Sermons on Testimonies

Sermons on Testimonies

Why Pray to Pictures on the Wall? (9 min)

Kevin Doskocil grew up in Wisconsin, USA, sometimes going to Mass in the Roman Catholic Church, and sometimes attending the gospel meeting in the Gospel Hall, depending on which parent or relative he was with. As a child, he couldn’t understand why people he knew would pray to pictures of saints on the wall, rather than praying to God. Mercifully God worked in His life to show him the truth of the finished work of Christ through Romans 5:6-9. (Testimony…

“Wounded for Me” (26 min)

Phil Coulson tells how the Lord saved him. An early childhood experience taught him that “God is real”. Later the preaching of the gospel from Isaiah 53 opened the eyes of his understanding to the fact that “Christ died for me”. (Testimony given in Highland, WI, USA, March 2023)

I Heard the Gospel Nearly Every Day for 5 Years (21 min)

William Gribben relates the story of his conversion in Northern Ireland in 1968. William was privileged to hear many experienced preachers in his youth: Harold Paisley, Frank Knox, Thomas Campbell, Joe Milne, and Thomas Wallace among them. He went 5 years hearing the gospel almost daily. Listen to hear how he finally got his eyes opened to salvation. Readings: Psa 66:16, Matt 11:28, John 3:7, 6:37, 2 Tim 3:14-15. (Testimony given in Ballykeel Gospel Hall, 20th Nov 2022) (Photo: Belfast)

Saved in Lockdown (23 min)

Austin Graham tells how he was saved during the global Covid lockdown of Spring 2020. Austin had played the part of a Christian for 10 years or more, but his life was really just about fun and football – he had no interest in the Lord or in the Bible. Listen to find out how God opened his eyes to his real situation, and to the truth of salvation through John 3:36. (Testimony given in Ballymena, 26th April 2023) See…

“I prayed the prayer. I made my commitment.” (13 min)

Stephen Moffitt grew up going to church 3 times a week, but knew nothing about salvation. At college he met fellow students who invited him to gospel meetings. Moving over to the USA he finally came to understand he did not have eternal life, but that Christ had finished the work of salvation on the cross. Readings: John 5:24, 19:28-30. (Testimony given in Blue River, Wisconsin, USA, in 2005).

“My mother came running with a broken foot!” (27 min)

Brandon Doll (Wisconsin, USA) tells how he came to Christ for salvation in his late teens after quite a struggle with how to know for sure he was saved. The reaction of his overjoyed parents reflects the priority they put on his salvation. Readings: 1 John 5:9-13, Titus 3:4-5a. (Testimony given in Ballymena 27th Jan 2023)

“I looked like a pretty good Christian kid” (7 min)

Austin Joyce grew up hearing the gospel. Feeling the peer pressure of being surrounded by saved people, he made a profession of faith as a child, but it took him until his late teens before he discovered that he did not have a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus. He could trick himself and others, but not God. Listen to hear how Austin found peace and rest in Christ. (Testimony given 15th Jan 2023 in Stark Road Gospel Hall, Livonia,…

“Oh my, I’m going to hell” (10 min)

Laverne Weber grew up hearing the gospel, but he rebelled and went off to enjoy the pleasures of the world. Married and now with children, he attended a series of gospel meetings with Albert Hull and Gaius Goff and discovered for the first time in his life, “Oh my, I’m going to hell.” Photo: Stout Gospel Hall. (Testimony given in Stout, Iowa, USA, 2013)

“God has taken away my friends, and I hate Him.” (8 min)

James Vallance (1931-2020) was born in Bo’ness, Scotland, emigrating to the USA at the age of 16 in 1947 with his family, where he spent the rest of his life. As a youngster, James spent many many days in bomb shelters, seeking refuge from German bombs. Jim wanted to be saved, but he could not admit he was bad enough to deserve hell. He was also angry at God for taking away a number of his friends through illness during…

I Thought I Had it All (14 min)

Born in 1933, Bill Lavery turned his back on God as a teenager. He thought he “had it all”, as drinking, gambling and ballroom dancing filled his spare time. After marriage, he emigrated to the USA (in 1961), settling in Michigan. He secured a good job in Detroit and enjoyed a “cocktail party” lifestyle into his early thirties. But God began to work in his life, eventually bringing him and his wife to repentance and faith in Christ. Reading: Matt…

Where would you be if you died tonight? (5 min)

