As a child I wasn't taken to church much. When we did go we went to a church that wasn't an "old time" church - of course I didn't know the difference until later. When I was 21 years old I decided I wanted to change my life and live for the Lord. I starting going to a Southern Baptist church a few miles from my home. I had went there for Bible School during the summers growing up. The first Sunday that I went I went down front and accepted Christ as my Savior. The preacher told me to repeat a prayer that I couldn't even keep up with. He then told everyone I was saved and I was talked into being Baptized the next Sunday. I went and told a friend of mine what had happened. He began to question me and I didn't understand why. I really, really had a crush on this "friend" and I always had confidence in what he had told me. He didn't seem too excited when I told him my good news. He was working on trying to establish a career with the highway patrol at the time and wouldn't date me. I practically begged him to go out with me but he wasn't interested at the time. Later I began dating a gentleman from the church in which I was attending and lost contact with him. My friend, later on in the year, got a heavy burden for me. He knew that I had been deceived. I work at a hospital and he had come by to visit someone in his family who was dying of cancer. He came by to see me and asked if he could talk with me sometime. I was so excited. I thought he had finally wanted to go out with me. We then met to talk. He asked me to tell him about being saved. I didn't have much to tell him. I then broke off the relationship with the gentleman from church. After that, Rick, asked me out. He said he would like to take me to church. I thought that was great. To me, at the time, it was just a place to go and socialize. Rick and I talked about being saved. He questioned me several times and I told him I was o.k. We then went to church at Hogan's Creek Missionary Baptist Church in South Carthage, Tennessee. After a few minutes of hearing Brother Stephen Brooks preach I knew I had been deceived. My heart felt as if it would pound out of my chest. I was so scared. He preached about hell and its' torments. I knew if I died I would go there. After we left church that day I confessed to Rick that something was wrong and that I knew I wasn't saved. The Spirit had let me know. I prayed all week - at home, in the car, in the bed, etc. but nothing happened. I think I was trying to keep from going in front of Rick to the Altar. The next week we went to Hartsville Missionary Baptist Church in Hartsville, Tennessee. Bro. Barney Allison preached a message about hell that made me almost shake off the bench. I know those sitting beside me could feel me shaking and trembling. The tears began to roll and when the Altar call was made I practically ran to it. I began to pray everything I could think of. I didn't care if Rick was watching, his family, or anyone else. I just didn't want to go to hell. Finally I told the Lord "I have done all I can do, it is in your hands". That is the moment when he saved my sole. I felt such wonderful peace. I remember looking up and everyone was around me praying and then rejoicing! I was 23 years old when I was saved. I am now 28. Rick, who I am so proud to say, is my husband now. We married in 1997. He told his call to preach in 1995 and is now the pastor of New Macedonia Missionary Baptist church in Chestnut Mound, Tennessee. I am so thankful for his influence and concern for me. If it hadn't been for him I would have never heard the Truth! We now have a beautiful 9 month old daughter, Christen. God has blessed our lives so much.
Christel Hall
Carthage, Tennesee