Testimonies

[TiredIronGRB]

Our old thread was autopruned, I will set this one not to.

[Bluegill]

Simply put - I am a prodigal son.

Like many, I was raised in church - a missionary baptist one to be exact. Mom taught childrens Sunday school, Dad was a trustee. My first church visit was at 1 week old, the firstborn of 4 kids - 3 boys & a girl; everyone around us thought we were the perfect family. I was such a happy little boy - until one day the issues between Mom & Dad came to a head, and I still remember every detail of the day Dad left for good. At 13 years old my world came crashing down. My heart was smashed to pieces, because in my adolescent mind my family was the source of my happiness. Initially I blamed myself but soon realized that I had no control over my parents' relationship with each other.

In a greiving anger I blamed God for tearing apart the only thing that mattered to me in this world; my family. And so I turned my back on the Lord and embraced Satan & the world. This began a downward spiral in my life, as I held a grudge against God. Rebellion became my motto - I didn't care what was "cool" or what everyone else was doing, I did my own thing - especially if it involved fighting authority. Mom had primary custody and whether I liked it or not I went to church, and she also sent me to a Christian school against my wishes. I am probably the only person alive who can claim these 2 things about high school - I was the valedictorian of my class, while also holding the record for being disciplined more than any other student. :oops:

This rebellious attitude led to much worse. Without going into great detail, I am unable to recount all the sins I've committed in my life. I have consumed more than enough liqour & drugs to fill a 1,500sq ft house, slept with over a hundred women, and much more (all of which I am very ashamed of now :oops: ). It would be fitting to find my picture next to the definition of sin in a dictionary. I sought fulfillment everywhere I could possibly find some, except for the church.

Satan tried unsuccessfully to take my life several times.......but one time.....it was by my own hands. At 19, convinced that their was no real purpose for me to live I took enough of my stepmom's sleeping pills to kill a horse. Surprisingly I woke up 2 days later with the worst head & stomach aches of my life. I am living proof that God's Word is for real - James 5:16 "...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." I tell you that on that day, it wasn't a righteous man praying - it was a righteous woman, my mother. Almost every night she would gather us for prayer before bed, and usually closed the prayer like this; "...and I claim mighty warring angels to gaurd these children, for they are dedicated to you, Lord." Even after we moved out, my mother still prays for us nearly every night before bed. God kept His Word the night I took all those pills - and spared my life.

As powerful as that was, I still did not come back to my Heavenly Father. Labor day 1994 is another day I will never forget. I was driving my 1978 CJ5 to work that night for graveyard shift, when another driver didn't yield the right of way and his car struck the Jeep on the driver side rocker while I was travelling at 45mph. It didn't just roll - it flipped; 5 times....with me still inside it! Side over side three times, then end over end twice. At the hospital the ER doctor's own words gave the biggest testimony; after the police decribed how the wreck occured & what happened to my Jeep, he said "I just can't believe it! The guy has no broken bones at all!". Then he took a picture of the side of my head, showing the imprint of the Jeep's rollbar. Again, God answered my mother's prayer.........and spared my life.

Even after being delivered from death twice, I still turned my back on God. It wasn't until God granted my lifelong wish in 2001 that I finally came to my spiritual senses; and ran back to the arms of my Heavenly Father. When most young children are asked what they want to be when they grow up, the usual answers are something like a fireman, a doctor, a policeman, etc. My teachers & family had a hard time believing what my wish was. I wanted to be a father, and had wanted that for my whole life. In May of 2001 I was the first to hold the most precious blessing ever; my daughter. My heart was filled with so much joy & excitement that I could hardly contain myself. But at the same time, I could literally feel the presence of God in that delivery room (my mother & sister were outside, praying). At age 13 my family was taken from me - at 29 He gave me a family of my own, and I can never thank Him enough! Three years later he completed my heart's desire by blessing us with a son! Both of my children are fulfilled prophesy (which I didn't believe at the time), including one that said my daughter was going to have blonde hair & blue eyes. When I left that delivery room I repented right then & there.

One time I was struggling to understand why God would allow me to go through so much, a friend said something to me that has stuck with me ever since. "Robert, God made many beautiful things on this earth. One of the most beautiful is a diamond. But a diamond is not easily made; it requires a tremendous amount of pressure and friction to be made. Many creations would be destroyed by the forces needed to make a diamond. God may be making a diamond out of your life. A diamond shines brighter than any crystal and cuts sharper than any sword."

Words cannot describe how thankful I am that God never gave up on me, and that His love endures forever. I am not worthy of His Grace, but Jesus chose to pay my penalty before I even knew Him. I am ever thankful that He brought me here to this body of believers.

I praise the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega! Jesus is Lord and will forever be!

If you do not know the unbelievable joy and peace that comes from God filling your soul with His Holy Spirit; from having a personal relationship with Jesus and walking with Him - please contact me and I'll be glad to share with you. Even the joy I experienced holding my firstborn child pales in comparison to the joy that comes only from God's gift of salvation.

[Derrickalda]

i was 17 and i played high school football. i had two concussion ( one from jason witten). i wa in and out of the hospital because of blackouts so i started to go to church and December 1999 my life started.

God knocked sense into me

[Want2Wheel]

I was 7 years old, and I felt something in my heart. It was like two people were fighting over me. One was God, and satan was the other. It was as though I could choose who won. I chose God, and I was washed in His blood. I have not always made the right decisions, but I have always felt God's hand on my life. I was bought with a priceless price. I was bought with the blood of The Lamb.

