My Mom and Dad decided to go back to Church when I was a young boy. They went to the Methodist Church near where we lived in Memphis. My Mother had gone to a Methodist Church part of the time as a girl, and the other part of the time, she went to the Pentecostal Church. That was back in the day when Churches only had part time Preachers, who would preach twice a month for a Church. So, she went where there was preaching. My Dad went to a Baptist Church, when he went to Church. So, they settled on a Methodist Church in Memphis. God was doing a work in my Mother’s heart at that time thru the radio preaching of Dr. J. Vernon McGee, Oliver B. Green, Dr. Jerry Falwell, and some others. But, the Methodist Church we had joined was turning liberal; and more liberal with each passing year.
Well, I was sprinkled on top of the head with water from the Jordan River in this, liberal, Methodist Church. I was probably 11 or 12 at the time. I was truly under deep conviction at that time, but our Pastor was as liberal as they come. When I went forward to be saved, it shocked him that someone had actually came forward during the invitation. He asked me if I believed in Jesus. I said yes, and I thought who doesnt. At that time, I thought everyone believed in Jesus. Then, he asked me if I wanted to join the Church. I again answered yes. I was ready to do whatever I needed to do to get right with God. But, he sprinkled me on top of the head, and I went home that day as lost as ever.
Later, my family left the Methodist Church when we realized that every Pastor they sent us was liberal to the core. So, we went to that Church in Memphis that had this new, young Pastor that really preached the Bible like he believed it. We went to Bellevue Baptist Church. The fiery, young, Bible preacher was Dr. Adrian Rogers. Well, my family decided to join this Church. And, I got immersed there after answering the questions of the counselor down front. The questions went sort of like: Are you a Christian? I said yea, and I thought I was…I went to Church. After all, I’d gone forward in a church service, and I believed in God. And, they told us that we’d need to be immersed in order to be a member. We agreed, and we were immersed. But, I was still as lost as I could be. But, there, in that Church, my family heard the Gospel. We heard the Bible taught and preached. The truth of God was permeating my soul. But, I was a teenager, and I wanted to fit in with the crowd. So, I started living to fit in; to be a part of the crowd. Then, we moved to a little town called Hornsby, TN in Hardeman County.
Well, at Hornsby, I kept trying to be a part of the crowd; to fit in. And, after a life of sin and hedonism and rebellion against all that was holy, the Lord truly saved me one night after I had gotten drunk on Jack Daniels.I really got saved one night at the age of 19 yrs old. I had been partying all night…running from God. My Mother had told me before leaving the house that she was gonna be praying for me. Her sweet words were like a knife that stuck deep in my heart. God used those words, and all that I had heard growing up from the radio preachers and Dr. Rogers and my Sunday School teachers, to bring deep conviction to my soul. The conviction was heavy. I wanted to escape it. So, I did what I always did; I partied. I really partied. I was so drunk that night, that I had fallen out in a parking lot of a cafe in the little, Tennessee town where I went to high school, near Hornsby. And, I looked up into the sky that night, and I told God that I was truly ready to surrender my heart to Him. I was tired of my sins, and the guilt, and the shame. I told Him that I wanted Him to forgive my sins. And, I surrendered to the Lord Jesus that night in faith. Even though I’d been drinking heavy that night, at that moment, I was sober…like I’ve never been sober before. And, I had peace…sweet, sweet peace. That night, the Lord saved me, and I never was so sober in all of my life….full of love and joy and peace…real peace. I knew that I’d finally found peace with God. Now, I went to my buddy’s house and threw up the rest of the night…but, praise the Lord, I was never so content and peaceful, there in that bathroom…as I lay there on the floor all night. I had joy in my heart. I felt the love of God. And, something else, I felt that God was with me. I’d always felt lonely in a crowd before; even though I had lots of friends, and family. But, not anymore. God was with me…in me. I was changed.
So, after a period of growth and thinking on all of it, I realized that I was truly saved at the age of 19. I knew that I needed to be baptised for real…a baptism that meant something. So, I got baptised. I got baptised for real after growing in my faith and realizing that I really got saved that night in Bolivar, TN, as a 19 year old, young man…not as a child at the Methodist Church. I realized that my baptism at Bellevue Baptist was not a true baptism, either; because I wasn’t saved at that time. Thus, I truly got baptised.