Tom Novak knew the gospel from childhood, but in 1979 he, for the first time in his life, faced up to the fact that we was going to be in hell if he didn’t get saved. Have you ever faced that reality? In Tom’s case, it led to his salvation. (Testimony given in Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA, in 2018)

“Don’t read verses to me; just tell me how to get saved.” (15 min)

The gospel intersected John Fleming’s life in 1960 when a friend of his got saved in Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada. His friend started working on John and insisting he take an interest in his soul and come to gospel meetings. It took a while, but John eventually came to know Christ for himself. Readings: John 3:16, 18, 36. (Testimony given in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA, 2012)

“My experience had nothing to do with the work of Christ” (6 min)

Thinking he was “OK for heaven”, Joel Frazier attended a gospel meeting in Blue River, Wisconsin, USA, on a Sunday evening in March 1988, only to discover that the “salvation” he hitherto thought he possessed was no more than “a light little experience that had nothing to do with the work of Christ on the cross but was just feelings within myself”. Listen to find out how the Lord delivered Joel from this common deception and put him on a…

“I believe NOW! But nothing happened.” (39 min)

Jim Beattie was born in Belfast in 1943, but moved to Canada as a boy of 10. While very young he made up a story of conversion, including a date, just so he had something to tell people when they asked him if he was saved, rather than be embarrassed. But the time came when Jim finally faced the fact that he was lost. Only then did he come into the blessing of salvation. Readings: John 9:10-11a, Acts 16:25-31. (Testimony…

“It’s like at Christmas…but you don’t take the gift” (5 min)

James Hubbord grew up on the East coast of Canada without a knowledge of the gospel. But one day he was presented with the truth of “salvation as a gift” from the Bible’s most famous verse, John 3:16. Are you saved? Have you taken God’s free gift of eternal life? (Message preached in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA, 2009).

A Husband and Wife Saved Inside a Month and a Day (7 min)

Gary Southerd’s childhood home was transformed when his mother got saved, but Gary didn’t get saved until after he was married. Then his wife got saved a month and a day later! The photo above is the car Gary refers to in his story: evangelist Oliver Smith’s “gospel car” (Testimony given in Stout, Iowa, USA, 2013)

“You’ll never see my face in a gospel meeting again” (7 min)

Cal Erickson grew up going to meetings and hearing the gospel, but there came a time when he said, “You’ll never see my face in a gospel meeting again.” But God has His ways. Later in his life, as a company executive on the run from God, there came a time when Cal DID sit in a gospel meeting again. (Testimony given in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA, 2017).

I Thought “I’ve Been Left Behind” (7 min)

Abraham Brisuela tells the story of his conversion to Christ. Abraham’s parents were born Roman Catholics in Venezuela, but because they got saved by the grace of God, young Abraham grew up hearing the true gospel. The truth of the coming of the Lord was what God used to awaken Abraham to his need of salvation. Reading: 1 Pet 1:23-26 (Message preached in Highland, Wisconsin, USA).

I Thought I Could Get Saved Whenever I Felt Like It (13 min)

Timothy Green relates the story of his conversion to Christ in Canada in the year 2,000. He grew up imagining he could get saved whenever he felt like it, only to discover when the time came that he was “without strength”. (Message preached in Chalfont St Peter, 27th Nov 2022)

“Nobody gets saved in a casual way” (23 min)

Michael Verner relates how he trusted the Lord Jesus for salvation in his early 20’s. Attending Greenmount College in Northern Ireland, Michael met a fellow student who was a believer in Christ and who influenced him with the gospel. Then in 1992 he attended a series of gospel meetings where he was awakened and saved. Readings: John 19:30, Rom 6:23, Eph 2:8-9 (Testimony given at a gospel drive-in meeting, Riverside Farm, Nr. Ballykeel, 31st July 2022)

“I made up my mind; I want to get saved” (19 min)

Jonathan Bingham tells how he was saved as a young lad in Ballykeel, in the Mourne Mountains district of Northern Ireland. Jonathan always knew the gospel, but didn’t get saved until he was awakened to his need of Christ in gospel meetings and made up his mind to go in for salvation. Readings: John 19:30-31, Acts 16:30-31. (Testimony given at the Riverside Farm drive-in meetings, 29th May 2022)

The Greatest Thoughts that Ever Entered my Mind (37 min)

