Elder Terry Nicodemus

In Late 1964, I was at True Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri during the fall revival. I was nine years old, and the revival had been going on for a few days. One night I was standing behind the front row of seats on the north side of the church, watching Diana Ingram seeking the Lord on the front pew. Sister Gloria Bilyue came to me and asked me if I was lost. I said no, and when I said I wasn’t, I became lost. I immediate knew I was lost and certainly did not want to be lost. All I found was a troubling in my soul. I remained in this lost and lonely condition for a year till I was ten.

I started the fourth grade the next fall. Even during school I would feel the grips of damnation in my soul. One day before the fall revival I was in school, and Mrs. Wontuck my fourth grade teacher had us get in a half circle and read. I was so miserable that all I could do was cry. She had me go back to my desk and put my head down. She called home that night and talked to my mother. I really think my parents knew what was wrong with me.

The revival started with Brother Junior Ingram preaching. Brother Web Foster was the pastor. On Friday night of the first week Brother Junior preached. I cannot tell you what he said, but with every word I became more miserable. Even the lights seemed dim, I was a mess. When Brother Junior got done preaching, he gave an alter call for sinners to seek the Lord for their soul’s salvation. They began to sing “Kneel At The Cross”. As always, the congregation stood to their feet. We were standing toward the back on the south side of the church. As they sang, my world crumbled, and I began to tremble. Surly the pains of hell got hold of me! I could no longer stand, so I sat down and began to weep. I remember Denise Ingram, Brother Junior’s youngest daughter, coming to my right side and kneeling down and praying for me. Mom and Dad and my Aunt Bessie and Uncle Bob were all praying on the other side of Denise. As I was setting there, trying to ask God to save me, three brethren came to the seat behind me. The first was Brother Frank Gordon. He put his hand on my shoulder and asked me if I was lost. I told him I was, and he said, “Trust in the Lord”. Then he left. The next one was Brother Gene Grant. He asked me if I was Lost. I told him yes. He said “Trust in the Lord”. Then he left. The last one was Brother Keith Frieze. He asked me if I was lost. I told him yes I was. He said “Trust in the Lord”. Then he left.

So there I sat….lost in my sins. I tried to bargain with God in order to get saved, I told him he could have my new Western Flyer bike I got for Christmas, but that didn’t work. I began to promise all sorts of things but to no avail. I then came diligent to find Jesus. I begged the lord that much more. There is a space of time that I cannot tell about, but when I came to myself, the burden was gone, and all I could feel was peace. Where there was trouble and sorrow, there was peace. Where there was darkness, there was peace. Because of this peace, I will be with Jesus through all eternity.

WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE WHEN MY JESUS I SHALL SEE, AND I LOOK UPON HIS FACE, THE ONE WHO SAVED ME BY HIS GRACE, AND FOREVER I WILL BE WITH THE ONE WHO DIED FOR ME, WHAT A DAY, GLORIOUS A DAY, THAT WILL BE.”

Terry Nicodemus