So, why am I a Southern Baptist? After growing up in the Methodist Church? After living a life of hedonism and rebellion? I am a Southern Baptist kind of Christian, because the Lord saved me out of my lost, rebellious, hedonistic life. I’m a Southern Baptist Christian, because the Lord led me to a Church and a denomination that preaches the Bible. I’m a Southern Baptist Christian, because the Lord delivered me from the liberalism and heresy of the Methodist Church. He placed me in a Church with good, sound doctrine; one that preaches the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why am I a Southern Baptist Christian? Because the Lord Jesus, in all of His mercy and grace, has provided a place for people like me to serve Him and worship Him with other Believers, who love the Lord and believe the Book. I’m so, so, so glad that the Lord Jesus called out to a lost, rebellious young redneck; and gave this angry, young man life. And, I thank Him and praise Him; I lift my hands in praise to Him; for leading me to a group of Believers, who value God’s word, who believe the Gospel. Please excuse me for a second. I want to shout. Glory, glory, hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus. You saved a worthless, vile sinner named David Worley, and You put His feet on solid ground. I will rejoice and praise You, forever, for Your great kindness towards me.
God bless you, dear David, for ever and ever. :)
Thanks for sharing your testimony David. Good stuff. Maybe I’ll get to share mine with you someday.
I notice that at both this Methodist church and at Bellevue, regardless of the mode of the baptism, both seem to have been conducted as initiatory rites to a local church rather than a celebration of your entry into Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3 ff). How has this influenced your theology today?
John Fariss
Chritiane and John,
Thanks.
John, to answer your question, the baptisms were supposed to be celebrations of my entry into Jesus Christ. But, the Methodist not only did it wrong, the liberal, Methodist Pastor didnt even lead me to Christ. While at Bellevue, the counselor that dealt with me should have asked me a few more probing questions than he did. But, Bellevue was trying to give me a real, true baptism. The only problem was that I wasnt really saved.
To answer your question, I try to make sure that people understand what they’re doing, and why they’re doing it, before they get baptised. And, I really take great care when dealing with children.
David
Hi DAVID,
The honesty of your longing for Christ as a young man reminded me of this song from a ‘Psalm of David’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrLowOJ1O0Y
Christiane,
I wasn’t really longing for Christ, until after I got saved. I ran from God before I got saved. I wanted to get away from God. I wanted to live in sin. I liked it. But, the Lord came after me. He sought after me. The Lord, the Hound of Heaven, came after a sinful, wicked, sin loving redneck like me. And, He saved me. He changed my heart. He gave me a heart that desired Him.
So, I longed for God after I got saved, yes. And, I still do long for God…to live for Him; to please Him; to serve Him; to know Him better and deeper.
David
‘He changed my heart.’
That is power of the Holy Spirit, David.
“WHEN I WENT FORWARD TO BE SAVED, it shocked him that someone had actually came forward during the invitation. He asked me if I believed in Jesus. I said yes, and I thought who doesnt.”
You desired salvation. You did what you knew to do about it. you believed .. perhaps as much as you could at that point. As far as I’m concerned, that was the moment you were saved. From that point on, it’s all been God, willing and working in you.
Change the characters and the locale, and that’s pretty much my testimony too.
Amen to that, thank you for sharing this testimony. It convicted me about how long its been since I really, really thought about how God saved me out the miserable excuse for a life I was leading. Sure, I share my testimony when given the opportunity, but its G rated and pretty much leaves out how bad off I really was at 22. My unfiltered version sends people running. Thank you so, so much for sharing this as reflection on those dark days has made me extremely grateful. I’ve had chills for about 5 minutes now and been thanking God from the bottom of my heart.
God bless you sir,
David Campbell
David,
Love your testimony!
Careful though. Your comment #5 will get you labeled in my soteriological camp pretty quickly! :-D
Sola Gratia!