Michael Penfold relates the story of his conversion to Christ. He highlights a series of 4 life-changing thoughts that entered his mind as he heard the truth of the Bible preached in his youth, which led to his salvation. (Message preached in Chalfont St Peter, 30th Oct 2022)

“I wanted to be saved more than anything else in the world” (10 min)

Alexander H. Joyce (1926-2006) grew up in a preacher’s home. His father was the evangelist Albert Joyce (1897-1982). As a boy, young Alec attended many many gospel meetings, and developed a great longing to be saved. After a lengthy period of soul trouble, Alec’s mother was used of the Lord to direct her 13 year old son to read and be blessed through the words of John 5:24, the same year that World War 2 started in 1939. (Message preached…

“I was trying to get saved, but I could not believe.” (6 min)

Elton W. Decker (1933-2021) from Michigan, USA, was born again as a 15 year old young man on 29th July 1949 at the close of a series of gospel meetings taken by Norman Crawford and Lorn McBain. His difficulty in getting saved was a common one: “I was trying to get saved, but I couldn’t believe.” Listen to how Mr Decker found deliverance from the Word of God. (Message preached in Stark Road Gospel Hall, Livonia, Michigan, USA).

“You can never truly know you are saved” (35 min)

Derek Hofer was raised on a Hutterite Colony in Manitoba, Canada. He ran away from the Colony in his teens to enjoy the pleasures of the world, but the Lord intervened in his life to bring him to salvation. Derek grew up believing a person can never truly know they are saved – but he learned differently through the preaching of the gospel from the Bible. (Message preached in Chalfont St Peter Gospel Hall, 6th Nov 2022)

How the Lord Saved Steve and Lucy West (28 min)

Steve West tells the story of how the Lord first saved his wife Lucy, whose life was beset by an alcohol addiction, and then, through the transformation Steve witnessed in her, eventually brought Steve to salvation too – a husband and wife united in Christ. (Testimony given in Chalfont St Peter Gospel Hall, 23rd Oct 2022) (Photo: The Gospel Tent the Wests attended, 1994).

“Maybe I’m beyond help from God. It was a dark moment” (20 min)

Jim McCandless tells how he was born again on Aug 9th 1977. Raised in a Christian family, Jim rebelled and left home seeking pleasure in the world. The prayers of his family followed him until, by a series of providential events, first his girlfriend got saved and then Jim himself. (Testimony given in the Gospel hall, Tampa, Florida, USA, 2021).

“Kim, I’m going to drown” (49 min)

“You were extremely close to death.” These were the words Scott Hayes heard after waking up from a 10-hour coma, after nearly drowning in the Pacific ocean in 2015. But Scott was ready to die – he had been saved as a young man through the preaching of the gospel. Here Scott tells both salvation stories in one message. (Message given in Stout, Iowa, USA, 2015)

“If you want to see grandad again you’ll need to be saved” (11 min)

Glenn Moore grew up hearing the gospel in Bracondale Gospel Hall in Toronto, Canada (above), knowing he was a sinner and fearing being left behind when the Lord comes. In April 1966 at the Toronto Easter Conference, he spoke to Harold Paisley about his desire to be saved. Listen to hear how the Lord used 1 John 1:7 to bring light to Glenn’s soul. (Testimony given at Blue River Gospel Hall Conference, Wisconsin, 2008)

“It was for me, yes all for me” (7 min)

The gospel came to Blue River, Wisconsin, in the autumn of 1932 and souls were saved. In 2008 Brent Studnicka gave his testimony of salvation at the Blue River conference and reflected on where he might have been had the gospel never come to his home. Listen to hear how Brent was saved as a teenager partly through the verse of a well know hymn “Was it for me for me alone?”.

“I feared my parents, and therefore I feared God” (5 min)

Philip Pancake’s parents were saved when evangelist Robert Surgenor brought the gospel to the town of New Creek in West Virginia, USA, in the 1970’s. As they raised Philip in the fear of God, his heart was soft towards the gospel, and the Lord saved him as a child a quarter a century after his parents. Reading: Prov 23:14. (Message preached at Blue River, Wisconsin, USA, 2008)

“I know how to do this. I can get saved whenever I feel like it” (6 min)

Jonathan Ward was a “preacher’s kid”. He knew the gospel well, so he thought. “I know how to do this. I can get saved whenever I feel like it.” But when it came to it, he found what the Bible says about the human heart is true – we are all in the dark by nature, and it needs the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit to bring about salvation. Reading: Isa 53:5-6. (Message preached in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA,…