[TiredIronGRB]

The Lord saved me when I was 30, I was an Atheist and thought I knew everything. I treated my wife and really everybody else very badly, I won't give satan the glory by going through all the bad stuff I've done (we wouldn't have time anyway).

I was witnessed to by a true born again believer (many had told me "you need to go to church and straighten up" and all the other "turn or burn" crap) but it took seeing the real deal and how at peace he was and the genuine love he had for people for the Lord to show me that He was God and I wasn't.

I was alone at home when it happened and was changed forever, I still fail everyday but I to live a Godly life not because it will get me to heaven but because of my Love for the Lord and what he has done for me by giving me a new life and a home in heaven forever.

I have an awesome church family and love every service, it's like a small taste of what heaven will be like :wink:

[bronconut79]

In feb i was in a car wreck that should have killed me but i walked away.
After that i started going to church and it was like god spoke to me every sunday,the message had something about what i was dealing with at that time in my life. Then the the 2nd sunday in april after church was when it hit me it was like all the stress in my life was lifted.

I still stumble and fall every now and then but i know that i have to crawl before i can walk

[Thumpszilla]

I like many others here had my wild days where Satan was calling the shots in my life. I was pretty bad on drugs weed, pills, booze, basically anything a highscholler can get there hands on. I was driving to school one day smoking a joint. All of the sudden I got really sick and pulled over and started vomiting and feeling like I was dying. That is when I accepted the lord. I never touched drugs after that again.

I have been going to church in mooresburg at Mooresburg United Methodest church for about 2 years. I love my church family there but would like to find something closer to home.

I had backsliden quite a ways but since Steve sent me the link to this site and I joined I have came back into fellowship with the Lord. My life has really taken a positive change since then.

[redwings5]

I was in bible school and the preacher asked anyone who wasnt saved to come up and be saved. that day i was saved but i did not feel diffrent. i did not feel born again it took me until prolly last summer to feel gods presence. i was in NC on a retreat and i felt like i was playing christian you know going to church being good in church and then going home and being a bad person. so i gave up my life. and i was born again. now i know where im going when i die. i know that jesus is my savior. and i try to spread his word and be a good follower.
-jake

[MyBeau99]

During high school, December 1994... I went to a youth lock-in with some of my friends... I was saved that night. I was 15. After graduating I fell away for a while. Tried the whole 'party crowd' thing, but it just never really felt right to me, Jesus had never left my heart through it all. In 2000, I came back to him full force. I turned my back on some of the wrong influences that I had, and they hated me for it, but I never did look back.

In March 2001, I had some kidney stones that attacked me pretty hard. I left work on a stretcher because I couldn't hardly move from the pain. The ultrasound showed 3 stones and, ironically the nurse called them the "three demons". It was a Wednesday, so when I was released we went straight to church. I was prayed over that night, that the stones would break and dissipate. Three days later, at the Urologist appointment there were no stones to be found, but I had never passed them either. Prayer was answered. I believed before, but this confirmed my belief to me. I knew I was loved... though I still struggle with understanding why He would love me so much!?!?!? :wink:

That's all I have to say about that. :grin:

[4wheelinmoma]

When i was about 10 or 11 my great grandfather passed away. His dying wish was that at his funeral service me and a couple of my cousins be saved at his service. My parents and grandparents did not see this as appropriate and believed that to be saved couldn't be demanded by one person. I found this out and around the age of 13 belived that this is what I should do so I proclaimed I was accepting the Lord into my life and was baptised in a little pool at the church. However, I didn't do this for me I done this for my great grandfather. It wasn't until my Senior year in highschool that I realized what I had done. It took the Lord a couple of times to get my attention but he done it.

The first time I knew that the Lord was calling to me was January 1, 1996. I was in the car taking my cousin's wife home with my son and ex-husband in the car. I don't even remember getting in the car. The last thing I remember is being at home and then waking up in the hospital. The Lord spared my life. I was sent through the front window of the car and my head was split open in 3 deferent places. I had over 200 stitches in one cut alone. I carry the scares today. I wasn't excepted to see out of my right eye. Thanks to the Lord I survived. My son Landon was only 2 months old at the time and had no injuries.

The last time he gave me my good shaking was in May of 1996 right before I graduated. I was cleaning house doing my dishes and such on a Sunday and set a cast iron skillet on the stove to heat so I could clean it better. It caught on fire and burnt my home down. Landon and I fortunately made it out unharmed. I prayed then and there for the Lord to forgive and was saved standing watching my home burn to the ground.

That evening however, we had clothes, toys, and a home given to us.

I have sliden a few times since then but I know that the Lord is my savior and that I have been saved by his grace.

[grimestang]

I was brought up in a single parent home along with my brother. We where poor, and things where tough. My mother had a temper that led to abuse, and at the age of fifteen I moved to Boston . I didnt want much to do with my family. I went to high school from 7am to 2:30pm and went to work at a local printing agency at 3pm til 11pm. Needless to say I started to fail school. My mother had moved to Chicago in the mean time and six months later I moved out to Chicago with her. The inviroment did not improve, the person the home belonged to was a substance abuser, and ended up throwing our belongings out in the rain. He turned the gas on in the house to try to commit suicide. I decided it was better on my own and for the next year lived in friends cars and their garages. I ended up moving back to Boston and two years later I met my dad for the first time. He lived in Hawaii, and was a dope grower. I ended up moving and living there for a couple of years. I ended up homeless again, and living on the streets and in my car. I started thinking that there had to be something better then this, and thats when I realized that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I did a complete one- eighty, and moved back to Tennessee. It has, and is not always easy to live the christian life but I do my best and trust God. Remembering Eph. 2:8-9 "that it is by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God"

