The testimony of Roberta
This story begins in Poplar Bluff, Mo. My husband is a contractor, and we were in the process of building us a new home in a subdivision that he was developing. The subcontractors had just finished framing and putting the roof on the house. It was Saturday and we had gone to work in the garden we had planted on a lot beside our soon to be new home. We had two children: Sky who was 2 at that time, and Jimmy who was 5. While we worked in the garden it began to rain. Since it was just a summer shower, we let the boys play in the rain. When we started to get wet, we decided to go into the garage. Sky had no shirt on and like most little boys in the summer, no shoes. Contractors sometimes run electrical wire from the meter on the pole and put a plug on the end, to plug in their equipment. They usually just wrap the connection with electric tape. As we got into the garage we heard Sky whimpering. Looking around we saw that he had picked up a plug-in with a wire connected to pole. The wire had worn through the electrical tape and he stood with it in his had unable to let go. Only by the grace of God did my husband know to run to the pole and cut the electricity off. The connection was a 220-volt. Had any of us touched him we may have been killed. When the electricity was cut off, the plug fell from his hand. My husband ran and picked him up. He looked at this dad and said, “That hort”. We checked his back and all over his body and there was no harm. Even his hand was not burned. We had only had the Holy Ghost for a short wile, but God showed himself strong in our behalf. Some people tried to explain it away, but he was wet, had no shirt or shoes on and was standing on a concrete floor. God still works miracles! Sky is grown now. He and his wife Jackie attend the United Pentecostal Church of Rogers, AR.
The testimony of Lynn
I grew up in a wonderful church. They loved the Lord and cherished His word. They taught me to believe because the Bible said so. We covered every facet of life with the Word of God and I knew I could trust Him. But there were areas of the Scripture that I had problems with in the New Testament. When I would ask questions about the experiences in the book of Acts, particularly the issue of speaking in tongues, I was told that it had ceased because we had the Word of God and didn’t need it. But I knew it happened to people because I was there in prayer meetings when it happened. The more I studied, the more God increased a hunger in my heart to have this scriptural experience and I saw that it was a sign of God’s Spirit in my life. (Acts 2:40,45-46) I not only wanted it, I needed it, Romans 8:9. I prayed and fasted and God gloriously filled me just like on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:4. I had never felt such a joy and a power in my life and I knew it was real and my spirit had truly been reborn. I sincerely believe that if those that believe on Him as the scripture says, John 7:37-39, and open their heart, they would find their own Pentecost. Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? Acts 19:2
The testimony of Michael
Hello, my name is Michael Leon. I am part of the outreach team and also the Sunday morning bus driver of the Untied Pentecostal church. I haven’t always been in church however. Unfortunately and sad to say, I haven’t always walked with God. I started my childhood like most of our children today, where parents divorce at an early age. It was an adjustment, but nothing that couldn’t be worked through. My life however was about to take a small turn for the worse. I did not know it at the time but the choice I was fixing to make was going to take me on a road I didn’t imagine ever being on. When I was 12 years old my sister’s boyfriend offered to smoke a joint with me. I had never gotten high before so the thought somewhat intrigued me. I mean I had smoked cigarettes before but that was about the height of my rebellion. Well let me tell you I tried it for the first time and it wasn’t the last. I liked getting high, and I quickly turned into a regular thing along with drinking at an early age. When I turned 15 I moved out of Oklahoma and retuned to my home state that was Kansas. After being there for a while I hooked up with an old friend of mine who belonged to a local neighborhood gang called the PIRV Bloods. I was initiated not too long after that into their set or gang as some would call it, from then on the road got harder and harder. By the time I was 19, I was kicked out of school for selling drugs, tagged by the Police a gang member and well, other things I’m not too proud of. To top that off my dad died of liver failure. I felt so miserable and empty. There were times I would wander off by myself and cry, wishing that all the pain and loneliness would leave. But something happened that would change my life forever. A friend of mine was accused of a serous crime and needed a place to hide, so I took him to where my stepbrother stayed. My mother came over a few days later. She had gotten involved with a Pentecostal church in Rogers, Arkansas. She knew something was up and began to talk to me. Then all of a sudden it was like God began to speak through her and she began to speak to my pain and my friends as well. She invited us to the U.P.C. of Rogers. We went that night and the power of God was so strong there. Conviction was there and I was tried of running from God. I went to the altar and broke down asking God to forgive me for all that I have done. I looked over at my friend and he had his hands up worshipping God. I couldn’t believe it, this young man was tougher than nails, he didn’t have a strong Christian background as a matter of fact, his dad was Muslim, but he was also impacted by the power of God. The next day the police caught up with us and we both went to jail. One night while I was in jail I realized that all my doings were in vain, it had gotten me nowhere but jail time, facing up to six years in the pen. I told God if he could help me I would serve him, and guess what he did, I got out of jail. I got out of jail and 2 weeks later I was baptized in Jesus name and two weeks after that God filled me with the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, just like the Bible says. I look back on my life, I have three friends in jail for murder, and one who was murdered, and the only difference between them and me was I had a praying mother and a merciful savior who said. “2PET 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” There truly is peace, joy and righteousness in the Holy Ghost. If you have a hungry heart God will not let you down. He will be there if you’ve tired everything and everything else has failed try Jesus, he is the water that you’ll drink and never thirst again.