“My problem was with the word ‘believe’.” (12 min)

Matthew Kundert relates how he was saved as a teenager after a struggle with “how to believe”. He grew up knowing all about the Bible and salvation. He had no problem accepting it all. How then could he “believe” what he already knew, in order to be saved? (Testimony told at the Blue River Gospel Hall conference, Wisconsin, USA, 2009)

“I’m sure of heaven, no matter what!” (10 min)

John Selesnic grew up going to church and trusting in his religion to get him to heaven. But he never felt sure he would make it. What if he got hit in a traffic accident and died before the priest arrived to give him the last rites? Listen to find out how John discovered he could be “sure of heaven no matter what”. (Story told in Brampton Gospel Hall, Ontario, Canada 2022)

“A time when, a place where and a manner how” (21 min)

Ashley Milne relates his story of conversion as a young man growing up, the son of missionaries in Venezuela, South America. “Everyone who is saved has a time when, a place where and a manner how they were saved”. Do you? (Message given in Fleetwood, Vancouver, 2022)

“No wise man will sleep until he knows his sins are forgiven” (28 min)

David Ambrose recounts the story of his conversion to Christ. Born in the fishing village of Portavogie, Co Down, Northern Ireland, David knew the gospel from his childhood. God spoke to him through a number of life’s experiences, but it was eventually in a series of gospel meetings in early 1975 that God saved him at the age of 16. (Testimony given in Portavogie Harbour Drive-in gospel meeting, 29th May 2022)

“I hate the way I am. Why is everything so empty?” (29 min)

Steve Faviere from Ontario, Canada relates how he came to Christ. Steve grew up in a religious family, but as a young man he got into bad company and soon began taking drugs and going to night clubs. But God worked in his life to show him both the emptiness of sin and his danger of perishing in hell. Listen and find out how Steve finally became saved. Readings: Rom 3:9-20, John 1:29, 3:16. (Sermon preached in Canada, Jan 3rd…

“I could no longer bear the guilt of my sin” (6 min)

Wesley Pickett heard the gospel often in his youth, but he got so used to it that any concern for his soul seemed to have left him. However, God worked through the preaching of the gospel to bring him to the place where he could no longer live with the burden and guilt of his sin…and then God saved him. (Testimony given in Blue River, Wisconsin, 2021)

“For the first time in my life I couldn’t argue with God” (4 min)

Jon Novak grew up on a farm and knew the gospel from his earliest days. He resisted the gospel until his mid teen when under the preaching of the gospel he reached the place where he “couldn’t argue with God” any more. Listen to hear how he found peace with God. (Preached in Blue River, Wisconsin, 2019)

“Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re saved. You get it for yourself.” (11 min)

David Yoder grew up in the home of parents who had been saved from an Amish background, but his wholesome upbringing wasn’t enough to save him. Noticing the attention that was paid to people who profess to be saved, David too made a profession – but it wasn’t real. Listen to find out how he discovered his need and trusted in Christ. Readings: Psa 37:4, Isa 53:5-6 (Testimony given in Blue River, Wisconsin, 2021) (Photo: Farm in Wisconsin)

“I tried all the world had to offer” (30 min)

James Logan grew up in a Christian family and knew the gospel from his earliest days, but he decided to try all the world had to offer him. Through the tragic death of a friend James was awakened to his need of salvation and went to hear Willie Fenton and Matthew McKillen preaching the gospel. Through “verse 3 of number 36” (“Adore Him, the glorious work is done”) James was saved by the grace of God at the age of…

Saved through a verse on a pen! (19 min)

Jonas Miller tells of his Amish upbringing in Pennsylvania, USA, with household chores, animals and attending the Amish Church. When he was 12 years old, his Dad, John Miller, got saved (in 2005) and the gospel, and a Bible in English, entered the home. In 2009, the Miller family attended a Bible Conference in Matoaca, and a few days later Jonas was saved…through a verse on a pen. (Message preached in Crandon Gospel Hall, USA, 2021)

“I know exactly what to do: I have to believe. Now I’m going to do this” (17 min)

Ammon Miller grew up on a farm in an Amish family, believing that the way to heaven was by being baptised and being good. Then in 2005, his Dad, John Miller, got saved. Then his brothers Henry and Reuben in 2006. Then in 2009 his brother Jonas. A baptism was planned for these 4…but just before it took place God moved again, and Ammon and his mum were saved – so, 6 were baptised on one day from one family!…