[SurferSami]

I was seven and brought up in church, I was in a service one Sunday and I realized that if I died I wouldn't go to heaven. So I asked the Lord to save me. I couldn't tell you a lot of theology and there was a ton of stuff I didn't understand, but God loves us so much that He patiently teaches us more and more as we grow.
When I made my descision I was pretty selfish, I figure I don't want to be in hell, but the more I learned about God the more I wanted to serve and follow all of His teachings. It's like my dad, I use to do what he said because if I didn't I would get a spanking, but as I grew to know and understand his rules and actions were because he loved me and wanted the best for me I started listening and doing what he said out of respect, appreciation and love.
Today I serve my Lord, Jesus full time as a missionary because I love, respect and appreciate Him, and He never lets me down I have NO regrets. I would encourage anyone who has not experienced the freedom of God's love to read His love letter to you, the Bible, and realize those words were breathed so that you could have a full and wonderful life relationship with the God that created you.

[Tracker021605]

I was born way too early...the doctor wouldn't even let my mom see me I was so sick. I couldn't breathe on my own and I didn't even cry. I weighed less than four pounds when I was born and I left the hospital weighing 4.3. And thank God I lived! I've had a wonderful life! Of course, there have been those down times that I wish could've changed, but I think that everything is working out the way it's supposed to. I've also gone through some other pretty rough medical issues that God has helped to pull me through. I fell off of a 21 ft high dive onto concrete when I was younger and didn't even break anything...of course I was terribly weak afterwards but God was there with me that day. When I started 8th grade I got really really sick. I was in and out of the hospital all the time. They thought I had cancer...but luckily I didn't. When I started 8th grade I weighed around 115...and now I'm in 10th and I weigh 102...I was SICK. But God has always helped me through and given me everything I needed. When I started getting better at the end of 8th grade I started dating Brandon...and he is God's gift to me. He's my number 2...next to God...I can't wait to see what happens in my future and in his because I think that God is something we can share together as we grow and become older. I know my story isn't as deep as some others...but it keeps my faith alive with God...

[SamuraiGuyTN]

Im Catholic( I know, I know, don't hold it agianst me) My parents always made me go to church. I even graduated from a Catholic High School in Chattanooga. worshipping Jesus and our God was always a part of our daily lives. Yet It wasn't until I nearly Lost the relationship with my wife that I knew Him. I have always wanted to be a Pilot, I always new I would have a degree. But my wife(Then G/F) pointed out, that in order to get those things you have to do something about it. They don't just come to you. So with the help of the Lord through my wife, God's ever lasting Love was spread upon me one day in church. I was all alone at my wife's Church (she's Methodist) , Paige did not go to church with me. The preacher asked every one a question. "Do you want me to help you pray?" AT that point God stepped in, I broke into tears, and he saved me. I didn't need to be touched by any preacher. GOD did instead.

Thank you Lord for all the wonder oportunities you have bestowed upon me.

[Ray VanBuren]

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I've only been a Christian for about six and a half years. Prior to that, I questioned the presence fo God. I was raised Catholic, which led me to believe there was no hope for salvation. This sent me on a long path of self destruction. I mean, what was the point? Anyway, just before getting saved, I had something happen. You've heard of people having voices in there head? Well, I have music in my head. I so love music and I sometimes use it as a time line. "When this song came out I was doing this...". Anyway I started getting songs randomly in my head that I couldn't get rid of. I remember these songs from my younger days. They were Hymns! I wrestled with this for a couple of months, wondering what was going on. Then, I realized that this was God speaking to me in a way that I'd listen. I went to Zoar Baptist Church the next Sunday for the first time. My wife and step kids were already members there. During the months since they had joined, I found myself attending several Church functions. Everyone treated me like family. No one held a Bible up and said "repent or die". This impressed and confused me since I had several bad experiences with other Churches. The pastor and a Deacon came to my house one evening to talk to my wife about salvation, prayed with her, etc. I found myself trapped in the room, but politely waited. When they finished praying, the pastor said "so Ray, are you ready to give your life to Christ"? I said "not at this time".. He left it there. This also impressed and confused me. Anyway shortly thereafter, I walked into the Church for the first time. Funny thing, in all the other functions there, I had never been in the Sanctuary. My wife was tickled to death to see me there. Two weeks later, I went forward during the invitation and confessed my sins and gave my life to Christ. I was baptized two months later. Since that time, I followed God's call to the mission field. Went to Africa twice, did inner-city ministry for youth and children, got involved with the ministry to the Hispanic people, and two years ago, was elected as a Deacon. When I first got saved, I questioned my ability to spread the Gospel since I didn't even know what was in the Bible(Catholics don't encourage the reading of scripture. They tell you what they want you to know). I set out to read the Bible from cover to cover, not just read, but embrace the words and study them. It took me seven months reading at least one chapter per day. In that time, I only missed one day. Anyway, that's my story. My life has never been better. And this new found life is what led me to seek out a 4X4 club that is faith-based. BTW, I don't mean to bad mouth another faith.

[Shell tone]

Guys this site and the testimonies on here are great. i was born again on Nov. 25 1997 (i was 14) nothing fancy just a sinner saved from hell. i wanted to say that i praise God for this site. 4wheelin has a stereotype of drunken rednecks who cant drink and drive on the highway so they choose to do it in the woods. This page proves that stereotype is not always accurate, and im not the only sober one on the trails.

