Our Testimonies

James' Testimony

I was born in Swindon, England and at the age of four moved to Canada where I would spend the next 22 years of my life. While attending Catholic school, I was often taught "religion" and the way of salvation through the sacraments. This did little more for me than a basket-weaving course in school could profit a young, energetic, red-headed boy. I was 21 years old when I began my electrical career and spent the next four years of my life following in my father's footsteps.

I was in Northern Canada on a job site surrounded by 20 other grown men when I was first confronted by a real Christian. He kindly but firmly said to me, "You should think about where you are going when you die." The Lord used this statement to draw me toward Himself. Shortly thereafter, I began carpooling with this man. As he drove me to work that first day, I questioned his previous statement; to which he happily answered by putting a Bible in my lap. I hurled many questions his way about God in general and Catholicism, all of which he answered with Scripture. Our conversation continued throughout that work day and culminated on the ride home with his piercing question, "So you see you need to get saved?" It wasn't until we neared my house that I grasped my lost condition and eagerly accepted Christ as my Saviour. The next Sunday I was baptized by his pastor in an independent, fundamental, Baptist church. I was immediately faithful to all church services, daily Bible reading, prayer, and fasting. I returned to my hometown where I was recommended to Northside Baptist Church. I began visitation, bus calling, soul winning, street preaching, and attended Pastor's School surrendering my life to full-time Christian service at 5 and a half weeks saved.

I finished my electrical training and saved up enough finances to enroll in Hyles-Anderson Bible College where I met my wife, Andrea and surrendered to the mission field. I graduated from Hyles-Anderson with my Bachelor in Missions and am currently taking my Masters of Ministry at Crown College of the Bible. I look forward to serving the Lord as a pastor in my home country, England.

Andrea's Testimony

My testimony is not a spectacular story of salvation out of a life of sin, but is one of salvation from a life of sin. I was raised in a Christian home, attending church nine months before I was even born. My dad was an Associate Pastor and Youth Director at a Baptist Church in Kansas. When I was five years old, we moved to Florida. My dad began a secular job but was a deacon and Junior Church Preacher; and my family was actively involved in our local church. One day while my dad was preaching, conviction fell over me; and I truly understood that should my little six-year-old body die, I would go to hell. I went forward at invitation time and my mother who was an "altar worker" for the kids department took me aside to a room and explained the gospel. I received Christ that day—December 21, 1986!

I was a new creature though no drastic change occurred. I learned how to go soul winning and often accompanied my parents or teachers through the next few years. I had personally won several people to Christ including my little sister, but inside was still struggling with the assurance of my own salvation. I was nine years old. Though I remembered getting saved at church and had always looked back to that day as the date of my salvation, I still had doubts. This may have been because I had not yet followed Christ in Believer's Baptism. (I was scared of water from a near drowning situation and couldn't bear the thought of someone pushing my head under water!) One night alone in my bedroom, I knelt by my bed and "led myself to Christ" so I'd never have to worry about it again. I then got baptized. I have had no doubts since.

Everyone is saved the same way. As a small child, I needed to realize that I couldn't get to heaven on my own because I was a sinner, and that I needed a Saviour to pay my sin debt however small it may have been. I am saved just as much as the drunk on skid row, but praise the Lord I have never had to experience the bitter punishment deep sin brings.

I hope this testimony encourages those that have small children not to overlook the fact that the Lord convicts and draws them to Himself just as He does anyone that will listen. I am thankful I accepted the Lord Jesus at a young age. I have had so many opportunities to serve the Lord and do His will.