Testimonies

Experience of salvation
by Melvin McWhirter

In the year of our Lord 1939,1 was born in Bethpage, Tennessee to the family of Clifford and Avie McWhirter. I was die youngest of six children (one sister and four brothers). My father was a tenant fanner through my young life; we all know what kind of times those days were in the late 30's and early 40's. My God-fearing, loving, caring, and praying mother had a great bearing on my childhood years. She and my grandfather, Hurley S. Linville (a minister of God's word—I spent a lot of my summer days with), always taught me to put God first in everything I did, to get up thanking the Lord and to go to bed thanking him, and asking forgiveness for things we had an had not done. In the summer of the year of our Lord 1950, under the preaching of Elder R. O. sanders, at Rock Bridge Missionary Baptist Church just west of Bethpage, north of Gallatin and southeast of Portland, not only was I convinced of my lost and sinful condition, but was convicted of them. The gospel not only cut to my heart, it cut through my heart. The next two days was the most miserable time I had ever spent. Thanks to all the prayers that were sent up in my behalf, and my total surrendering of my soul, body and mind to God, i was saved that Wednesday night of the second week of our revival. I was baptized that same summer by Eld. R. O. Sanders. Some years later I moved to Indianapolis, and met a nice young Baptist girl and married her. We were blessed with a daughter and a son. A few years later, my wife and I joined Bethel Baptist Church on credit of a letter from Rock Bridge and chimney Rock Churches which is near Somerset, KY. The Lord has seen fit to save our two children and I thank him so very much. One of my many hopes and prayers are that we as God¬fearing men and women will strive to help this struggling generation, as much as die past generation has preserved and passed on to us to hold up God's banner and work to see the lost saved and build up his temple. I love a God-fearing church and God loving people, whom I believe Bethel Church is made of. My prayer is that she will continue to denounce the devil on our comer, and will not only help the lost to be saved, but also uplift the Christian people by the gospel and the prayers of all those who love God and his cause. I ask you to pray for me and mine, and I will continue to pray for you and God's work.