Jackie Hill - Personal Testimony
Jackie Hill
He brought me forth also into a large place; 
he delivered me, because he delighted in me. PS 18:19
I am Jackie Hill from Alabama. I met some of you at Sisseton in the 90's when I preached a revival at First Baptist.
I was born with a mild case of cerebral palsy. At age 17 my grandfather led me to saving faith in Christ while on his deathbed. Four months later God called me to preach His word.
I served three churches as associate pastor and was pastor of three churches. While at my last church I met a woman with two children whose husband had died. We started dating and within a few months we were engaged. Everything was going great until God let me know I was not to marry her. I had preacher friends, who cautioned me, as they knew things were not right, but they all had wives and I wanted to also have a wife. One night my pastor was preaching in the book of Acts where Paul said, This ship is going to sink (Acts 27:9-10). I was a preacher and loved the Lord, but I disobeyed my Lord and got married.
Within two months my wife left me for another man. When I caught them together I cried for a whole week. One night on my way home from my pastor’s house I saw my wife’s car on Alabama Hwy 20. I literally lost it and ran them off the road. A policeman who knew me showed up and asked, what’s going on? I told him what happened and said he needed to go and check on them to see if they were alright and they were.
When I was taken to jail I noticed that a jailer was crying. At first I didn’t recognize him until he told me that for 4 years he attended the church where I was the associate pastor. I was so ashamed. He asked me if I needed anything. I said yes, a Bible. As I was placed in a large room I began to read in the Psalms. As I read Psalm 18:19 the Lord spoke this to me, “He brought me forth into a large place, He delivered me because He delighted in me.” I know right then that God still loved me and was going to help me get through this awful nightmare. I spent over a week at a mental hospital for an evaluation. For almost a year I battled deep depression and had even lost the desire to live. I had been a preacher for much of my life and I questioned if God would ever choose to use me ever again. One day I read 1 John 1:9 which says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I needed that verse! Even though God forgave me and cleansed me from my disobedience and extreme anger and my attempt to bring hurt to others, I also knew that when King David sinned against God, God forgave him and used him, but the sword never departed from his house (2 Sam 12:10). We should never think that my sin only hurts me.
I want you all to know that God has restored me and I have His peace and joy in my heart. I am teaching His word, visiting the sick and shut-ins and constantly telling people about Jesus.
Some of you may think that you have been too bad for God to save. Listen, we are all sinners and Jesus Christ came as a man to shed His perfect blood that we as sinners could be made clean. Stop listening to the lies of satan and start listening to God through His word, the Bible. Would you today receive His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord? He will forgive you of all your sins and will give you a brand new life and a new beginning. God bless you men, Jackie Hill.
Gary Waddell - Victory Ministries of Middle TN - VMMTN.COM
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