flee were overpowering, motivated by fear. That night we left hurriedly for Florida. Looking back now I see a great lack of faith in those early years. I was quick to run whenever some new trial or temptation came my way. I needed to learn to trust God. I wanted to trust God. Through many more trials to come, God would teach me to trust him.

Returning to Florida we rented a small apartment in the same area I had lived before from Bro. Don Shaw. No one knew of the situation we had left in Michigan. We again began attending church and were growing in the Lord. We had some Christian friends now and were really excited about serving God. I was tormented inside however, imagining only the worse. I was weary from running. (The Bible says in proverbs 28:1 - "The wicked flee when no man pursueth...") I feared going to prison, knowing that by going I would probably lose my wife and maybe never see my daughter again.

One day while out making visits with my Pastor and friend, Bob Neal, I felt led to tell him of my situation. I thought I must be crazy wanting to tell someone my story, especially him! I thought he would criticize me. He immediately showed great concern and told me that I needed to get this cleared up once and for all. He explained to me that I could not have liberty in serving God with this dark cloud overshadowing me, and that once this thing was settled I would be able to serve God unhindered. I begged him to understand that if I returned to Michigan I would no doubt go to prison.

I SURRENDER ALL

I became physically ill at the thought of returning to face that judge. The Pastor would not let me alone concerning this matter. A few days later Pastor Neal asked me to meet him at a local restaurant with a couple of other men from the church. Men whom I looked up to. Men that I knew had wisdom. After the meeting that day I was so convicted in my spirit that I did not eat or sleep for the next three days. I finally gave in to God. I decided I could face whatever I had coming to me, by the grace of God. The peace of God flooded my soul, and I knew I had made the right decision.

I truly had surrendered all. That week Bro. Don Shaw offered Pastor Neal the use of his black, late model Monte Carlo. I never will forget that Sunday evening church service just before we left. I remember seeing men who were concerned greatly about the matter. Much prayer and many tears were shed that night as Pastor Neal and I made our way out of the service and into the night. Pastor Neal drove me back up to Michigan himself. It was like a dream. We prayed and sang and prayed some more and sang some more all the way there. I was afraid, but it was a different kind of fear. I had peace like a river in my soul! It's hard to explain the feeling. I really knew that I just had to trust God to deliver me somehow. It seemed impossible, yet I was learning that God specialized in the impossible. With God all things are possible!

We had planned first to go to my mother’s house and conduct our business from there. There was only one problem with that. My mother didn't know we were coming. I was afraid of what her reaction might be had I tried to explain the situation to her beforehand. It had been quite some time since I had seen my mother. My mother was usually one of those “early to bed” kind of people. Nine or ten o'clock at night was late for her. This night however, when the Pastor and I pulled into the driveway close to midnight the lights were on! I went ahead to the door first. My mother nearly fainted when she saw me. I quickly explained our mission and she received us both into her home. She told us that she was usually in bed at this time, but that for some strange unknown reason, she had decided to stay up this night and bake some homemade bread.

So here we were in my mothers kitchen eating hot bread in the middle of the night. My mother had told us how that earlier the same evening she had been talking with an old friend on the phone. She went on to say that she had told the friend that her oldest son, Bruce, had always used to say, "Mommy, I'm never going to leave home. I'm going to stay with you forever." She then told her friend how that I was the first to leave home, and that she had barely seen me since.

The next morning Pastor Neal explained to my mother what we intended to do. She was very grateful for his concern and effort, but told him to be prepared to return to Florida alone. She was adamant about this. She knew I was in a lot of trouble. She was afraid for me, not wanting me to go to prison. Pastor Neal kept confident in God however, and replied to her that his "peacemaker" was working just fine and that he planned on the both of us going home together. That morning after prayer and Bible reading we headed for the courthouse. I could not believe I was really going there. Was this the end for me?

My probation officer just happened to be in the office when we walked in. She recognized me at once and made the comment that, "they had me now." Pastor Neal stated his business and the both of them disappeared into an inner office for what seemed like forever. I sat nervously in the outer office, still basking in the freedom I had seemed to maintain up to that time. Then the door opened and my Pastor walked up to me and said, "let's go." I followed him out of the office and down the elevator in utter disbelief that I was actually leaving the building with him.

At a coffee shop down the road he began to tell me that the situation didn't look real good. (I didn't see any bars on the windows yet so it looked pretty good to me!) He explained that I had been released into his custody only temporarily, until we could see the judge. That was the problem. The judge was hunting out west in the Rocky Mountains. He wouldn't be back for another week and we were told that we had to wait. Pastor Neal hadn't anticipated being away from our home church quite that long, but he told me that he was willing to do whatever it took. Somehow he didn't think we would have to wait the whole week.