The Testimony of Katie
At the ripe age of 23, I realized that I have lived a lifetime. Born and raised in St. Louis, Mo, I was reared in a widely accepted religion. Some of the closest and most admired friends I’ve had have come out of my years learning about the love of God at my church. My true relationship with God, however, did not begin until much later in my life. Unfortunately, I have always been one of those stubborn souls that must be completely broken before I will even consider that I might be in over my head and enlist help. Between a series of drug addictions, family problems and alcohol abuse, I found myself in that place that I had always claimed I’d never be. Broken and out of control. I had tried everything that the doctors had prescribed but despite their best efforts I suffered with panic attacks and overwhelming fear. I knew just enough to know that my only help or hope laid in getting a hold of God and obtaining mercy on my ever-worsening situation. I found myself at a Pentecostal altar. I had been invited previously and thought it was just familiar enough to try again. I wasn’t sure about a whole lot but I knew at least that I felt God in the services and that’ all I needed to know at that point. It was a Wednesday night and I had come once again. Resolving that I would change my life if only God would help me to take away the fear and the panic attacks. At the altar service I went once again and knelt in desperation. Five precious children of God and I prayed and prayed but I just couldn’t seem to get anywhere. I was so emotionally dead that I could not even cry. One of my now dearest friends grabbed my hands and in talking told me to go back to Calvary. When I envisioned Jesus hanging on that cross so that I may be free, I was able to cry. I raised my hands and loved the Lord as he gloriously filled me with his beautiful Holy Spirit. I have never had another panic attack since that night. My life has completely changed as I live an overcoming life of victory and peace through the strength of Jesus. I will never be the same and I will never go back. I thank God always for his beautiful gift and love Him with all my heart. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 17:27.
The testimony of Tammy
I attend the Roger’s United Pentecostal Church. I was not raised in a family that went to church. Even though my mom believes that there is a God, neither she nor my dad went to church. When I was about 8 or 9, maybe even 10, I was invited to a Baptist church. The church bus came along every Sunday to pick me up. I was in Awanas while attending there. Maybe that is why I have such a love for the ministry we have in our church called Bible Quizzing. The thing I do remember during the time I went to church was hanging out with our youth. I do remember having a conversation about dances and going to the movies. At that time the Baptist did not believe in participating in those activities. As time went on I drifted away from church and just kind of live life. Even though I lived in sin I felt like I was a good person. I really never gave heaven and hell much thought. I guess that makes me all the more grateful for God’s grace that he shows me every day. As time went on I got married and we went on through our life just living one day at a time. A move from California to Arkansas was about to change all that. My husband got a job first at Wal-Mart and started working with a guy named Danny McCracken. He went to the Roger’s United Pentecostal Church. First he became friends with him, and then began talking to my husband, Terry, about the Lord. Well I then got a job at Wal-Mart and the Lord placed my in the very same department as Danny McCracken’s wife, Amelia. The definitely wasn’t coincidence. Especially if you knew how many departments there are and how many people work there. And Amelia had no idea who I was or that I was even looking for a job. So to make a long story short we started having a Bible study and saw our need to be baptized in Jesus name. Even at this point we didn’t see the need to attend a Pentecostal church. Remember I was raised Baptist somewhat and my husband was raised Catholic. As we visited other churches and study our Bibles we begin to see the true importance of being baptized in Jesus name and believing there is only one God. We saw very few churches preached this. The Lord led us time after time again back to the Roger’s United Pentecostal church. We could feel how much love the people had for not only one another, but also for us. So now this is our home, we have been here since 1987. Even though I have no dramatic story of my life being from the pits of Hell, I can say God saved my soul and filled me with the Holy Ghost and with the truth from his word.
