RICH'S PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF SALVATION

I Timothy 1:12-16 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” 

I wasn’t raised in a Christian home. My parents were good moral people that feared God, but at the time I was growing up didn’t know Him personally. I am of Mexican descent and was raised in the Roman Catholic religion because of tradition. Religion, tradition and pride will send more people to hell than anything else. I worked in Corporate America for many years in the music Industry. The music industry is the embodiment of the world. I met many famous people but soon saw the empty and hopeless lives they were leading.

Rev 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

 

Matt 6: 19-20 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”

 

For years I fancied myself as some great musician, but that was certainly not the case. Somehow I became a member of a Jazz Fusion group which was composed of very gifted individuals. I was by far the least talented individual in the group and to this day I still don’t understand why they allowed me to be a member. After many years of rehearsing and preparation we finally had the opportunity to participate in a major label showcase. After our performance we all headed to the backroom and I was overjoyed because I knew we were about to make it.

 

As I entered the backroom, two members of the band were very quiet and not excited at all. I asked them what was wrong and they told me they had received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour and could no longer continue to play worldly music. They were going to serve Jesus and play music that honored and glorified Him, not man. My dream had been crushed and I became very bitter.

 

Both friends told me that they would continue to pray that I would get saved and accept Christ as my personal Saviour. For ten years they stayed in touch with me praying for my salvation and faithfully witnessing to me.  Nothing I did was able to give me the peace I was seeking and finally I hit rock bottom realizing there was no one, nor anything I could do to help myself.
 

Finally, in God’s appointed time, one evening, my phone rang and I received a call from Reggie, one of the old band members who had been praying for me and witnessing to me faithfully for almost 10 years. He told me that the Lord had placed me on his heart and led him to call me. He told me that Jesus died for my sins and loved me and that according to the Word of God there was nothing I could do personally to be saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

The more scripture we read the more clearly I could see that I was a lost man headed for hell and my need to be saved.

Romans6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Finally, after many scriptures and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, he asked if I was ready to accept Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour. Tears filled my eyes. I fell to my knees and asked Jesus Christ to forgive me of my sins and to become my personal Lord and Saviour.

Romans 10: 9-10 “ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Immediately I felt different as though a great burden had been lifted. I finally felt at peace! The Bible says in 2^nd Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  

 

Praise God for his mercy and the faithful witness of my friend, Reggie. From that moment forward God started to work in my life and reveal His will to me. God changed my life and after serving him for many years has called me to be a missionary to Paraguay. He has been preparing me through the various life experiences and the ministries in which I have served Him. Praise God that his blood covers my sins and that I might be used of him!

 

JANET'S PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF SALVATION

I was raised in a Christian family and attended every church service of the week since I was born.  At the age of 7, in a Wednesday night children’s class, my friend Sandy was saved.  She received a lot of attention from many people.  I too, wanted that attention, so I asked to do what my friend had done.

 

After that day, I questioned my salvation for many years.  It seemed that whenever I would voice my concern over my soul, someone would point me back to that day and tell me “once saved, always saved.”  I believe my husband knew something was not right.  He urged me to settle the question at different times, but I quieted his concerns by quoting verses and trying to appear spiritually intelligent.

 

I was always very active in serving in our local church.  I had taught Sunday School for all age groups, led Wednesday night children’s programs, was very active in the church music ministries, and taught various ages and classes in Christian schools.  I witnessed, held Bible studies and even spoke at ladies meetings, but in the back of my mind was a nagging thought about the little girl who repeated a prayer and didn’t mean it.   

 

Rich took a job in Pennsylvania and we began looking for a new church.  We attended one for about a month when they began a week of revival services.  I fought through three messages, knowing that I was not part of the people of God (IIChronicles 7:14) and that I was a Judas (the great imposter) among the church.  I was under great conviction of the Holy Spirit.  I knew that the Lord was giving me an opportunity to make my heart and life right with Him.  I also knew that if I continued to harden my heart against the Lord, He might not give me another opportunity.

 

It was that night and the next day that I realized how comfortable I had become in “playing church.”  The next night we went to revival services again.  God broke my heart over my sin, my pride, my foolishness. I went forward at the invitation and gave my heart to Christ.  I repented of my sin and asked Him to save me.

 

What a joy!  What a burden rolled away!  This time I did not repeat a prayer.  This time I confessed my sin and cried on the Lord Jesus to save my soul.