PERSONAL TESTIMONY

".....I believed, and therefore have I spoken" 2 Cor. 4:13b

My first recollection of attending church was when I was around eleven years old, shortly after my parents had been visited and invited to services. When I was twelve, I remember being saved and baptized. Several of my little girlfriends also gave indications of faith when I shared my gift of eternal life with them. When our pastor requested volunteers to go door-to-door witnessing, I jumped at the offer. My joy was short lived though when I was told that I wouldn*t be allowed to go unless I wore a dress. Pants on females were not acceptable "witness gear" in that group. I felt crushed inside, and thereafter my family did not attend services regularly, although my mother continued to read the Bible.

After I married, a co-worker introduced me to a group who prayed over me to receive the gift of tongues. I*m sure they were disappointed that I did not "get it." Later, my husband and I found a Sunday School class at another place. He went forward at an alter call, and they wanted him to be baptized. I recalled my mother showing me the verse several years earlier in Eph. 4:5 ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism",). In light of that scripture, the water ceremony just didn*t seem right anymore because I believed in the spiritual baptism. One spiritual plus one water equals two total. So even then I had the realization of only one baptism (spiritual), though I did not have the understanding of it.

Over the years, Garry and I listened to many popular messages on the subjects of prophecy and modern day events. A lot of emphasis was placed on the parable of the fig tree as if it was direct instruction for us today. I*m glad I know better now.

Our family decided to move away from southern California after a series of frightening events from riots to murder trials occurred and after my husband was threatened at gunpoint by a stranger fleeing the scene of a crime. We moved to the "Bible Belt" thinking life would be easier if we been*t looked upon as odd for our Christian beliefs. My parents soon followed and joined us in our relocation. But my dream of a happy home in a small, rural town away from hurried, big city life soon turned into a nightmare

A few months later, my father died unexpectedly. Even though the earlier fatality occurred when I was unconscience, I had horrible feelings that God took my father*s life because of it. I had a double portion of pain with no relief, until

After my mother*s and my search for a dispensational teaching church was futile, as I had just telephoned every local listing in our area, while we sat together at her kitchen table wondering what to do, we turned on the radio and heard a voice say, "You folks need to study the Bible dispensationally. Read Paul*s epistles to find out God*s message for believers today in the age of grace." Mother and I were both overjoyed and scurried for a pen and paper to write the information for contacting the name on the broadcast. 

We just knew from the ending announcement that we were on the path to discovery of rightly dividing the word of truth for which we had longed. That program was "The Magnified Word" with David Dowell. I was relieved to realize through my study of the scriptures dispensationally that my father*s death had nothing to do with my automobile accident.

It*s good for both husband and wife!

Paul begs us in Christ*s name

To speak the same thing.

We should all be kind

Since we have the same mind.

We should never hold a grudge

Since we have the same judge.

Then we can all decide

Not to contend, nor divide.

I Cor 1:10