[BillM]

Great to have you here.

[Gordon]

Some of you may have heard some of this before, but I was moved to post it. God has laid it on my heart to share it for a reason. Only He knows why.


I was born of Christian parents, who although they didn?t attend church really regularly, saw to it that I went to Sunday school and was raised in a Christian environment. My denominational background has been in the Presbyterian Church.

I actually don?t ever remember not being a part of the church community. I grew up in a very rural part of northwest NJ, where everyone knew everyone ? life was basic and good. Crime was minimal and people were good to one another.

I joined the Lower Valley (NJ) Presbyterian Church when I was 13. I was active in the youth groups, studies, and attended church camp for 3 or 4 years, as well as regularly attending church services.

I was ordained as a Ruling Elder while in college. I served one term at that time and have since served again. Presbyterian Elders are ordained for life, and are considered Ruling, when officially serving a term at a specific church.

After I met my first wife, I began attending church with her at a Methodist Church in a nearby community. We were subsequently married there.

Now, the first major change in my life came along. We moved to Florida, and Satan began his work. We had no children, and began to have problems between us. Long story short, my (ex) wife felt she would be happier pursuing a life with someone else, and I found comfort drowning my pain in a bottle of Cutty Sark scotch. Let me also say that I harbor no ill will towards her, it just worked out the way it did. I have not seen or heard from her since the mid 80?s.

This is where my life-changing event came into play. I was drinking hard (quart a day), working (by luck, not design, I suppose), and not caring about much of anything. I guess it went on for a couple years, actually.

One night, (I did most of my serious drinking at the house) I was good and buzzed, and during a trip to the bathroom, slipped and hit my head, right on my forehead, between my eyes, on the corner of my vanity. I don?t really remember what happened after that, but somehow I managed to turn off the water, as I had rolled off onto the toilet tank and broken it, water flooding half the house.

The next morning, I woke up, lying on the living room floor, busted head, missing a front tooth, and the house a bit of a mess from the flood.

That evening, God had come to me, and saved my life. I have absolutely no doubts about it. I could have died and never knew what hit me, but God was not through with me yet. I ended up having to have surgery to repair a busted disc in my neck, caused by the whiplash of my head snapping back when it hit the vanity. I could have very easily broken my neck.

When I woke up that morning, I looked at the bottle of scotch and knew that life would never be the same for me again. I walked away from booze at that moment ? just like that ? cold turkey. I have not had one taste of alcohol since. Over 20 years.

I began getting my life back together after that night, and step by step moved forward. I turned to a new job, which ended up providing me a terrific career, from which I just recently retired.

A few years later, I met my present wife, someone I cherish very much. She had a son, whom I have been able to be a father to. His biological father left when he was just months old. He is now almost 30, and leading a life of his own.

The rest of my life his been blessing after blessing. All praise goes to God, for everything, but especially that life-changing moment. No one will ever convince me that God is not here ? simply have faith in Him.

[Country Boy]

I came from a home that went to church at times but not regular. Both my grandmothers were the two greatest women I have ever known. No matter what anyone did, they would forgive them & I really looked up to them for that. My mom & dad divorced when I was 15 & my life went crazy. I have a little brother that was yanked back & forth between them & neither seemed to care about what I did because they were fighting over him. So, mary-J, alcohol, staying out all night, & stealing became my life. My older brother was stabbed to death in Nashville is when I almost cracked. He was my best friend as well as my brother. I run with a guy I went to school with & it finally hit the fan when the sherrif picked us up & told us he had enough on us for stealing to lock us up for several years . He went on to tell us that he wasn't goint to do this because the guy I run with had a dad who was a city cop & he didn't want to embarrass him. He told us if we ever come in again, he would see to it that we never saw daylight again, I took the hint. I found a girl & got married & the wild life continued. I had a son in 87 and when he turned two I could see him watching us & what we were doing & told my wife that we have to stop. She said she wasn't going to stop & I said us or the dope, she left. I lived as a single parent for three years drinking very little on the weekends after he was asleep & then run into Jody, my now wife. She was saved an an early age & mentioned church ever now & then but didn't push the issue. When we moved to Kingsport in 2000, a lady she worked with invited us to their church & we started going. Several times I thought about going to the altar but never got the courage to do it. We rode seperate one night, ( I was on the bike ), I took the long way home & got there an hour later than her & she was tore up when I got home. I asked her whats the big deal & she said she thought I could have wrecked & asked me if I was ready if I died tonight. I asked the Lord into my life that night . I want to thank Jesus for that opportunity.

[R.E.C.O.N.45]

My testimony, hmmmmm......
Well born into a christian family though different dinominations, so when visiting family member and going to their churchs I was able to get a well rounded view of God. Still learning and wish I would learn more. I have just grown up to try to do right, and look forward to try to do a perfect day of no sin, super helpful to everyone I see, and share God to other. I have done all these but not in one perfect day, but someday.

I try to be more of living witness than a spech maker. I let peoples curiousity and let them ask then I share. I was able to be blessed to be in the Marines, but not for long. Though I know why I was sent there. I left early Honorable discharge, but I was put into the seperation platoon. This is where all the druggies, sucide people, crazies, and others that the Marines did not want. I was able to talk several out of sucide and they went with me to church on the base and there was hope in them. That was a great time for me though I myself did not get to fullfill my goal of being a Marine. I was able to direct a dozen or so people to him. My only regret that I would not change. Aint that an ironic statement.

I have held strong with my faith. All through college with no drinking, drugs, sleeping around, and crusing. I still need to work on patience and grudges I hold. Though I forgive at a drop of a hat when it is ask, but sometimes I need to let things go.

