MY TESTIMONY BY JANICE KAY PATTERSON ALLISON, Written in the year of 2007
When I was 9 years old, we were visiting Defeated Creek Missionary Baptist Church during their revival. Back then, when the church was having the alter service, the younger children roamed about, watching what was going on. Me and a friend were just sitting behind the alter watching, as another friend was on the alter, seeking the Lord. That was when the Lord let me know that I was lost, and the alter was where I needed to be. I didn’t go that night, but I did the following night. I was one who thought I had to do something myself to get saved. I went to the alter probably 3 to 4 years. My parents always took me to all the revivals in our area.
One day during the revival at our home church, Cornwell’s Chapel Missionary Baptist, some where getting saved around me and a thought came to my mind that I was saved to. After we went home I told my parents that I was saved. I joined the Church, as I was taught that’s what you’re supposed to do after being saved. I was around age 12 then. After that I still had the fear that a sinner carries with them, but I never told anyone.
One night around the age of 15 or 16,1 was in my bed, praying, begging the Lord to please help me, because I didn’t know what else I could do, and I didn’t want to die and go to hell. In my mind’s eye, I was in darkness, then instantly, I was out of the darkness, and there was a brightness, and peace, and great joy in my soul. I still remember the following days, feeling so light and peaceful.
I never told anyone about that experience until years later when the Lord dealt heavily with me to join Plunkett’s Creek Missionary Baptist Church. That was in the year of 1980. My family had attended there several years, as my husband (Barney Allison) was member there. Bro. Jackie Wilburn baptized me and I was happy as I could be.
My husband was called to preach, then later called to pastor Hartsville Missionary Baptist Church. In 1989 the Lord dealt with me again to join here, and I have been content ever since.
