I was saved on Monday night, July 3, 1961, at Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church near Pleasant Shade, TN. For a year I had sought the Lord at the altar on numerous occasions, sometimes in earnest but, often, out of other’s expectations.
Facing the pulpit, I was sitting at the end of the fourth bench from the front next to the middle isle. (If you go there now, it’s the third bench back since the front seat was later moved to give more room in the altar area.) It was the second night of the second revival meeting in the new building.
Elder Robert Gregory, the pastor, preached, though I don’t remember any of the message. Following his sermon, he came into the altar and said he felt the saints should pray. Brother Gregory dropped to his knees and began to pray as did others. No mention of an altar call for sinners had been issued. Out of habit, I had my handkerchief in my hand ready to go to the mourner’s bench. For the first time the seriousness of condemnation gripped my soul. I was afraid an altar call would not be given and I might not be granted another chance. Hell seemed just one step away, and I could not see past that realization.
From my heart, the expression of need for the Savior was carried by the Holy Spirit to Jesus, who interceded to the Father for me. The answer came swiftly back to my soul; forgiveness was granted!
I waited while four people testified. Unable to contain it any longer, I arose and stepped into the isle, headed toward Brother Gregory, and exclaimed, “The Lord saved my soul, and I’m proud of it.!”
For the next several minutes, my mother, father, an uncle and several others shouted and rejoiced in celebration of the new-born deliverance of another child into God’s family.
Fifty years later, I am still proud of what God did for me through the shed blood sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. The joy and realization of what I have just keeps getting better the closer to home I get.
Elder Benny Maggart
July 18, 2011