God has blessed me with a hard working mom that I prasied on this site. A good girlfriend and good health. My girlfriend had a rocky past but has a wonderful heart and is truly faithful to God. She is really awesome. I have taken his trials and do not waiver from them. I enjoy prayer time, but to me it is more of talking to a friend telling Him what I am thankful for that day, appoligizing for my wrongs, and tell Him my concerns and dreams. You can call me crazy if you want, but I do get dreams from time to time of small events of the future sometimes years before it happens. I take these as things to let me know I am in track with where God wants me to be. Its things like that and some of other small miriacles that there is no doubt in my mind of him being real.

I have a reading problem that is getting better. So my reading and knowledge of the Word is limited to what I hear. I think about and Talk to God about it and much of it makes sense so of it I let Him reveal it to me.

My friends like for me to pray for them when they are sick or know someone really ill because it seems they get better alot quicker when I pray. I think it is just their faith that he makes a difference not my prayer.

As of now I am 27 and still a virgin. I made a promise to Him when I was 11 and I have always tried to keep to my word. Between that and help whenever someone ask is 2 things I am big on.

I just try to the best I can and I know I can do better. Take care and my yall be blessed

[Hadfield4WD]

I was raised in what might be considered an ideal Christian home. Went a Bible believing church. Parents lived out being servants of Christ. I accepted Christ when I was 4. My mother said I had an understanding at that age and who am I to argue with my mother. When I was 6 my parents (who were both teachers) took us all to Zaire (now the Congo) for a year. They taught in a missionary school. This was a great experience and started a life of missions for my family. I think if it were not for my mothers health issues we would never have left. However we came home and my parents started housing tons of missionary's. We were close to JFK airport and we would pick them up and give them a couple days to get acclimated to the time and culture shock.

All this to say we were always surrounded by missionaries. My dad became very active in missions in our church.

I was never a bad kid, although I did get into my share of trouble, never drugs or alcohol. Led Bible studies with my church youth group that was very active and went to college.

I was very active in Campus Crusade for Christ where I met my wife. We were married between our Junior and Senior year of college. We applied for staff of CCC, but did not feel the Lord leading us in this direction. We have led several youth groups and are very active in leadership at our Church. We have been on several short term missions trips and have often prayed about long term.

I have had ups and downs in my walk with the Lord as I'm sure most people have.

[99NCXJ]

I've read all the proceding posts and I have to say my story isn't quite as memorable. I grew up in what I felt to be a good home but not quite a Christian home. We went to church every once in a while but I remember not liking it very much.
By the time I was about 14 or so I think my parents decided that if I didn't want to go then they wouldn't make me so we all quit going. I won't give satan the pleasure of telling you all the things I did while growing up but I will tell you that I should have ended up in Jail or rehab. Looking back on that era of my life (mostly high school years) I'm really ashamed of what I have done.
When I was 19 years old I opened up my own buisness, a motorcycle repair shop in my local town. One of my buddies that hung out at the shop most everyday brought a friend of his over to hang out with us after hours. Her name was Sharon. She was 4 years older than me, single, but had a 6 year old son. We started seeing each other on a regular basis and fell in love.
She grew up in a strong christian home where her grandfather and uncle were both church of God preachers in michigan. I went to church with her sometimes but didn't really see the point. Infact, I can remember telling her that I felt that since I was a half way decent person that hadn't killed anyone or stolen anything that I would go to heaven too. I belived in God but just didn't think i needed any kind of personal relationship with him. One sunday morning I went to church with her at Union Road Church of God in Gastonia, NC. I don't remember what the preacher was talking about or even what songs were sung but at the end of the service they had an altar call. All I remember is that I started crying.
I had this new but strange overpowering feeling come over me. The next thing I knew, I was on my knees at the altar asking God to forgive me and asking Jesus into my heart. I have never been the same since. Sharon and I got married several years after that and are both very involved at our church.
We now go to Maranatha Temple Church of God in Gastonia, NC and really feel like we have a great family there. Sharon sings in the praise team, and I run the sound booth. I can't say enough about how God has changed my life. I try everyday to show his love and spread the good news.

[NC_James]

Well I have not really shared my testimony with very many people. So I apologize if it sounds a bit cobbled together, or ill punctured. Well I am from a background that was pretty crazy at times. My dad had severe anger problems, and was constantly trying too argue with my mom. She would eventually give in and well all get out would brake loose. And that eventually lead too there divorce a few years ago.

Also awhile ago I lost my little brother due too hospital negligence. The hospital was suppose too start him on dialysis because his kidneys where failing. Instead they pumped him with laxatives. And he passed on. That was a really hard time and I basically blamed it all on God.

I also used too ride moto x. It was my life and I started when I was around 5. Never had a major wreck or nothing. Till one day I was racing and the bike landed wrong. And sent me and the bike flying. The bike landed on me about four times crushing most of the bones in the right side of my body and giving me severe head trauma. When I got too the hospital I was in a coma. The doctors gave me a 25% chance too live and a 1% chance too walk. Well after a 5 month hospital stay and over a year of crazy physical therapy I was walking again.

Than I realized something. How did I live thru this ordeal? And how am I not paralyzed. I could only come up with one answer. God sent a angel down too protect me. So from that moment on I fell on my knees and gave my life too him.

Everything was going along great till one day, I got the phone call that my best friend was killed by a head on collision with a drunk driver. It was just crazy how I was on the phone with him a hour before I got the call and I saw him that morning. And that again just left me asking why? Than I switched churches and got very into it. Began asking question?s and receiving miraculous answers. And I rededicated my life too Christ.

