I was only 10 when my family began attending Faith Missionary Baptist Church. I had been to many different kinds of churches before, but the services never really meant anything to me. The churches were large, ornate and beautiful, and they smelled of incense. I can remember sitting in the pew, listening to people’s shoes echoing off the marble floors. The buildings seemed so vast, empty and cold. The messages were usually in a different language, so I couldn’t really understand what was going on. I would stand, kneel or sit mimicking other people around me.When we came to Faith, things were a lot different. I can remember seeing Jan standing on a briefcase at a microphone in the front of the church to sing. I can still remember a lot of the songs she sang like “I was born to Serve the Lord”, and “Who am I”. I thought the choir was really great too! They sang songs with all the different parts! I really wanted to be a
part of that!
We began attending right before Easter, in 1967. My mom was saved in May of that year. I came under conviction after that. I knew my mom had something I didn’t have. I knew if she died, she would go to heaven. I knew that if I died, I would go to hell.
I don’t remember what Brother Brown (Eugene Brown was our Pastor), preached the day I was saved. I don’t remember much about the service. But I can still recall very vividly, going to the altar and pouring my heart out to God. I just kept praying, “Please God Save Me!” “If you’ll save me, I’ll do anything”. I remember that I wanted Salvation, at that moment, more than I wanted anything else in my life.
I don’t remember how long I prayed, it didn’t seem very long, when all of a sudden, I couldn’t pray any more. I remember taking a breath and all the heaviness in my heart just went away. I didn’t feel sad anymore. I remember Brother Brown asking if any of us had anything we wanted to tell the church. There were other people on the altar that day, but I was the only one who told the church “I prayed and the burden went away”. Everyone came around and hugged me and shook my hand. It was a great day! Sister Lucille Taylor hugged my neck and told me “she just knew I had been saved, because her burden for me went away too!” That was on June 4th, 1967.
My mom and I were baptized together a few weeks later, along with Sister Bev McGuffie. There have been times since that day, when I would wonder if I really got it. But then I would pray, and God would take me back to that time and place where he relieved that burden in my heart. I have never felt convicted like that since, but sometimes Satan can fill our minds with doubt. But God can bring to our remembrance, the peace and joy we felt when we surrendered to him. Little did I know that day when I prayed, “I’ll do anything”, what God had in store for me. I have been called upon to serve the church in many capacities since that time. I can say that serving God means more to me each day, and I am looking forward to meeting him in person some day. I rejoice in his promises and look forward to spending eternity with all of you who have been saved!