The testimony of James
I was born September 15th, 1956. I was born again April 30th, 1972. My old self was immersed in a watery grave of baptism. God gloriously filled me with his Holy Spirit for the first time. This rebirth experience was the beginning of my life as an apostolic, Pentecostal Christian. I was only 15 years old. My life had not been steeped in sin. My parents never attended church much. I had attended Sunday school on a regular basis since 7 years old – thanks to an aunt and uncle who made it a point to insure my sister and I did attend. I had always tried to live as holy a life as I humanly could. I had working class parents that loved me and provided a decent environment for growth. I had that good ole American work ethic instilled in me. My high school life was moving in a lot of good directions – a 3.96 GPA and membership in some good social and academic clubs. It seemed like I was heading in the right direction of the good life. My biggest problem was an insatiable curiosity about almost everything. I sometimes wonder if that curiosity would have gotten me in trouble eventually, if it had not been for Jesus Christ coming into my life in a personal way. After I received God’s spirit into my life, my curiosity turned toward religious history in a big way. I read my bible even more than ever before. I questioned all I had learned in my prior Sunday school years – even though these had been in a United Pentecostal Church. My Senior High Sunday school teacher repeatedly provoked the class “Don’t believer me by my words alone. Read the Bible to prove their truth. “ My heart was driven to prove the biblical reality of my new experience, why didn’t all “Christian” churches believe this way? Why didn’t all “Christian” churches baptize in the name of Jesus Christ? Why did some churches not believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost? I found evidence of my same beliefs all throughout the history of the Church. I read how human minds had corrupted God’s true Word in times past. I discovered how the ebb and flow of time continually tried to hide Truth, but somehow the light always found a way to shine away the darkness. Being mortal, I’ve not always led a perfect life. Only one has and He had to die on a cross to fulfill the Old Testaments sacrifice – an unblemished sacrifice – for our shortcomings. But I have never been a real, bad person either. I had always been taught to be hones and kind. I would not have made a good drug addict either, Even now; I have a hard time just swallowing a Tylenol tablet. God has blessed me to not have to know much about a terrible, sinful life. Instead, I have to be careful lest I forget what I could have become without God in my life. I need to constantly remember that I’ll always need God. The Church is not a crutch in my life. It’s the Rock, the strong foundation, which I’ve built my life upon. God is the steadying force when my world is shaken by the storms that come to everyone. John 4:45 reminds us “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” I’m just an average American, with a typical American family, trying to live the American dream. I’ll conclude with the words of the “preacher” of Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. My prayer is that God helps you in search for life as he has helped me. Amen.
The testimony of Judy
I was raised by loving and responsible parents, the youngest of three kids, and the only girl. My life was blessed with more than everything I needed. My parents loved, taught, supported, and disciplined me. I can't say enough good things about them. They weren't "religious" people, but we occasionally went to church. When I was really young we went more often, but by the time I reached 4th or 5th grade, we didn't seem to have time. The weekends were busy with sports, travel or other things. I grew up in a beautiful part of California on the coast, with beauty all around. As a child, I was hungry for God. I knew He must exist, but I struggled with doubts. Evolution was taught from an early age, and it seemed to reduce God to something much less than a heavenly Father, and it made the Bible seem more like just a storybook. We didn't talk much about religion. It just wasn't done in my family. It was considered a private thing. I do remember my Mom answering my questions about "where is God?" Or, "how many Gods are there?" She'd say He is everywhere, and that we believed in one God, and that He was our heavenly Father. She taught me the Lord's Prayer, and I said it often, up until around the 3rd grade. My grandmothers both had more faith in God, it attracted me, but I really didn't talk much to them about it.
