My Mother took me to church as far back as I can remember, but I still didn't know Jesus as my Friend. When I was 5 or 6, I was sexually abused. The following Sunday worship Service, I remember as Br. Walker preached, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. I knew that morning if I didn't accept Jesus as my Savior, that I was headed for a burning Hell when I died. I went forward that morning during the invitation and asked Br. Walker, how do you get saved. Br. Walker explained it to me as I have already said, I was young. He used John 3:16. He asked me if I knew what sins were. I answered, yes, that is when someone does wrong. He explained that Jesus died on the Cross so I could be forgiven from my sins. He led me in the prayer of asking the Lord to be my Savior. The last thing he asked me was who was my Savior. I responded, Jesus. It was the most important decision that I have ever made! I think it was between the second and third grade, one day I went out to play. There was noone to play with. I started hunting for a secret place. My Dad was a junk collector. There was an old metal camping ice box in the yard. I got in it, but I wasn't going to let the door shut. It slammed shut anyway! I tried to get out of that thing everyway I could. I was crying and I was getting sleepy. Then the Lord led me to pray a prayer: Help me get out of this thing! My 7 years older sister was the only one home. She thought it was time to come in. To make a long story short, the Lord led her right to me! The Lord had physically saved my life! I stayed in Church until Junior High and I got out. I stayed out of church until about my Junior Year in High School. I had committed an awful sin. I was worried about it very much, being convicted by the Holy Spirit. My mother was the only one I could talk to. I went and told her. I asked forgiveness from the Lord and repented. Mother said it was time to get back into Church. I did, but I know that it was my Mother praying for me all the time I was out of church. It wasn't long after that I surrendered to the Lord. About in my second year of college, I took a 4 year old Sunday School Class just because I wanted responsibility. That first year, The Lord taught me that the teaching would be far better, if I would let him teach the class through me instead of me teaching it physically. After my first year, they moved me up to Kindergarden where the Lord used me to teach that class about 12 years at that church. I would pray for each child that came into my class that they would be saved, even though they might not be of age at that time. I remember one experience that is dear to my heart. It was promotion Sunday. Istarted praying for my new roll of class of children about Salvation. One boy, whose family belonged to the church. He was visiting relatives. He was out 2or 3 sundays before he ever entered the class room, but I had already started praying for his Salvation. Praise God, He was led to Christ while he was visiting with the relatives before he ever entered the class room door. During this time, I started doubting my Salvation. I couldn't remember my Salvation experience. It had been supressed with the sexual abuse. I had been living on child like faith! I listened to people! They said, if you can't remember your Salvation, you must be lost. Oh I know who answered my prayers, but when I entered a Salvation sermon, the doubting started. This went on for about 10 years. I don't know how many times preachers tried to lead me through the Salvation Prayer, but I never could go through with it. Something way down deep which was the Holy Spirit told me I had been through this before. A friend once told me that I was saved as a child and couldn't remember his Salvation and that he asked the Lord to let him remember his Salvation. I started praying that prayer. I remembered both experiences together! I had to go through them over and over to seperate the two experiences. That was when anxiety and depression entered my life. I had to give up the Sunday School class which was my heart. Then the Lord led me to another church. I had to start taking anxiety and depression medicine. I wouldn't face the truth that I had been sexually abused until the Lord led me to a councillor in San Angelo, Texas. He made me face the fact that I had been sexually abused. Then my psychiatrist led me through a trance and I remembered most everthing. At this new church, the Lord led me back into teaching Sunday School again. Then they promoted me to Singles Outreach Leader. I found how much harder it is to work with Adults and children. I forgot to tell you that earlier that I had seizures. I would pass out or just act dumb. One time I was going to the best brain surgeon in Lubbock. Anyway, when these first started, I just prayed that they would go away. I just kept praying that prayer. I had them from 7th grade up to my second time at college. Finally through medicine, The Lord answered that prayer. I haven't had a seizure in over 10 years. The Singles Class folded after a couple of years of me holding that position. Our church don't even have a Singles Class anymore.
Now the Lord has led me to join another Church which I have been a member about a week. I love it. I've been at that church about 3/4 of a year and I'm growing in the Lord!
Now the Lord has led me to join another Church which I have been a member about a week. I love it. I've been at that church about 3/4 of a year and I'm growing in the Lord!
