Testimony 

First of All: I give all the credit to Jesus Christ for His work in my life. I pray that no one compares themselves with me ( and some have ) or anyone else on this earth as we should all compare ourselves with Jesus. He is our standard. And when we compare ourselves to Jesus, we "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." ... and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. This is not about "me" and what "I" have done to change. It is about what the "Lord has done in my life." It is ALL HIM. HE is the "changer." He washed us white as snow with His blood.



I was raised basically unchurched and the only time I heard the name of "GOD" used in our home was in a curse word. I did attend a parochial school for about 3 years and I remember the kindness shown to me at the time. When I was about 8 years old, I was sprinkled with water by a pastor in a church and had no idea what it was about ( I pray for people who are trusting their salvation in that method - it will not save them). I did not know or understand the message of salvation because it was never presented to me in the simple Gospel way. I knew ‘about Jesus’ but I certainly did not ‘know Jesus’ in a personal way. And the same is today with multitudes. They know ‘about Jesus’ and are very ‘religious’ but they do not ‘know Jesus.’ One must have a personal relationship with Him. A commitment to Jesus - who is God in the flesh! 

I met alcohol in my childhood (as always, Satan gives a little and takes a lot). One of the reasons was because it was available in my home and in the homes of my friends. (I believe alcohol is just as destructive as any drug and in many cases, even more.) My grades were poor and I hung out with the wrong crowd. I had few friends and most of the girls didn’t want to hang out with me because of my arrogance, fighting in school, and the disrespect I had for authority. I barely made it out of high school and went to work immediately. I hung around with men in their 20's and 30's who drank, fought, hung out in bars, and womanized. When I received a letter for a military physical (they had a draft back in those days) I joined the military thinking maybe I could get out of the rut I was already in. Some of my actions back then were shocking even in today’s times. But that did not change my ways. Sin just followed me — it was part of my life. I was a sinner.

On occasion while in the military, while serving overseas, a man came to me and tried to talk to me about Jesus. I threatened him many times and finally sent him on his way, but not before he smuggled some Chick tracts into my duffel bag (unknown to me). I was going back to the states a few days later and I found them in my carry bag and read them. I did not ask the Lord to come into my life at that time, but it was then that I started thinking about the Lord and this thing called ‘salvation.’

I had a couple of volatile relationships but nothing solid. I met and married a young woman and at the coaxing of her father, I attended a little Baptist Church with her family. He planted seeds in my life I will never forget — along with his father. Many times I gripped the pew to keep from going forward during the invitation. Every time I hear that beautiful song, "Just as I am," I think back to the times when I wouldn’t come forward and a lump sticks in my throat. I love that song dearly now that I know Jesus ( Years later I visited that little church and went forward — I wanted to do this for the Lord — for what He has done in my life. And when I answered the altar call, two others came forward and gave their lives to Jesus. Praise God! He is always using us - nothing accidental or by chance ).

I did not lead my family in the right direction and did not regularly attend church after we were married. I still did not know Jesus. I kept drinking and I still cussed, not as much around her. We had two beautiful children - one who was born while I was serving overseas. While stationed ‘stateside,’ I came home one day and found out she had taken the kids and went back home. She was tired of the drinking and carousing. I was broken over this but my pride and arrogance caused me to be bitter. I actually wanted to change but without the Lord in my life, it was hopeless. I actually was angry at her for leaving instead of being angry at myself. I loved my children dearly and still miss them to this day. 


We divorced and I re-married. We quickly had two children (who were also beautiful) and were divorced in less than 4 years. During the short marriage I never took my family to church or allowed GOD into our home or our lives in any way, shape or form. I led them in the wrong direction. After that, I still had other relationships and I still drank and carried on. The bar scene was a very important part of my life. I felt at home being at a bar, club, or VFW but most of all, I was with others who were similar to me. Drunkenness and revelry was part of my life – a large part. Speaking about myself, I was a drunkard. I was not diseased – just a man who lived in sin.

Then, at a very low time in my life (I was injured and jobless, and basically penniless), lower than I had ever been and knowing that I was steeped in sin, I asked Jesus for forgiveness and begged Him to come into my life one evening while on my knees. I made a public profession of faith in a little Baptist church near there and cried like a baby on my knees. I couldn’t even speak. I must add that one doesn’t need to attend a ‘Baptist’ church, or a ‘Methodist’ church, or an ‘Assembly of God’ church, or any one particular denomination to make a profession of faith but it needs to be a church (or a congregation of believers) where the Bible is preached and understood that It is the inerrant Word of God and following the Lord in obedience is what He requires. [ Anyone can ask the Lord Jesus into their heart anywhere - even while you are sitting and reading this - "and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" Acts: 2:21 - also Romans 10:9-13] I might add that one can be sincerely sorry for their sins but we must trust Jesus and give our entire lives to Him. Not just a part. He wants all of us.