“Finally I was honest…no, I’m not saved!” (31 min)

Chris Schwartz grew up in an Amish family in the USA. He believed the Bible was the Word of God, and attended church all his young life among the Amish, but his trust was always in good works and baptism. He thought being born again was by living a good life. Then his wife got saved, and Chris began to search. He visited various churches until finally he finally found his way, through contact with the Miller family, into a…

Samuel Ussher – Salvation and call to the work (49 min)

Samuel Ussher tells of his conversion to Christ, and his call to the work of the Lord (in Venezuela). He gives some history of the work in Venezuela and some helpful insights into how the Lord has blessed the gospel in that land, and how the assemblies there are very active in gospel work. He brings the challenge of the words in the Gospel of Matthew, “Son, go work today in my vineyard”. Readings: Matthew 21:28-31, Job 23:13-14, Gen 41:46…

Harry Wilson – “Christ for me”! (16 min)

Harry Wilson grew up a respectable religious lad, believing he was going to heaven on the basis of his good life. But attending gospel meetings in his teens, Harry learned he was a sinner who needed to be saved, and on 1st March 1945 he trusted alone in Christ for salvation. 7 years later, on 13th Feb 1952, he left the UK for the land of Brazil to preach the gospel. 60 years later, at the Larne conference in 2012,…

“God speaketh once, yea twice” (21 min)

Robert Eadie tells the story of his conversion to Christ as a 15-year-old lad in East Belfast. During a series of gospel meetings by the evangelist Harold German, young Bobbie had two near fatal accidents in one day. He was reminded of the verse “God speaketh once, yea twice” and it concentrated his mind on his need to be saved. Listen as Bobbie tells of his deliverance through the words of John 3:36 (This testimony is part of a message…

“I wanted to get rid of all the preaching, praying and singing” (12 min)

Tom McNeill (1934-2016) grew up hearing the gospel preached. One particular evangelist, Joe Stewart (1877-1946), spoke personally to Tom around 20 times about his soul, so much so that when Mr Stewart died Tom was relieved he was gone!  As a lad, just into his teens, Tom was beginning to look forward to the day when he could “get rid of all the preaching, praying and singing” and go and enjoy the world. But God saved him on 14th December…

“The same message all these years, but I only saw it now” (34 min)

Ronnie Johnston (1929-2007) tells the remarkable and touching story of his father’s and his own salvation. Ronnie’s Dad was saved through the hymn “Trust and obey”, a hymn he learnt from his children as they sang it on Sunday afternoon walks. But Ronnie didn’t get saved until he was 27. While his Dad used to break bread in Cregagh Street Gospel Hall, Ronnie was 6 streets away playing cards. Ronnie would ‘borrow’ money off his godly father but confessed, “I…

“My Amish religion never gave me any peace” (24 min)

John Miller grew up in an Amish family and community in Pennsylvania, USA. He was baptised and made a commitment to try his hardest to keep the rules of the Amish, but he could never find peace. God brought some people who knew the gospel of the grace of God into John’s life. Through them he obtained a Bible in English. Listen to hear how God revealed Himself to John through the Scriptures and saved a “proud, religious  37 year…

“I tried, for a whole year, to keep the Sermon on the Mount!” (48 min)

Sam Jennings (1928- ) relates the story of his conversion to Christ on 29th November 1944. Sam’s father was a brilliant violinist, but sadly also a violent alcoholic. In his youth, Sam tried to live by the Sermon on the Mount, but failed miserably. As a teenager he developed a foul mouth and was considered “the vilest person” in the bakery where he worked. But God saved his brother Rowan, and Sam ended up hearing the gospel preached by none…

“I cannot go for that operation until I’m saved” (49 min)

Mr Sam McBride grew up in rural Co Armagh hearing the gospel from a young age. He always knew he needed salvation, but let himself drift into adulthood without it. A serious spinal injury in the summer of 1949 left him needing a major operation. Fearing complications, Sam McBride resolved “I cannot go for that operation until I have the matter of my salvation settled.” Listen to hear how he was finally saved on 17th Feb 1952. Mr McBride preached…

“I can’t go on like this: I’ve got to get saved tonight” (26 min)