And another thing really supported my faith in God was when one day I was out driving one of my old runners. And a semi crossed into my lane and hit me head on. I amazingly was out of the runner with only a few scratches. The state trooper said it was the worst wreck he has ever seen were anyone could live thru it.

Thanks for listening. God bless you all so very much!

[4Xthelord]

i was the typical kid that was in church from birth. I was not just living in the "Bible Belt" i was part of the "Buckle". i accpeted Christ at 10 y/o and have been an active "participant" in church activities. of course living in the suburbs of Fall Branch the devil did not have much free time to whip me with. putting up hay, tobacco and taking care of livestock did not leave much time for other opportunities.
then along came college...my life became an instant pile of pooh. Alcohol and the wrong "friends" became my undoing. soon i was back home attending airport u and working part time to cover the expenses. God put the right gal in my path and a new chapter in life began. we were married in 1998 and the first 2 years we more than i had ever dreamed, i had a new GMC 4X4 and a brand spanking new house. It got even better. We found out in late 2000 Cari was pregnant!
then on this date 2001 (jan 3rd) Cari was addmited to HVMC with " pregnancy issues". the next 6 days were what i thought to be my hell on earth. I was about to lose my wife because they could not control her vitals and being pregnant limited the medication that could be given. I was about to lose my son. he was only at 26 weeks gestation (40 is normal) for some reason known only to God. PRAISE GOD she was able to give natural birth to him and he ahd several steroid shots to help his air buds (he did not quite have fully developed lungs yet). He was born on January 9th 2001, with a birth weight of 1lb 15oz and a little over a foot long...the next 83 days were surreal. i was at the NICU every day even weekends and there every evening. we were able to bring him home on oxygen, apnea monitor and caffine shots! Needless to say sugar and Mtn Dews do not bother him!

this no where near the end. but this is all the time i have today...

[Tom-Boy]

I have delayed posting my testimony until I now. I just wasn't sure what to include or where to start.
From a prayer request today, I now know what I need to say.

I was born and raised in a little Baptist church where my family held various positions from deacon to
teacher to treasurer. I went forward to be saved as a child, but mainly because I didn't want to go to hell.
I never really understood that God wanted something back for my salvation other than going to church
and trying to be good.

I got married my first year of college to the only serious boyfriend I had ever had (no, I didn't ask God if it
was the right one). That marriage lasted a little over a year. Then he decided to stop cheating on me by
getting a divorce.
I was emotionally broken to the core. Oh, I kept a happy face, but I felt like I was not worth anything.
And I lived like I wasn't worth anything either.
I did the party scene, drank, and didn't really care.
Then, God gave me a wake-up call. I became pregnant.
I was 20, in college, with no father for this baby, and no insurance.
I was scared. I finally got up the courage to tell my parents.
They were definitely not happy about my pregnancy.
I had a decision to make.

Abortion was not an option in my book.
I had a choice to keep the baby, or give the baby for adoption.

I prayed a lot. I had a few friends who knew about the pregnancy that were Christian that I asked for advice.
The choice though still remained mine.

I had grown up around a couple who had tried to adopt as she was unable to have a pregnancy. Several of us
from church had held the couple as an extra set of parents to us. We loved them very much.
I had my sister casually ask if they still were wanting to adopt (they didn't know I was pregnancy). They had
decided they were "too old".
Knowing the difficulties that they had in finding a baby to adopt, and after lots of prayer, I decided to give the
baby boy growing inside me up for adoption.
Several friends helped me "find a family" for the baby.
We have difficulty and much trial in determining a family. We had one family that set everything up, said
they would pay the legal and medical bills, and then backed out of the medical bills. Their lawyer (a Christian)
asked my permission to have a friend of his to contact me.
A lawyer who was also a minister in the church called me that evening. He had adopted two children himself.
The youth minister at a sister church had been trying to adopt for some time without any success. The state
said they didn't have "stable income" because they worked for the church.
I set up a contract of adoption with
this family. Finally, there was a sense of peace.
The delivery of the baby was not the best. My body wouldn't go into labor so at week 42.5, they started to
induce. Several hours into the process, the labor went into a "faulty labor pattern". The doctor explained that
something was wrong. We would have to do a C-section.
So, there I was, 2 days over 21, about to have a C-section for a child that I would never see. A child that
would be a gift to another family from God. A child that was a gift to me from God in turning my life around.
The baby had been 1/2 breech when they got in. He had to wear a brace for some time on his leg to get
it straightened out.
My parents saw him, but I did not.
The family came and got him.
The lawyer brought me roses when I went down to finish the legal paperwork.
That summer I met this guy (Bluegill) on the internet who I was able to talk to about everything.
We met in July the next year, got married and have been together ever since.

Now I value my salvation. I am actively involved in my church ministry.
God does not REQUIRE anything more than faith in His Son.
Once you realize the value of your salvation, you WANT to live out God's plan for your life.
I gave up a son to another family. God gave up His Son to gain back His family.
His Son lived his whole life to give us salvation.
I sometimes get frustrated because I am so busy, but then I remember that I am only giving up a few days
and evenings per week in exchange for a gift that took every minute of every day of a life, the life of Jesus.

