In Late 1964, I was at True Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Springfield,
Missouri during the fall revival. I was nine years old and the revival had been
going on for a few days when one night I was standing behind the front row
of seats on the north side of the church, Diana Ingram was seeking the Lord
on the front pew and I was standing watching. Sister Gloria Bilyue came to
me and asked me if I was lost. I said no and when I said I wasn't, I became
lost. I immediate knew I was lost and certainly did not want to be lost. All I
found was a troubling in my soul.

I remained in this lost and lonely condition for a year till I was ten. I started
the fourth grade the next fall. Even during school I would feel the grips of
damnation in my soul. One day before the fall revival I was in school and
Mrs. Wontuck my fourth grade teacher had us get in a half circle and read. I
was so miserable that all I could do was cry. She had me go back to my desk
and put my head down. She called home that night and talk to my mother. I
really think my parents new what was wrong with me.

The revival started with Brother Junior Ingram preaching. Brother Web
Foster was the pastor. On Friday night of the first week Brother Junior
preached. I cannot tell you what he said, but with every word I became more
miserable. Even the light seem dim, I was a mess. When Brother Junior got
done preaching he gave an alter call for sinners to seek the Lord for their
soul's salvation. They began to sing "Kneel At The Cross". As always, the
congregation stood to there feet. We were standing toward the back on the
south side of the church. As they sang, my world crumbled and I began to
tremble. Surly the pains of hell got hold of me! I could no longer stand, so I
sat down and began to weep. I remember Denise Ingram Brother Junior's
youngest daughter coming to my right side and kneel down and pray for me.
Mom and Dad and my Aunt Bessie and Uncle Bob were all praying on the
other side of Denise. As I was setting there, trying to ask God to save me,
three brethren came to the seat behind me. The first was Brother Frank
Gordon. He put his hang on my shoulder and asked me if I was lost. I told
him I was and he said, "Trust in the Lord". Then he left. The next one was
Brother Gene Grant. He asked me if I was Lost. I told him yes. He said "Trust
in the Lord". Then he left. The last one was Brother Keith Freize. He asked
me if I was lost. I told him yes I was. He said "Trust in the Lord". Then he left.
So there I sat….lost in my sins. I tried to bargain with God in order to get
saved, I told him he could have my new Western Flyer bike I got for
Christmas, but that didn't work. I began to promise all sorts of things but to
no avail. I then came diligent to find Jesus. I begged the lord that much
more There is a space of time that I cannot tell about, but when I came to
myself, the burden was gone, and all I could feel was peace. Where there
was trouble and sorrow, there was peace. Where there was darkness, there
was peace. Because of this peace, I will be with Jesus through all eternity.
"WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE WHEN MY JESUS I SHALL SEE, AND I LOOK APON HIS FACE, THE ONE WHO SAVED ME BY HIS GRACE, AND
FOREVER I WILL BE WITH THE ONE WHO DIED FOR ME, WHAT A DAY,
WHAT A DAY, THAT WILL BE."

Terry Nicodemus