I found peace with the Lord at the age of 9. It happened at West End Missionary Baptist Church during a Spring revival service. After the preaching service on Thursday night, Brother Robert Gregory, who was the revival helper, came to me and starting asking me about my soul and relationship with God. Up until that time, I had never really considered my status with God, but as he spoke, I began to feel a great weight of concern and condemnation. I knew at that point I was lost from a relationship with God and on my way to an eternal separation from Him in Hell. The Devil got to me and made me hold everything in and Brother Gregory left toward the back the church. As he came back forward, I sat there and hoped he would pass by. Thank God, he did not. With the first word he spoke, I broke down. I was not sure where to start, but I bowed and tried my best in prayer to ask God to save me from my condition.
I did not find my answer with God that night and continued to pray and seek him for the following 4 nights. It was a terrible period in my life as I was in torment over my lost status. I would in my youthful inexperience try to force my eyes to stay open at night because I did not want to go to sleep. I was afraid the Lord would come to claim my soul if I went to sleep, and I would end up in an awful burning Hell. Yes, I was in a bad state. Also during this time the revival service crossed a Sunday morning service. The Devil once again got to me with pride and convinced me that I did not want to go to that alter in front of the larger morning crowd. I passed up that opportunity, but looking back I cringe to think how dangerous it was to pass up a chance to seek God and risk eternal damnation.
Toward the end of the second week's Monday night service as I sought the Lord, I heard the Pastor say that it might be time to dismiss. At this point I really started to become desperate as I knew I could not leave that church without salvation and face another sleepless night of worry. As I redoubled my focus more intensely on seeking God, I cannot explain what happened over a short few seconds which seemed as an eternity. Suddenly I realized that I no longer felt that terrible weight of condemnation. At first, I was not quite sure what had happened. And of course, the Devil was telling me that it was not salvation because I did not jump up and shout. As the church concluded the dismissal prayer, I stood and started walking toward the exit. I felt as light as a feather. That terrible weight was gone. It seemed that with every step I took I was floating higher in the air. The weight had been so heavy and now it was gone. I went home that night and felt no need to force myself to stay awake. I had the most restful night's sleep of my life. I went back the next night to tell everyone what Jesus had done for me and to join the church. I have failed the Lord in many things in this life, and the Devil has chased me in many directions, but he can never chase me past that time and place - the time and place that Jesus gave a sinner, so unworthy, eternal life. I could never thank Jesus enough for what He has done for me and pray that everyone will experience this peace and walk with Him.