Time passed, but my hunger for God remained. Questions about life and death were in my mind. I was busy in sports, pets, girl scouts, friends, and school, but I still hungered to know God. In seventh grade I tried to find God in a confirmation class at the church we rarely went to, but I seemed to come away with only a little knowledge. I would pray, " God, if you are there I don't know why you won't talk to me…. You must be there….." I just felt such an emptiness, and the vastness of the universe scared me. Years passed, my hunger for God continued. I threw myself into friends, sports, and school. I went on to college, and learned to study hard during the week, participate in sports, and then on the weekends we'd party. Friday and Saturday nights were party nights. Thank God nothing in the world - friends, sports, entertainment, partying - nothing removed the hunger I had for God. Some friends of mine were in a Christian fellowship on campus call the Navigators. They did a survey on campus about religious beliefs, and I did the survey. They followed up with a Bible study. In that study for the first time I understood that it was my SIN that separated me from God. I learned that He is love, and that He is Holy. I realized that my sin was the reason that He couldn't communicate with me, as I had desired for so long. With a simple illustration my friend showed me that Jesus bridged the gap between God who was holy and man who was sinful. The simple but powerful truth dawned in my understanding that Jesus died in my place, for my sin. I understood my sin, God's holiness, the reason for the cross - the love of God, repentance, and forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ. I was overjoyed in my newfound faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Gospel - His death, burial and resurrection for me. That night, I confessed I was a sinner, turned from sin, and asked the Lord Jesus into my life. There was a change in me. I believed! I read the New Testament. Many questions were answered. The Bible became my favorite book. Christians became my closest friends, partying with old friends stopped. I began to go to church with friends, and depending on where I lived in my course of college, I went to different types of churches. Different friends along the way helped me on this new journey. I met a few kids in college who had something called the baptism of the Holy Ghost. They couldn't tell me scripturally about it, but called it a prayer language. As I had times of prayer with them, their intimacy and power in prayer "blew me away." I knew if there was more to experience in God, I wanted it. I knew the answer to my hunger was the Lord, and my prayer became "Lord I want a deeper walk with you." I read more in the Bible about this Holy Ghost baptism. Some spiritual leaders in churches I had gone to felt the baptism of the Holy Ghost was only for the early church, and that speaking in tongues was a thing of the past. Meanwhile, I graduated from college, began to work, continued to go to church, hungered for more of the Lord. I met a Christian man, fell in love, and got married. I continued to work, hungering for more, and studying my Bible. I remember wishing modern day churches were like the church in the book of Acts. I really wanted to see that kind of church life!
My life was going OK, but my hunger for God increased. I became sick, several visits to the doctor and 2 emergency room visits failed to diagnose a ruptured appendix. I was full of fear. It seemed my doctors couldn't diagnose me. It felt so strange to be in this state of sickness and what felt to me like spiritual confusion. I wondered why my prayers were seemingly unanswered. After 2 weeks or more, a doctor finally decided to do surgery with an incorrect diagnoses. He discovered in surgery the real problem, and was amazed to see a wall of scar tissue keeping the infection contained. I had a rough recovery with complications, pain, and poor hospital care. I requested the elders of my Presbyterian church to come and pray for me anointing me with oil. They did so, and thank God, I began to improve the next day. At that time I determined to seek God like never before! After recovering, I returned to work, part-time. I spent more time in prayer and in the Word. Then amazingly God sent four spirit-filled Pentecostal ladies to my place of work. I worked with one and her walk with God was so much closer than mine. She had a deeper joy, and such a strong faith in the Lord. I could see she had something more. She shared with me that the baptism of the Holy Ghost is not a thing of the past, but for all of us today according to Acts 2:38, 39. After spending more time studying the Word, it wasn't long until I also received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. It was joy unspeakable and full of glory! I also obeyed the scriptures and was baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and experienced a feeling of being cleansed that amazed me. It wasn't just a church ordinance, but a wonderful experience of his love and cleansing power. It is all because of Calvary that I could be cleansed and filled like the believers in the early church. It is my desire to walk closer to Him everyday, and to let others know of His saving power, and presence in our lives today. He still fills hungry hearts today!
