Gene’s Personal Testimony

 

I was not born into a family of faith, though I was exposed to Catholicism through a school I attended briefly.  As an adult I became a self-proclaimed agnostic.  I did believe in God, but was not interested in being involved in "religion".

I was married at an early age and my wife and I had 4 children.  I was a good physical provider (food on the table, roof over their heads, clothes on their backs, etc.) for my family.  But eventually was unfaithful to my wife, and my marriage ended in divorce after more than 20 years.

I was single for about 5 years.  During this time I had friends at work who were Christians and I was impressed by them.  One of those was a woman (Ann) who worked for me.  She and I began dating.  On several occasions she invited me to go to church with her but I was not interested.  Finally, one day I did go with her and I saw people who had a relationship with God that I had never known.  So I started attending that church, Orchard Hills Baptist Church, in Garland, TX. 

One day I told Ann that it was outreach day and I would save the church a trip and go by and talk to them about being saved.  Of course I didn’t go, but went home as usual.  I was working in the yard when the Music Minister drove up (a former Catholic himself).  He said he just wanted to visit for awhile.  “I was completely blown away”.  How did he know I was interested in coming to know the Lord?  We talked for several hours and at 9:30 in the evening of Sep 11, 1988, at the age of 50, I gave my life to Christ.

I was so excited that I had to call Ann and tell her.  Little did I know that she had gone by the church earlier that day and gave them my name and address.  Four months later, Jan 27, 1989, Ann and I were married. 

This was just the beginning, and I’m looking forward to many more years of service and relationship with Christ.

Gene