I now belonged to the Lord and finally realized that He died for my sins and rose again from the tomb. I still did not attended church all the time and although I had a few Christian friends, I still tried to hang on to some of my old ways. My growth was painfully slow. I was now saved but dis-obedient. I was just giving Him "part of me." For several years I couldn’t see what God was doing in my life, and finally after realizing that the Lord was waiting on me to make a serious decision to live for HIM ALONE, I was led to attend and join a Godly church on a regular basis where the Bible was preached and was the final authority. I enrolled in a men’s Sunday school class. The Lord showed me that I needed to be committed to Him and then my growth in Him started to "skyrocket." I was encouraged by my Sunday School teacher (and best friend) to start reading my Bible through each year. Since then, God has revealed His holy word to me in ways I could never imagine. I look back now and see that I was actually growing, but it was ‘little by little’ and I was wanting Him to grow me by leaps and bounds. But He knew me better than I knew myself – He was waiting for a commitment from me. Knowing that Jesus paid the price for my sins was overwhelming. Knowing that I am ‘clean’ in His eyes was a hard thing to get used to. But that is His promise. And God cannot lie. We have ‘overcome’ the world. "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

God led me to make another public profession of faith and I was baptized in front of the assembly of the church, the way all followers in the Bible were, and the way Jesus was — immersed. In the Bible, Jesus said " Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." God also led me to understand that I needed to be more bold for Him. After all, He was crucified for us and died on the cross to pay my sin debt. As He did that for you and everyone. Baptism does not save one, however, when one gives their lives to the Lord, they will want to symbolize their belief through baptism. It is "extremely important" ( see Acts 8:36-39 ). I have been told by some that I ‘wasn’t saved’ before but that does not matter to me because I know I am saved to the ‘uttermost’ now. So it is not necessary to remember the exact date and time you were saved, or ‘washed in the blood.’ You will see a change in your life. What is necessary is to know that Jesus Christ paid for our sins on the cross and that He rose again the third day and will be coming back soon to get us - and that we are to follow Him.

I then started living for Him only and He took the filth from my tongue, the desire for alcohol, the hatred and bitterness from my heart, and the lusts that still hung around in my thoughts - all of it. Praise You Lord! He removed my old friends from me and gave me new friends. I didn’t have to worry about what I would say to my old pals because they deserted me. He has made a change to where I now desire to live for Him. I now live in the Spirit and although Satan reminds me of the flesh, I know I am washed in the blood of the LAMB! I have asked forgiveness and have forgiven all for all things. 

I have 4 grown children (2 boys and 2 girls) and 2 stepsons who I raised part of their lives. I pray for them continually. Please pray for them if you feel led to do so. Pray for their spiritual walk and for GOD to use them in a mighty way. Also, please pray for eight grandchildren to receive Jesus into their lives when the time comes. I am retired, with a small pension but God continually provides for all my needs. He shows me new ways to serve Him continually. I have a wife who prays for me and is not taken aback by the material things this world has to offer. Pray for her health and safety. He has allowed me to use what He has given me to help others out there planting seeds for the Lord. I daily pass out Bible tracts, Jesus DVDs and Bibles when needed for His kingdom to people who are placed in my path by the LORD. He has also put Christians in my path for encouragement and direction. The Lord has caused me to be extremely bold for Him. I spend most of my time planting seeds for Him and I have found that there is not enough time in a day to tell people about Jesus Christ. 

My biggest concern is children. The evil in this world is turning our children away from the narrow path and leading them on the wide path to destruction. Parents are refusing to lead their children and in some instances, are actually blocking their kid’s path to Jesus by their actions ( or ‘in-actions’ ). I know, because I blocked mine. To aid in leading our children down the wide path of destruction, we have Hollywood, the media, politicians, and many "religions" telling our kids that evil is good and good is evil. They are learning even from our public schools things like ‘you just have to "be good." ’ And things like ‘being a homosexual is a lifestyle that we need to endorse’ (We know that God calls them sodomites and that a perverted lifestyle is a sin - an abomination to the Lord and leads to death and hell - which Jesus talked about more than anyone in the Bible). Isaiah 5:20 says "woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." We truly need to teach our children God’s holy word and that He put us on this earth for one reason - to glorify HIS holy name. If we are not serving Him we are enemies of God. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth." There is no middle ground. Jesus also said, "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." 

I thank God for His grace and forgiveness and I will continue to pray for the salvation of children everywhere until my last breath on this earth. I am a servant of the ‘most High God’ forever. Won’t you please join with me in the faithful service of our Almighty GOD?


One of my prayers: "God, unblock the paths of these young ones and bring them to You Father and may the Holy Ghost cause them to serve You only. Lord open the eyes and soften the hearts of fathers and mothers everywhere to teach their children about You and to lead their kids in a way that is pleasing to You. We know that You are the source of all wisdom. You tell us to "be ye holy for I am holy." Thank You for Your holy word, the Bible. And thank You for what You have done for us and for what You are going to do in the future. In Jesus’ precious, holy name I pray these things with all my heart."

Blessings in His name, Gary 



Out of love always - Gary