My mother was very surprised to see me return from the courthouse with Pastor Neal. That day we prayed and waited on God. I never will forget that we just prayed and waited on God, and believed he would somehow intervene. Pastor Neal spoke with my mother concerning her soul. Raised with a Christian Science background she didn't feel she needed to make any hasty decisions concerning church and God.

I remember Pastor Neal flipping through a Jackson phone book looking for an Independent Baptist Church. It was Wednesday night and we were headed out to church, somewhere. Just as we were walking out the door to go to church, my brother Brad, who still lived at home with my mother, popped out of his room and asked if he could come along with us. The Pastor agreed and we all three climbed into the car together. Now you see, my brother, in my eyes, was the least likely candidate for becoming a Christian. He was a long hair biker type and he smoked marijuana. Again this reflected on how new I was in the Lord, forgetting what kind of a person I was, and how big God is.

That night in the service there just happened to be some folks there who knew my Pastor. They had met him just once at a filling station in North Carolina, on their way to a Bible conference. Whether this was a coincidence or divine providence, we had quite an experience that night. Now I don't recall exactly what the Pastor of that church preached on that night, but whatever it was, God was using it. During the invitation my brother Brad darted past us and down the aisle, nearly knocking us over. He ran down to the altar and got saved!! Afterwards he asked the Pastor of the church to sign his Bible. He said he just wanted to get a receipt! The congregation broke out in laughter at this. It was really something! (My brother Brad is now serving as a Missionary to Southern France)

From the church there that Wednesday night Pastor Neal made a call to our home church in Florida. They were still having their prayer service and in the background you could hear the men praying and crying out to God for us. I will never forget that night as long as I live! Folks at home were in fervent prayer.

THE GREAT DELIVERANCE

The next morning Pastor Neal called downtown to the probation office, as he was instructed to do, in order to get specifics on when the judge would return. Suddenly he jumped out of his seat and shouted! He hung up the phone and said, "let's go!" The probation office had decided not to wait for the judge. They wanted me to come down and fill out some transfer papers and told us we could leave for Florida right away! That very night we were on our way back to Florida, praising God all the way. My mother was completely awestruck by the sudden turn of events and was happy to see us go back together.

I was glad to see my brother Brad get saved out the whole thing, but was somewhat upset that my mother had not trusted Christ as her personal Savior. On the road to Florida we learned that we had missed a major snowstorm by just hours! Once back in Florida I felt I had truly experienced the power of God! This was a step of faith for me that I will never forget. Nobody could deny this was a miracle!

A few days later Pastor Neal informed me that he had received a phone call in his office. My mother had called from Michigan to say that she had been in much turmoil of soul since we had left and that she was unable to eat or sleep. She wanted to know if she could be saved “over the telephone”. She prayed with Pastor Neal and trusted Christ as her Savior! God is awesome! All things work together for good to them that love God....

God has done so many more wonderful things in my life these past 24 years since this story transpired. I'm sorry to say that I've not always stayed in God’s perfect will, but He continues to be the One I look to daily. I will never forget the landmarks of those early days when God did truly deliver me!

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN

Now friend, God wants to deliver you too! If you have never been saved, you need to be. Here's how:

1. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. You must admit you are a sinner to be saved.

2. "For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23 a. Here we read that death is the penalty for sin. Not just physical death but eternal death, a second death. "...Death and Hell were cast into the lake fire. This is the second death." Revelation 20:14

3. "...But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 b Here we see that salvation is a free gift. It cannot be earned. That free gift can only be gotten through the Lord Jesus Christ. "...I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the father but by me" John 14:6 Jesus is the only way.

4. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Here we see that once we realize and admit that we are sinners and that Jesus died for our sins, that we must only then believe and call upon Him for salvation!

If you would like to be saved today and have a home in Heaven one day then just go ahead and confess to God that you are a sinner. Tell Him you realize that Jesus died for you and accept Him by faith this very moment. You can ask Him right now! Pray something like this: Dear God, I know I am a sinner, and I realize there is a penalty for sin. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and hereby accept Him as my personal Savior. Thank you Lord for saving me!

Friend, I hope you enjoyed reading my testimony. I hope it encouraged you to also trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior. Please email me and tell me about your decision for Christ and I will send you some useful information to help you get started in your new life with Christ. May God Bless You In Your New Christian Life!

Home