[bigmatt]

Here is my story

I was saved when in 1991 and i joined my church that day, This was the best day of my life because i just got close with god. now through the years i stopped going to church and in 1997 i married my first wife whom was a drug addict! I fell into that life style ( i have never done drugs) and lived my life on the edge, lieing stealling , etc. i divorced my wife in 2006. I met my current wife in 2005 ( i had not seen my ex wife since 2004 when i meet my new wife ifelt something diffrent in y life cuse she wanted to go to church. so i took her to my church and we went but not on a regular basis. i contiued to not live my life as god wanted me too and 2 weeks ago i had enough of the devil!!!!!! A co worker i work with is very much a born again christan and he is a sunday school teacher. I had wanted to as him many times to help me but the devial had a big hold on me well i finally asked him and before i could get out these works " Larry, i need you r help" i just started crying my eyes out and he asked me what i need help with and i told him " i need your help to find god again" and he did and what is ironic is he told me that a co worker he once worked with helped him find god. i will never forget larry for that!!!!!!

sorry i just strated typing and could not stop lol i just want to say this



I LOVE GOD AND WHAT HE STANDS FOR

[69commando]

I have not been a member long but i wanted to share my testomonie. When i was 16 i got into drugs at one point when i was 17 i was so strung out my parents didnt think i was going to live. I continued this lifestyle until i was 20 years old. In high school i weighed about 165 pds at age 20 i weighed barley 100 pds i was on meth, cocaine, you name it i had tried it. Then one day i started to get sick so sick i coudnt even walk and barley talk i went to doctors and i they could tell me is that if i didnt change i would die. I went back to my apt and laid in my bed thinkinh about how i screwed my life up and how i would never get it back then i rememberd what my mom said to me when I was young WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE so right then and there my life changed i made a promise to god that if he would help me get off drugs i give my life to him. The next day i called my mom and met with her pastor he asked me if i would like to go to rehab but i rememberd my promise to god. So i asked him into my heart that day. Then god led me to help kids not make the same mistakes i did so i became the youth group leader and sunday school teacher at my church and god has blessed me so much, He kept his side of the deal and i kept mine. I am now healthy and I have been clean for 3 years and it all thanks to god and the prayers of my friends and family. I thank you all for letting me share my testimonie with you and god bless you all. Hope to see you on the trail and in heaven.

[Pastor Will]

My Miracle

It was December 30, 1986 about 4:30 PM, Little did I know, the events that would unfold over the next 2 hours, would change my life Forever.


I was working as a fuel, oil and gasoline truck driver in 1986, I had taken care of the days deliveries and went home, Showered and just settled in to eat when my boss called and said we had one last order. A Gas Station who owned their own tankers had ran out of gas. They called us to get 2500 Gallons, just enough to get through the New Year Holiday. I finished eating, Put my dirty uniform back on and headed out the door.

I loaded the truck, 1000 Gallons of Regular, 1000 Gallons of Unleaded and 500 gallons of Premium, and went in the office to get my invoice, as I was leaving the office, another employee Noticed I didn’t have coveralls on and Offered me his. Of course I politely said no thank you. But to my surprise, He insisted on me putting them on, We went back and forth for the next few moments, My self trying to change the subject and Him Insisting I wear the coveralls, Thank God he did!!! I finally gave in and put them on.

Everything was going ok, Nothing strange or out of the way at all as I approached the red light at the intersection of Garden Creek and Route 460 near Vansant VA. The other driver came out onto 460 going east my direction. My light went green so I let off the brakes, geared up and began following him through the snake like curves for the next 2 or so miles. He was driving perfectly, there was nothing to alert me of his Drunken Condition, He never swerved, or left his lane in any way. As we approached the State Highways Department he signaled to the right, and started turning into the wide graveled area beside the State Highway Department. I went into the left hand east bound lane to pass well away from the stopping truck I had followed. When Suddenly without warning he came straight back into Both the east bound lanes, Spotted me coming and Slammed his brakes on. Needless to say, That was a Big Mistake !!!

I locked up my Brakes, Tires squealing, Truck Shaking, Engine Screaming as I jerked it out of gear. I looked down the hood of my truck, I was heading Straight for the drivers door. The look on his face was Pure Terror, That must be the look of a man who knows he is about to die. I slid the 66 feet to impact. I will never forget the feeling, that I was fixing to be involved with the taking of a Human Life. He was lined up perfectly with the center of my grill on the Gasoline Truck. My heart sank, I turned the wheel left, and moved as close to the concrete median as possible, To my GREAT relief, I was now lined up on the front fender of his pickup instead of his door.

I remember the impact was LOUD as I Slammed into his pickup!!! My world went upside down as my tanker went into a roll to my left, Thank God there were no cars coming west on 460 at that moment!! The windshield Shattered into a spider web, Bright White, Red, Orange and Blue Sparks flew at me as the cab began to crushed around me. The only way to describe the sound is, Metal Screaming at the top of its voice as it twisted and tore. Glass Crunching, Things flying around bouncing back at me, and the Roar of the truck as I slid East down both West bound lanes.

