I was fortunate enough to be born to parents who were old time Missionary Baptist. My Father is an old fashioned preacher. When I think about my childhood, I remember the revivals he helped in, especially at Capital Hill Church. Even at a young age, before I was accountable, I knew something special was going on when we were in a service and people started moving for the Lord. I didn’t understand what was happening. I just knew it was different. Special. My father was Pastor at Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church in Louisville when I was about 10 until I was about 13.
I remember one day being a kid and acting as children do. Then I remember hearing the Preacher preaching about being lost. Someone asked me if I was lost. I told them no. Between the preaching touching me and letting me know I needed something, and the person following the Lord and asking me if I were lost, a heavy conviction came upon me. I had always depended on my parents whenever I needed help with anything. I knew even though my Father was a Preacher, he couldn’t work in my heart the peace I needed. I was so scared. I stayed home one night crying and praying. A revival started at Hiawatha Missionary Baptist Church, and we went. At that time, if you were lost, your parents tried to take you as often as they could to hear the gospel and prayed you’d be saved by God’s grace. We went and people would ask me if I was lost. I felt guilty, but I’d say no. Knowing I was lying to them.
Then one night a wonderful Christian woman asked me if I had ever been saved. I guess the Lord knew that I couldn’t bring myself to tell the lie that yes I had. So I told her no. I started crying and of course the Lord had been dealing with me throughout the revival. She asked if I wanted to pray, and I said yes and went to the altar. I wasn’t sure how or what to pray at first. I just knew my heart wasn’t right with God. He let me know that. So I started trying to pray. I didn’t get saved for a few nights. I’m not sure how many it was that I’d been on the altar. But I had come to the point I saw myself as the Lord did. Unworthy, sinful, full of lies and wretched as I could be. I told him I had nothing to offer, but if he didn’t have Mercy on me I knew I’d die and go to hell. I begged him to forgive me and to take that awful burden away even as unworthy as I was. I told him I’d try to serve him. I laid it at his feet and he rolled that burden away and replaced that awful heavy sin stained soul with one covered by his blood that was forgiven and free from sin. He had performed a miracle just for me. How precious was that time and still is.
My Mother recently passed, and I have the assurance I’ll see her again someday soon. Please pray for our son Aaron, who is lost and 21 years old and our grandson Zachary who is 15.