This story begins in Poplar Bluff, Mo. My husband is a contractor, and we were in the process of building us a new home in a subdivision that he was developing. The subcontractors had just finished framing and putting the roof on the house. It was Saturday and we had gone to work in the garden we had planted on a lot beside our soon to be new home. We had two children: Sky who was 2 at that time, and Jimmy who was 5. While we worked in the garden it began to rain. Since it was just a summer shower, we let the boys play in the rain. When we started to get wet, we decided to go into the garage. Sky had no shirt on and like most little boys in the summer, no shoes. Contractors sometimes run electrical wire from the meter on the pole and put a plug on the end, to plug in their equipment. They usually just wrap the connection with electric tape. As we got into the garage we heard Sky whimpering. Looking around we saw that he had picked up a plug-in with a wire connected to pole. The wire had worn through the electrical tape and he stood with it in his had unable to let go. Only by the grace of God did my husband know to run to the pole and cut the electricity off. The connection was a 220-volt. Had any of us touched him we may have been killed. When the electricity was cut off, the plug fell from his hand. My husband ran and picked him up. He looked at this dad and said, “That hort”. We checked his back and all over his body and there was no harm. Even his hand was not burned. We had only had the Holy Ghost for a short wile, but God showed himself strong in our behalf. Some people tried to explain it away, but he was wet, had no shirt or shoes on and was standing on a concrete floor. God still works miracles! Sky is grown now. He and his wife Jackie attend the United Pentecostal Church of Rogers, AR.
The testimony of Lynn
I grew up in a wonderful church. They loved the Lord and cherished His word. They taught me to believe because the Bible said so. We covered every facet of life with the Word of God and I knew I could trust Him. But there were areas of the Scripture that I had problems with in the New Testament. When I would ask questions about the experiences in the book of Acts, particularly the issue of speaking in tongues, I was told that it had ceased because we had the Word of God and didn’t need it. But I knew it happened to people because I was there in prayer meetings when it happened. The more I studied, the more God increased a hunger in my heart to have this scriptural experience and I saw that it was a sign of God’s Spirit in my life. (Acts 2:40,45-46) I not only wanted it, I needed it, Romans 8:9. I prayed and fasted and God gloriously filled me just like on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:4. I had never felt such a joy and a power in my life and I knew it was real and my spirit had truly been reborn. I sincerely believe that if those that believe on Him as the scripture says, John 7:37-39, and open their heart, they would find their own Pentecost. Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? Acts 19:2
The testimony of Michael
Hello, my name is Michael Leon. I am part of the outreach team and also the Sunday morning bus driver of the Untied Pentecostal church. I haven’t always been in church however. Unfortunately and sad to say, I haven’t always walked with God. I started my childhood like most of our children today, where parents divorce at an early age. It was an adjustment, but nothing that couldn’t be worked through. My life however was about to take a small turn for the worse. I did not know it at the time but the choice I was fixing to make was going to take me on a road I didn’t imagine ever being on. When I was 12 years old my sister’s boyfriend offered to smoke a joint with me. I had never gotten high before so the thought somewhat intrigued me. I mean I had smoked cigarettes before but that was about the height of my rebellion. Well let me tell you I tried it for the first time and it wasn’t the last. I liked getting high, and I quickly turned into a regular thing along with drinking at an early age. When I turned 15 I moved out of Oklahoma and retuned to my home state that was Kansas. After being there for a while I hooked up with an old friend of mine who belonged to a local neighborhood gang called the PIRV Bloods. I was initiated not too long after that into their set or gang as some would call it, from then on the road got harder and harder. By the time I was 19, I was kicked out of school for selling drugs, tagged by the Police a gang member and well, other things I’m not too proud of. To top that off my dad died of liver failure. I felt so miserable and empty. There were times I would wander off by myself and cry, wishing that all the pain and loneliness would leave. But something happened that would change my life forever. A friend of mine was accused of a serous crime and needed a place to hide, so I took him to where my stepbrother stayed. My mother came over a few days later. She had gotten involved with a Pentecostal church in Rogers, Arkansas. She knew something was up and began to talk to me. Then all of a sudden it was like God began to speak through her and she began to speak to my pain and my friends as well. She invited us to the U.P.C. of Rogers. We went that night and the power of God was so strong there. Conviction was there and I was tried of running from God. I went to the altar and broke down asking God to forgive me for all that I have done. I looked over at my friend and he had his hands up worshipping God. I couldn’t believe it, this young man was tougher than nails, he didn’t have a strong Christian background as a matter of fact, his dad was Muslim, but he was also impacted by the power of God. The next day the police caught up with us and we both went to jail. One night while I was in jail I realized that all my doings were in vain, it had gotten me nowhere but jail time, facing up to six years in the pen. I told God if he could help me I would serve him, and guess what he did, I got out of jail. I got out of jail and 2 weeks later I was baptized in Jesus name and two weeks after that God filled me with the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, just like the Bible says. I look back on my life, I have three friends in jail for murder, and one who was murdered, and the only difference between them and me was I had a praying mother and a merciful savior who said. “2PET 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” There truly is peace, joy and righteousness in the Holy Ghost. If you have a hungry heart God will not let you down. He will be there if you’ve tired everything and everything else has failed try Jesus, he is the water that you’ll drink and never thirst again.