Then there was a HUGE Rush like a Hurricane Wind, The tank had ruptured and exploded just as it came to a halt. Everything went silent, and then rushed back in as the flames engulfed me. I immediately started trying to find a way out, Feeling with my hands, urgently wanting away from the fire that was burning the life out of me, But finding No way out, My body by reaction, took a breath of flames. It then hit me, “OH MY GOD, IM DEAD”. A strange peace came over me, I thought of my wife and 2 young sons. “WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITHOUT ME”, with a sorrowful heart I Thought, “God, Please don’t let me die” INSTANTLY the flames parted, fresh air was inside the cab, I saw the only suite covered window left in my truck, My drivers Door. I kicked it with every ounce of strength I had. As the glass shattered, I saw the river of gasoline flowing on the ground straight out that window in front of me, But it Was Not Burning, There in front of me was a clear path, through the flames on the right and left sides of me. It was like being in a tunnel, with fire all around. There was a man standing maybe 200 - 300 feet away as I stood up and ran from the tanker, Straight through that River of Gasoline. He grabbed me as I started to pass him, “ARE YOU OK” he said. Yes, Yes I am, I turned and looked back at the largest ball of fire I had ever seen, There was no Tanker, No Pickup, No nothing but an ENOURMOUS ball of fire. I thought “OH GOD NO !!! , I HAVE KILLED HIM” I just knew the other man was in that Ball of Fire, Crushed some where beneath my Tanker Truck, and I had just helped bring his life to an end. The feeling was heart wrenching as I spoke to God again, and ask for the mans life to be spared. We looked but couldn’t see anything, The Ball of fire covered all 4 lanes of Route 460.

I would find out a few minuets later, an ambulance from Vansant had picked him up on the other side of my Burning Gas Truck. I was Extacdict, Thank God I said in Relief. I don’t think I was ever so glad of something in all my life, Whew, he wasn’t dead.

I knew the EMT Medics were torn up, That was easy to see by their rush to attend to my wounds and ask if I was breathing ok. I Quickly assured them, telling them, “its ok, I am going to be ok, God Saved My Life”. I continued reassuring them as we drove on to the hospital, saying “Its all going to be OK” I could hear the urgency in their voice as they talked over the 2 way radio with Humana Hospital Clinch Valley in Richlands VA. Explaining what they were bringing in, Me a Burn Victim, 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns to his Face, Both hands, No lacerations visible, The patient is alert, But possibly going into shock, ETA, 12 minutes.

They ran redlights, Drove up onto the raised grassy median passing cars at the red-lights, Let me tell you, These guys were in a HURRY !!! Bless their hearts, They didn’t know what I knew, GLORY TO GOD I had been Redeemed AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Somebody better Praise The Lord, He is Still God and Still in Complete Control, and WILL Deliver his people who call him by Name and Ask for his Grace and help.

The doors swung open, Man the whole ER Team must have been out there. They jerked me and that stretcher out the back doors with a vengeance, and whoosh off to a Trauma Room we went. All the while I was saying” ITS OK ITS OK, EVERYONE TAKE A DEEP BREATH, I AM GOING TO BE OK”. The next few minuets were a blur, Drs and Nurses whizzing in and out of the room. I could tell I ,must have looked Horrific, from the looks on their faces, Pure Urgency not a minuet to loose.

A Virginia State Trooper appeared, He said, Mr Matherly I am so and so and introduced himself, Then said “Do you think you can answer a few questions about what happened, I really need to get a statement from you” he said, “Of Course, what would you like to know” I asked. “Just start from the beginning or from where ever you remember from, and tell me what happened Mr Matherly. And I recited the story I just as I have told it here in my testimony, In less detail, Until I got to the part about How God Parted the flames and delivered me from Certain Death. They all thought I was hallucinating and going into shock, But GLORY TO GOD, I wasn’t, I knew that I knew, and I knew who saved my roasted hide, And I didn’t hesitate to tell everyone that, Because its TRUE !!! GLORY GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY, HE LIVES !!!!!!!

I remember talk of a burn unit in Houston TX, I heard someone say “UVA is closer, They can transfer him from there”. So they patched me up at Humana hospital , and called for air flight to take me to UVA Burn Center in Charlottesville VA. That was the closest burn unit, But a Thick Heavy Fog had set in and the Med Flight People said they couldn’t fly, It was to thick, So back into the Ambulance and off to UVA we went. I don’t remember much after that, I do recall getting to UVA, But no details clearly come to mind for the next several hours. I remember Pulling my eyes open the next night at Midnight as my wife and I watched the last seconds of 1986 tick away from NY City.

I had 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns on my Hands and my face, But because my coworker pretty much forced me to ware his fireproof coveralls, It hadn’t burned any of the rest of my body, It would have been Much Worse without the coveralls.

The Team of Doctors at UVA Burn Center said I would be in the Burn Unit for 6 - 12 months... NOT HARDLY. I was at home in my own bed in just 23 days, and released from the Doctors care within 6 Months. PRAISE GOD !!!! :eusa_clap:

[Ben]

testimony....
When i was seven years old i was saved at my home church at higher ground bapist church. My family seemed to have it all together but then my father started watching pornography a lot and began to have an affair on my mother. So my home life went down hill at a very early age of 3. When i hit the third grade we moved from out home in gray and moved to colonial heights and then moved churches. my pop turned his life back to the lord but my mom and started drinknin a little bit but it was never that bad until my mom became a ancholic. i became very mean my parents were very abusive in the fact they would fight then take it out on me so i became a very troubled young man at the age of 12. My bestfriend Jay Conkin dragged me back to hgbc were my sunday schhol teacher Jason Mccallister preached nothing but the WORD of GOD. but i didnt want to hear it i came in and i was a litttle thug i walked around with my fists clinched in and ready to go. MY sophmire year in high school i was involved with a lot of girls i didnt have sex but came close the only reason i didnt was the lord was still i my life and his spirit would stop me. But a little girl died in my youth and we seeked the lord in prayer and the lord changed me drastically. then we went to nyc as a youth and the lord called me into full time ministry..the lord is a sheild for me and the glory and the lifter of my head he is all i have a need in my life and i praise him for all he has done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!