Christiane,
I know that was the power of the Holy Spirit. I could not save myself. In fact, I tried to reform at least a couple of times. But, I was kind of like the Scripture in 1 Peter 2:22: “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
Bob,
I really dont think I was saved at that time. Now, my brother’s testimony is like what you say. He really believes that he got saved, then ran from God and backslid; then God brought him back. But, I really believe that I didnt truly get saved until I was 19. I was as lost as lost could be.
David,
You are welcome, and God bless. I’m glad that this blessed you so deeply.
David
Scott,
Amen and :)
David
David,
Now you’re starting to sound like one of those old time shouting Baptists.
Great testimony.
David R. Brumbelow
Amen….Glory! Glory! Glory!
David,
I grew up in a Southern Illinois small town and like others, have a similar story as yours.
I too thank the Father for those men who have, in love, boldly and unashamedly preached the never changing gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus. I thank God for the men who have opened up the Book and preached verse by verse the eternal truths of Scripture.
As a sinner,I need His Gospel and His cross today and I am blessed to hear your story. God bless you man! May we all go hard in telling His story and demonstrating the Gospel both in our words and our deeds.
Darren
Scott Gordon,
I just read his “#5″ and see what you mean. But I don’t think he will be joining the Founders anytime soon. :-) :-)
Vol,
Thank you for sharing how your life story intersected with the Good Story of Jesus Christ.
Darren,
Thank you, Brother. May the Lord pour out His blessings on you in a rich and abundant way.
CB, hey you ole buzzard. Have you been circling anyone lately? :) Thank you, my Brother, for your kind words. And, no, I will not be joining the Founders at any time…ever. :)
David
CB,
That’s good! You’ll note I have not joined the Founders movement either. :-)
SG!
David,
I rejoice in your testimony and in what God has done in your life. Amen!
I do want to make a point that we cannot lump all Methodist churches together when it comes to liberalism. My wife grew up in a wonderful Methodist church that even practiced immersion. While I do see a national trend of liberalism in Methodist churches, they are not all like that. There are still many bible-believing Methodists. It is a diverse movement, just like us Baptists.
Thanks again for sharing your testimony
Eric Moffett
Sparkman, Arkansas
Eric,
Thanks, Brother. And, I know that there are still some Methodist Churches out there that are still evangelical Churches. BUT, they are few and far between. And, the leadership of the Methodist denomination are mostly liberal. And, the thing about it is..with the Methodist Church…is that you dont get to choose your Pastor. They send them to you. So, while you might get the occasional evangelical, Methodist Pastor; more than likely you’re gonna get Brother Believes in Biblical Errors, and even Sister Women’s Libber.
I do know that the Methodist denomination is really hurting for Pastors right now. Most of the Churches around my neck of the woods, the Pastor has 2 or 3 Churches. And, they had to beg a fella to come out of retirement to Pastor the 3 churches near me. He retired again, and they have another man now. But, they had to beg him to come out of retirement, in order for them to even have a Pastor.
Also, Eric, my Church is full of former Methodists. The Methodist denomination is going down faster than the Titanic. Liberalism and formalism and traditionalism is knocking big holes in that ship.
But, you’re right, there’s still a few good Methodist Churches and Pastors out there. I will tell you this one more thing. Back before my family left the Methodist Church to join Bellevue, we actually had a revival meeting. The old Evangelist that came to preach came to our house after the meeting one night. I was a boy, but I can still see him sitting there talking with great concern over the way liberalism was taking over the Methodist denomination. He was a Gospel preacher. He was a Bible believer, who was concerned over lost people getting saved. But, he was very concerned about the future of the Methodist Churches. And, what he was seeing and saying came to pass, and is coming to pass, in that denomination.
It’s sad.
David
That’s alright guy…when David reaches heaven, he’ll find out he was in the “Founders Movement” all along after all. ;) ha – have a good weekend!
Darren,
lol
David
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I just love this story of Jesus and you, David! May God bless others with this testimony of His grace over and over again. selahV
I hope none of you fellows have forgotten that tomorrow is Mothers’ Day.
So all you boys make sure tomorrow is a special day for your wives and your mothers if she is still with you. If your grandmother is around, either call her or go see her if possible.