Testimonies

PROFILE OF A CHRISTIAN
By Shirley Devasher

I was saved in August, 1950, while revival was in progress at the Beech Grove Baptist Church located at Eighty Eight, Kentucky, under the preaching of Bro. William Howard who never spared any words abut preaching HELL and exactly where you would go if you didn't get saved. I knew I was lost a few years prior to this revival and the good, old-time Christians came around and would shake my hand, didn't say too much, but this particular year it seemed no matter where I sat Bro, Howard always came down that aisle and stopped close to where I sat and ALWAYS his sermons were directed at me. Revival had been going on a week and I still hadn't gone to the alter, but there was sadness and a dreadful lost feeling and the Christians were doing their job, but I still wouldn't go, and some of my best friends had already gotten saved. Finally, it was Sunday morning and the church house would be full and I already said to myself in dressing for church that today I will not go to the alter, because of all the people. Was I ever wrong because the Lord got in the matter when I got to the church and as usual the sermon was directed toward me and it was getting late in the day and I kept thinking surely the service will be over soon, but Bro Howard made one last request of the Christians that those who would promise to pray for me before the night services to come around and give me their hand and (I know every one was saved in that building that day but me, because the line was so long), but that was too much I could no longer stay in my seat and that was when I went to the alter. I was not saved that day, but I did keep seeking the Lord and was saved later in the week. When I was saved there was a brightness and joy that come into my heart that I can't even explain unto this day but I knew that this was when the Lord had saved my soul, because nothing like this had ever happened to me, and this joy took the burden and tears of sorrow away, I get very discouraged at times, but I can always go back to that spot and I know that was where the Lord saved me. I joined Beech Grove Baptist Church at the close of that revival and was baptized and kept my membership there until joining Bethel Church.