This morning I was going over my New Testament and praising God for the health and ability to introduce people to Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Saviour for those who will trust Him for payment of their sins.
In the month of February God allowed me to present the Gospel to 40 folks with 30 of them bowing their heads and hearts to receive Jesus Christ as payment for their sins. Of those 12 walked an aisle professing faith in Christ and 9 of those followed the LORD in baptism.
As of August of 1980 through February 29, 2012, after moving to Texas I have preached 26,185 sermons, personally led 15,878 to Christ, and of those 4,638 have followed the LORD in baptism. God has been so good to all of us!
In 1972 I attended a SWORD OF THE LORD CONFERENCE on soul winning and revival at the GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH of South Bend, IN. Pastor Charles Davis was the pastor. Dr. John R. Rice and Dr. Jack Hyles were the speakers. It was on Tuesday night while sitting on the front row I decided I wanted to give my life to full time service and win souls. I never thought of pastoring I only thought of giving the Gospel to as many people as possible for the rest of my life. I later attended Pastors’ School and cemented my decision.
Our church was a part of the American Baptist denomination at the time. I began to preach in different churches in the denomination and after one Sunday preaching in Elkart, IN, an American Baptist State Associational Missionary approached me and my wife. He asked if I went to “Hyles’ Pastors’ School.” I told him I did! He in no uncertain terms told me that if I continued to associate with John Rice and Jack Hyles I would never preach in another American Baptist church as long as I lived. One of my brothers told me if I ran with the independents he would never let me preach for him. My own dad was very unhappy with my decision, but to his credit later on recanted. I paid a price personally and publicly to be a part of the independent Baptist movement. It is 40 years later and I am thrilled at the decision I made!
The church I pastored for 29 1/2 years in Longview, TX, grew from a low of 159 to 2,041 in attendance. She gave $ 9.3 million dollars to missions and a total of $ 335,584.81 in what we called “gleanings offerings” at the end of each Sunday for the poor. GOTTA LOVE SOUL WINNING!