First, I should give you some background information. I was born February 9, 1978 in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Randall and Terrill Clark. Since before I can remember, my Mom and Dad always took me to church at Lyons Missionary Baptist in Louisville. About a year after my sister was born in 1984, we moved to Elizabethtown, KY, but we still attended services at Lyons. We always went to Sunday School and Sunday morning service. Church was a place that I enjoyed and respected. However, one Sunday morning in March of 1988, something changed. I listened to our pastor, Elder Paul Bryson preaching about Heaven and Hell and how that if you were saved through the Lord Jesus you would go to Heaven, but if not, you would go to Hell. I'm sure the sermon was much more complicated than that, but I can't remember the details. While Brother Bryson was preaching, I felt something was wrong. No. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I had felt the conviction of the Holy Ghost, and I felt horrible. I KNEW beyond the shadow of a doubt that if I died at that moment, I would be burning in Hell. Tears started to run down my face, but I tried to ignore it. I layed down on the pew and put my head on my Uncle Carl's lap, like little kids do, and stayed quiet. Eventually, the service ended, I cleared my eyes and went home. Everything was as it should be, or so I thought. Next Sunday morning, the same thing happened, and Satan managed to convince me to continue with my daily life, and that everything would be okay. The next Sunday morning service is a day I will never forget. It was April 3, 1988 and Easter Sunday. Once again I tried to cover it up, but after the dismissal prayer, I couldn't contain it any longer. I ran to my Mom and wept uncontrollably. I thought she could help. She asked me if what the preacher said bothered me, and I said yes. As soon as that happened, my great-aunt Lillian said in a loud voice that I was lost, and we both went to the mourner's bench in the front of the church. I sat down and prayed my heart out to the Lord. Tears fell from my eyes, and rolled down my face. I must have looked like a mess, but I didn't care at all. All that mattered to me was being saved by God. I prayed to God, knowing that I was sinful by nature and that only he could help. I don't know how long we were there; the whole church stayed with me to pray. After praying, weeping, and mourning to be saved by Jesus, something happened. Everthing was okay. I felt as light as a feather, as happy as an angel.... I got up, and my Mom asked me if I wanted to talk to Brother Bryson. I said yes. Brother Bryson told me that he couldn't tell me if I was saved or not, and that only I and God could know. He asked me how I felt. "Like everything's okay. I don't have to worry anymore." Brother Bryson shot me the happiest glance I've ever seen. He told everyone I was saved, and I knew he was right!! I could feel it in my soul!!! Everything was great, the Lord's peace was overwhelming; I must have cried a little all that day. Everyone hugged me and there were tears of joy everywhere!! When I arrived at my grandmother's house in Louisville, my Mom asked me if I wanted to call Dad at work, and tell him about the good news. I was worried about the long-distance charges, but she said that Mammaw wouldn't mind. She got Dad on the phone, and I told him, "Daddy, I'm saved." He said, "That's the best Easter present I ever got." He was no doubt overjoyed with it. I was saved!! Saved by Jesus Christ! Friend, if you don't have it, you've missed it all!!! Unless ye repent, ye shall likewise perish!! A little later, I was baptized into the membership of Lyons Missionary Baptist Church after telling my testimony. Lost friend, if you don't have that sweet peace in your heart from God, you're on a one-way trip to Hell. None deserve Heaven; we all deserve Hell, but God's grace can save you!!! It does not matter who you are, where you're from, or what you've done. The Lord Christ died and was resurrected for YOU and ALL HUMANITY! You can join me in heaven, but a simple repetition of a prayer, a handshake, or filling out a card won't do it!! You must have faith and repent with Godly sorrow! Tony Clark
However, one Sunday morning in March of 1988, something changed. I listened to our pastor, Elder Paul Bryson preaching about Heaven and Hell and how that if you were saved through the Lord Jesus you would go to Heaven, but if not, you would go to Hell. I'm sure the sermon was much more complicated than that, but I can't remember the details. While Brother Bryson was preaching, I felt something was wrong. No. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I had felt the conviction of the Holy Ghost, and I felt horrible. I KNEW beyond the shadow of a doubt that if I died at that moment, I would be burning in Hell. Tears started to run down my face, but I tried to ignore it. I layed down on the pew and put my head on my Uncle Carl's lap, like little kids do, and stayed quiet. Eventually, the service ended, I cleared my eyes and went home. Everything was as it should be, or so I thought. Next Sunday morning, the same thing happened, and Satan managed to convince me to continue with my daily life, and that everything would be okay.
The next Sunday morning service is a day I will never forget. It was April 3, 1988 and Easter Sunday. Once again I tried to cover it up, but after the dismissal prayer, I couldn't contain it any longer. I ran to my Mom and wept uncontrollably. I thought she could help. She asked me if what the preacher said bothered me, and I said yes. As soon as that happened, my great-aunt Lillian said in a loud voice that I was lost, and we both went to the mourner's bench in the front of the church. I sat down and prayed my heart out to the Lord. Tears fell from my eyes, and rolled down my face. I must have looked like a mess, but I didn't care at all. All that mattered to me was being saved by God. I prayed to God, knowing that I was sinful by nature and that only he could help. I don't know how long we were there; the whole church stayed with me to pray. After praying, weeping, and mourning to be saved by Jesus, something happened. Everthing was okay. I felt as light as a feather, as happy as an angel....
I got up, and my Mom asked me if I wanted to talk to Brother Bryson. I said yes. Brother Bryson told me that he couldn't tell me if I was saved or not, and that only I and God could know. He asked me how I felt.
"Like everything's okay. I don't have to worry anymore." Brother Bryson shot me the happiest glance I've ever seen. He told everyone I was saved, and I knew he was right!! I could feel it in my soul!!! Everything was great, the Lord's peace was overwhelming; I must have cried a little all that day. Everyone hugged me and there were tears of joy everywhere!!
When I arrived at my grandmother's house in Louisville, my Mom asked me if I wanted to call Dad at work, and tell him about the good news. I was worried about the long-distance charges, but she said that Mammaw wouldn't mind. She got Dad on the phone, and I told him,
"Daddy, I'm saved."
He said, "That's the best Easter present I ever got."
He was no doubt overjoyed with it. I was saved!! Saved by Jesus Christ! Friend, if you don't have it, you've missed it all!!! Unless ye repent, ye shall likewise perish!! A little later, I was baptized into the membership of Lyons Missionary Baptist Church after telling my testimony. Lost friend, if you don't have that sweet peace in your heart from God, you're on a one-way trip to Hell. None deserve Heaven; we all deserve Hell, but God's grace can save you!!! It does not matter who you are, where you're from, or what you've done. The Lord Christ died and was resurrected for YOU and ALL HUMANITY! You can join me in heaven, but a simple repetition of a prayer, a handshake, or filling out a card won't do it!! You must have faith and repent with Godly sorrow!
Tony Clark