The Testimony of Katie
At the ripe age of 23, I realized that I have lived a lifetime. Born and raised in St. Louis, Mo, I was reared in a widely accepted religion. Some of the closest and most admired friends I’ve had have come out of my years learning about the love of God at my church. My true relationship with God, however, did not begin until much later in my life. Unfortunately, I have always been one of those stubborn souls that must be completely broken before I will even consider that I might be in over my head and enlist help. Between a series of drug addictions, family problems and alcohol abuse, I found myself in that place that I had always claimed I’d never be. Broken and out of control. I had tried everything that the doctors had prescribed but despite their best efforts I suffered with panic attacks and overwhelming fear. I knew just enough to know that my only help or hope laid in getting a hold of God and obtaining mercy on my ever-worsening situation. I found myself at a Pentecostal altar. I had been invited previously and thought it was just familiar enough to try again. I wasn’t sure about a whole lot but I knew at least that I felt God in the services and that’ all I needed to know at that point. It was a Wednesday night and I had come once again. Resolving that I would change my life if only God would help me to take away the fear and the panic attacks. At the altar service I went once again and knelt in desperation. Five precious children of God and I prayed and prayed but I just couldn’t seem to get anywhere. I was so emotionally dead that I could not even cry. One of my now dearest friends grabbed my hands and in talking told me to go back to Calvary. When I envisioned Jesus hanging on that cross so that I may be free, I was able to cry. I raised my hands and loved the Lord as he gloriously filled me with his beautiful Holy Spirit. I have never had another panic attack since that night. My life has completely changed as I live an overcoming life of victory and peace through the strength of Jesus. I will never be the same and I will never go back. I thank God always for his beautiful gift and love Him with all my heart. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 17:27.
The testimony of Tammy
I attend the Roger’s United Pentecostal Church. I was not raised in a family that went to church. Even though my mom believes that there is a God, neither she nor my dad went to church. When I was about 8 or 9, maybe even 10, I was invited to a Baptist church. The church bus came along every Sunday to pick me up. I was in Awanas while attending there. Maybe that is why I have such a love for the ministry we have in our church called Bible Quizzing. The thing I do remember during the time I went to church was hanging out with our youth. I do remember having a conversation about dances and going to the movies. At that time the Baptist did not believe in participating in those activities. As time went on I drifted away from church and just kind of live life. Even though I lived in sin I felt like I was a good person. I really never gave heaven and hell much thought. I guess that makes me all the more grateful for God’s grace that he shows me every day. As time went on I got married and we went on through our life just living one day at a time. A move from California to Arkansas was about to change all that. My husband got a job first at Wal-Mart and started working with a guy named Danny McCracken. He went to the Roger’s United Pentecostal Church. First he became friends with him, and then began talking to my husband, Terry, about the Lord. Well I then got a job at Wal-Mart and the Lord placed my in the very same department as Danny McCracken’s wife, Amelia. The definitely wasn’t coincidence. Especially if you knew how many departments there are and how many people work there. And Amelia had no idea who I was or that I was even looking for a job. So to make a long story short we started having a Bible study and saw our need to be baptized in Jesus name. Even at this point we didn’t see the need to attend a Pentecostal church. Remember I was raised Baptist somewhat and my husband was raised Catholic. As we visited other churches and study our Bibles we begin to see the true importance of being baptized in Jesus name and believing there is only one God. We saw very few churches preached this. The Lord led us time after time again back to the Roger’s United Pentecostal church. We could feel how much love the people had for not only one another, but also for us. So now this is our home, we have been here since 1987. Even though I have no dramatic story of my life being from the pits of Hell, I can say God saved my soul and filled me with the Holy Ghost and with the truth from his word.
