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It is with great joy, I tell a little of the most exciting day in my life, August 17, 1948. I thank God often for being born and raised in a Christian home. My father was saved 5 days before I was born. Prior to this, he had joined a church, attended regularly, paid his dues and prided in good living. He discovered through Mr. Smith's preaching from God's Word in Grundy Center, that everyone must be born again to go to Heaven. He was brought to see his need before God on January 24, 1928. He exclaimed to mother, not yet saved, by the old kitchen stove, "I've got it, I've got it!" Mother said "What have you got?" Dad said "I've got Eternal Life." The Lord had opened his blinded eyes to see Jesus had died for him. My mother was saved 3 days later. I was often prayed for and reminded getting saved was the most important thing in life. I went my own way, not giving God's salvation first place, till in August 1948, Mr. Smith and Mr. Elliott pitched a tent in Cedar Falls. Mr Elliott came to invite us to the meetings. As he reasoned with my brother Alvin and myself about our need of salvation that afternoon, the Holy Spirit drove the truth home to my soul. That night, we went to hear the Gospel preached and I realized I had no day of Salvation and soon the Lord would come to take all his people home. I felt a tugging at my heart to get the matter settled. Satan whispered not tonight but with fear and trembling, I confessed I'm not saved. After the meeting, Mr. Smith asked, "Do you want to go to Hell?" I answered "No, I sure don't want to go there." I left the meeting unsaved and with a deep desire to have peace with God. In my bedroom, I read John 3 seeking salvation and on my knees I asked the Lord to save my soul. The next day near lunch, Mr. Smith drove in and asked me if I would like to be saved. I said "I sure would." Mr. Smith asked me "Would you believe it if God said it?" I answered, "If God said it, it has to be true." Mr. Smith opened the Bible to 2 Cor 4:3, which says, If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them who are lost. I said, "That's me." He then turned to Luke 19:10, For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. The light shone into my darkened heart. I knew the Lord Jesus came from Heaven to die for me. His shed blood made me safe. His Word(the Bible) made me sure. How blessed to say like David in Psalms 23, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever.
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