My Story

I am probably the only person you know who can say that they got saved because of Bob Barker.  Let me explain.

Before I started classes at Mississippi State University, I had to take Trigonometry as a prerequisite to Physics.  There was a branch of Holmes Community College in my hometown, where I had just finished College Algebra, but they did not offer Trig.  So, I had to make the one hour drive each day to the main campus in Goodman to take the class.  Toward the end of the summer semester, my church held it’s annual revival services.  This was a one-week meeting.  The evening services started at 7:30 p.m.  My church was, and still is, the only church I know that has a morning service during the revival week.  This started 11:00 a.m.  This was important to me this year because my Trig class ended at 9:50, and I realized that if I could waste just a little time, I would arrive home after my mama had left for the church, and I wouldn’t have to go to the morning service.  The plan worked perfectly the first day.

Things changed on Tuesday.  I pulled in the driveway as mama was backing out.  She asked me if I was going to church.  I told her that I had things I needed to do, so no.  The “things” I “needed” to do was watch the last few minutes of the Price is Right, then whatever I could find on after that.  I thought I was going to have a pleasant day.  God, however, didn’t think the same.  For the next two days, God worked on me, showing me that I had a problem - my sin was causing me to put the things of the world ahead of Him.  I tried to fight this, but it was no use.  God won out.  

On Thursday night, I went to the revival service and sat on the right hand side of the sanctuary.  Instead of sitting toward the back like I usually did, I planted myself on the second pew from the front.  I sat there because it put me about 2 steps away from where the pastor, Norris Corley, would stand when the invitation was given.  That night, I was antsy for the sermon to end, not because I wanted to leave, but because I couldn’t wait to get to the pastor.  When the sermon finally ended and the invitation was given, I moved quickly to the pastor.  Had I been in the back, I probably would have run!  I took him by the hand, this man of God who had known me since the day I was born, and told him that I needed to be saved.  He lead me in that prayer there, and I have been assured ever since of having my sins forgiven and having eternal life in heaven.  

I say often that I couldn’t have picked a worse time to be saved, because about two weeks later, I left for MSU.  I came home every weekend, but I didn’t get discipled much at all.  Not from my church, and not at school.  For four years I lived about four blocks from the Baptist Student Union, but I never went to a meeting.  No one taught me how to have a quiet time or how to pray.  I struggled in my faith walk and in my obedience to God for about eight years.

Fortunately for me, God moved me to a new home in Louisiana, and there brought me to my wife.  She is one of the most godly women I know.  After we began dating, I learned how to speak to God, and how to listen to Him.  I surrendered to the ministry, and God moved us to Texas.  I still struggle in my faith walk, but I know that when I die, I’ll meet Jesus face to face, and I’ll live forever in heaven, along with my family and friends who know Jesus..

If you’re struggling with your faith, don’t give up.  You can draw close to God right now.  All you have to do is cry out to Him.  

If you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior, don’t wait!  Now is the time to cry out to Him and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and give you eternal life.  He will also give you unspeakable joy while you are still on earth.  

If you have any questions about any of this, you can email me at leapoffaithblog@gmail.com.  Bob Barker helped me tell a story.  Let’s find yours to tell.