The testimony of James
I was born September 15th, 1956. I was born again April 30th, 1972. My old self was immersed in a watery grave of baptism. God gloriously filled me with his Holy Spirit for the first time. This rebirth experience was the beginning of my life as an apostolic, Pentecostal Christian. I was only 15 years old. My life had not been steeped in sin. My parents never attended church much. I had attended Sunday school on a regular basis since 7 years old – thanks to an aunt and uncle who made it a point to insure my sister and I did attend. I had always tried to live as holy a life as I humanly could. I had working class parents that loved me and provided a decent environment for growth. I had that good ole American work ethic instilled in me. My high school life was moving in a lot of good directions – a 3.96 GPA and membership in some good social and academic clubs. It seemed like I was heading in the right direction of the good life. My biggest problem was an insatiable curiosity about almost everything. I sometimes wonder if that curiosity would have gotten me in trouble eventually, if it had not been for Jesus Christ coming into my life in a personal way. After I received God’s spirit into my life, my curiosity turned toward religious history in a big way. I read my bible even more than ever before. I questioned all I had learned in my prior Sunday school years – even though these had been in a United Pentecostal Church. My Senior High Sunday school teacher repeatedly provoked the class “Don’t believer me by my words alone. Read the Bible to prove their truth. “ My heart was driven to prove the biblical reality of my new experience, why didn’t all “Christian” churches believe this way? Why didn’t all “Christian” churches baptize in the name of Jesus Christ? Why did some churches not believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost? I found evidence of my same beliefs all throughout the history of the Church. I read how human minds had corrupted God’s true Word in times past. I discovered how the ebb and flow of time continually tried to hide Truth, but somehow the light always found a way to shine away the darkness. Being mortal, I’ve not always led a perfect life. Only one has and He had to die on a cross to fulfill the Old Testaments sacrifice – an unblemished sacrifice – for our shortcomings. But I have never been a real, bad person either. I had always been taught to be hones and kind. I would not have made a good drug addict either, Even now; I have a hard time just swallowing a Tylenol tablet. God has blessed me to not have to know much about a terrible, sinful life. Instead, I have to be careful lest I forget what I could have become without God in my life. I need to constantly remember that I’ll always need God. The Church is not a crutch in my life. It’s the Rock, the strong foundation, which I’ve built my life upon. God is the steadying force when my world is shaken by the storms that come to everyone. John 4:45 reminds us “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” I’m just an average American, with a typical American family, trying to live the American dream. I’ll conclude with the words of the “preacher” of Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. My prayer is that God helps you in search for life as he has helped me. Amen.
The testimony of Judy
I was raised by loving and responsible parents, the youngest of three kids, and the only girl. My life was blessed with more than everything I needed. My parents loved, taught, supported, and disciplined me. I can't say enough good things about them. They weren't "religious" people, but we occasionally went to church. When I was really young we went more often, but by the time I reached 4th or 5th grade, we didn't seem to have time. The weekends were busy with sports, travel or other things. I grew up in a beautiful part of California on the coast, with beauty all around. As a child, I was hungry for God. I knew He must exist, but I struggled with doubts. Evolution was taught from an early age, and it seemed to reduce God to something much less than a heavenly Father, and it made the Bible seem more like just a storybook. We didn't talk much about religion. It just wasn't done in my family. It was considered a private thing. I do remember my Mom answering my questions about "where is God?" Or, "how many Gods are there?" She'd say He is everywhere, and that we believed in one God, and that He was our heavenly Father. She taught me the Lord's Prayer, and I said it often, up until around the 3rd grade. My grandmothers both had more faith in God, it attracted me, but I really didn't talk much to them about it.
