Hopelessly hopeful

Before I accepted Christ I had two failed marriages, was an alcoholic, even tried to commit suicide a few times. I had been baptized when I was 12 so I had fire insurance, so I thought. I was acting just like the hypocrites I grew up watching in the Baptist church, saved on Sunday, lost Monday through Saturday. If they were saved, they were living no better than me; I didn't think I had anything to worry about.

I had a neighbor that kept bugging me to look at a business opportunity. I finally gave in and agreed to go to a weekend business function. On Sunday, August 20, 1995 they had an unusual Church service. The Preacher said he wasn't a preacher, and he said he believed every word in the book he was holding (The Holy Bible). He preached a message from Exodus 34:7. I knew he was talking to me about the way I had lived my life, and that it was me that was leading my children to destruction. I was literally white knuckled hanging onto the seat in the coliseum, I refused to let go. It was as if I was the only one he was talking to. He spoke the truth to me, and told me there was only one place to receive forgiveness and salvation and that was at the foot of the cross. I jumped from my seat and headed toward the altar, my wife reached for me but I was gone. The Preacher led me, and what looked like a thousand other men, in a prayer of repentance and faith in Christ. He then commanded us to go home, find a bible believing church, and get baptized as soon as possible. When I got home I went to see the pastor at the church I was raised in and told him I needed to get baptized. He was surprised because he had been trying to reach me for months and I rejected everything he had to say. After telling him my story he agreed and I was baptized about two weeks later.

I started out strong and wanted to get all the knowledge and teaching I could get. But after awhile I became lukewarm. Around 1999 I saw Way of the Master and then listened to a message from Ray Comfort called "Hell's Best Kept Secret." It was during this period of training God gave me the Evangelistic call I'm trying to fulfill today.