Time passed, but my hunger for God remained. Questions about life and death were in my mind. I was busy in sports, pets, girl scouts, friends, and school, but I still hungered to know God. In seventh grade I tried to find God in a confirmation class at the church we rarely went to, but I seemed to come away with only a little knowledge. I would pray, " God, if you are there I don't know why you won't talk to me…. You must be there….." I just felt such an emptiness, and the vastness of the universe scared me. Years passed, my hunger for God continued. I threw myself into friends, sports, and school. I went on to college, and learned to study hard during the week, participate in sports, and then on the weekends we'd party. Friday and Saturday nights were party nights. Thank God nothing in the world - friends, sports, entertainment, partying - nothing removed the hunger I had for God. Some friends of mine were in a Christian fellowship on campus call the Navigators. They did a survey on campus about religious beliefs, and I did the survey. They followed up with a Bible study. In that study for the first time I understood that it was my SIN that separated me from God. I learned that He is love, and that He is Holy. I realized that my sin was the reason that He couldn't communicate with me, as I had desired for so long. With a simple illustration my friend showed me that Jesus bridged the gap between God who was holy and man who was sinful. The simple but powerful truth dawned in my understanding that Jesus died in my place, for my sin. I understood my sin, God's holiness, the reason for the cross - the love of God, repentance, and forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ. I was overjoyed in my newfound faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Gospel - His death, burial and resurrection for me. That night, I confessed I was a sinner, turned from sin, and asked the Lord Jesus into my life. There was a change in me. I believed! I read the New Testament. Many questions were answered. The Bible became my favorite book. Christians became my closest friends, partying with old friends stopped. I began to go to church with friends, and depending on where I lived in my course of college, I went to different types of churches. Different friends along the way helped me on this new journey. I met a few kids in college who had something called the baptism of the Holy Ghost. They couldn't tell me scripturally about it, but called it a prayer language. As I had times of prayer with them, their intimacy and power in prayer "blew me away." I knew if there was more to experience in God, I wanted it. I knew the answer to my hunger was the Lord, and my prayer became "Lord I want a deeper walk with you." I read more in the Bible about this Holy Ghost baptism. Some spiritual leaders in churches I had gone to felt the baptism of the Holy Ghost was only for the early church, and that speaking in tongues was a thing of the past. Meanwhile, I graduated from college, began to work, continued to go to church, hungered for more of the Lord. I met a Christian man, fell in love, and got married. I continued to work, hungering for more, and studying my Bible. I remember wishing modern day churches were like the church in the book of Acts. I really wanted to see that kind of church life!
My life was going OK, but my hunger for God increased. I became sick, several visits to the doctor and 2 emergency room visits failed to diagnose a ruptured appendix. I was full of fear. It seemed my doctors couldn't diagnose me. It felt so strange to be in this state of sickness and what felt to me like spiritual confusion. I wondered why my prayers were seemingly unanswered. After 2 weeks or more, a doctor finally decided to do surgery with an incorrect diagnoses. He discovered in surgery the real problem, and was amazed to see a wall of scar tissue keeping the infection contained. I had a rough recovery with complications, pain, and poor hospital care. I requested the elders of my Presbyterian church to come and pray for me anointing me with oil. They did so, and thank God, I began to improve the next day. At that time I determined to seek God like never before! After recovering, I returned to work, part-time. I spent more time in prayer and in the Word. Then amazingly God sent four spirit-filled Pentecostal ladies to my place of work. I worked with one and her walk with God was so much closer than mine. She had a deeper joy, and such a strong faith in the Lord. I could see she had something more. She shared with me that the baptism of the Holy Ghost is not a thing of the past, but for all of us today according to Acts 2:38, 39. After spending more time studying the Word, it wasn't long until I also received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. It was joy unspeakable and full of glory! I also obeyed the scriptures and was baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and experienced a feeling of being cleansed that amazed me. It wasn't just a church ordinance, but a wonderful experience of his love and cleansing power. It is all because of Calvary that I could be cleansed and filled like the believers in the early church. It is my desire to walk closer to Him everyday, and to let others know of His saving power, and presence in our lives today. He still fills hungry hearts today!