David Hutchinson grew up in a Christian family and knew the Scriptures from young age. When he reached the 6th form at School he felt drawn to the world…but God overruled David’s choice to neglect the gospel and brought him back to reality. At 16 he faced up to his need of salvation. Listen to hear how he found deliverance. (Testimony given in Bicester 29th Oct 2017)

“It wasn’t about me and what I did” (22 min)

Tim Cawte tells of his conversion one Canadian winter at the age of 13. Knowing he was a sinner who needed to be saved, his main problem was, “How can I ever know for sure that I am saved?” He made a number of attempts at being saved, but every time the doubts kept coming back as strong as ever. He was finally saved when he came to an end of himself and rested alone on the person and finished…

“My sins were taken care of at Calvary!” (28 min)

Marcel Lasalle grew up in a devout Roman Catholic family in the 1950’s in Montreal, Canada. The Mass, the rosary, confession; Marcel did it all. But he had no peace. Eventually he settled down into an ungodly life of nominal adherence to religion on the one hand, but the pleasures of sin on the other. Then God intervened in his life to bring the light of the gospel to him, and he discovered, in January 1978, that the work of…

“A basketball game or a gospel meeting?” (22 min)

Scott Hayes from Iowa, USA, relates how as a proud 17-year-old basketball and motorcross enthusiast he was first awakened to his need of a Saviour through the tragic death of an uncle. Scott was brought to Christ during a series of gospel meetings in which around 40 others were also saved in Stout, Iowa, under the preaching of Albert Hull and Gaius Goff in the 1970’s (Testimony given in Bicester on 17th March 2013)

“I fell 20 feet onto a concrete floor” (25 min)

Joe Potter, from Canada, relates the story of his conversion to Christ. Joe nearly died from a fall at 6 years old that broke his femur. But that didn’t stop Joe’s parents taking him to gospel meetings, in a full body cast! At various times in his childhood, God spoke to Joe, but he didn’t get saved until in his early teens. A helpful testimony for children brought up in Christian families. Readings: Luke 15:3-7, Rom 5:6 (Testimony given 14th…

Jim Walmsley – “Tell him I’m not in” (9 min)

The fascinating story of how a Christian woman in an office refused to tell a lie for her boss, and how God used that incident to speak to her colleague, a Mr. Jim Walmsley (1931-2022). That same lady afterwards asked Jim to come to a gospel meeting. God spoke to the 16-year-old Jim, and he found salvation on 16th May 1947 under the preaching of Harold Paisley. Mr Walmsley was baptised and then received into the Cregagh Street assembly, Belfast,…

“So, you’ve chosen the world” (15 min)

Tommy Wright relates the story of his conversion to Christ in 1952. As is common with young people, on entering his teens, Tommy began to drift away from interest in the gospel and tried to get out of “going to meetings”. But the godly influence of his mother prevailed. With tears in her eyes one day she said to Tommy “So, you’ve chosen the world”. Listen to hear how God used this in Tommy’s awakening and salvation. (Testimony in Bicester…

“I rebelled against my Christian upbringing” (21 min)

Aaron Colgan relates the story of how God saved him as a teenager back in the 1980’s. Though brought up hearing the Word of God, Aaron rebelled against the gospel and took up with the pleasures of the world, living for a number of years with no thought about his soul’s salvation. But God spoke to him once more and brought him to faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Readings: Eph 2:8-9, Rev 21:7 (Testimony given in Bicester…

“People thought I was saved, but I knew I wasn’t” (19 min)

Desmond Gilpin (1943-2021) grew up in Bangor, Co Down, with a knowledge of the Bible and the gospel: but until he was 35 years old, that was all he had. He says people thought he was saved, though he had never been born again. On 5th March 1979 he came to a crisis point, where he could no longer continue pretending. Desmond finally found peace at 4.00am through faith in Christ and His finished work (Photo above: Bangor harbour).

“If you are not saved, what is all this worth?” (19 min)

Sandy Higgins’s ancestors came to the USA from Italy and Ireland. There, for the first time, they heard the gospel, and some were converted. That meant that Sandy was brought up in a godly home, where the gospel was preached. But hearing the gospel all of his life seemed to make salvation difficult for Sandy. While in medical training one day, the thought struck him “If you are not saved, what is all this worth?” Sandy went through 6 weeks…

“You’ll either end in jail or on the gallows” (41 min)

Jeffrey Harrison (1909-1990) grew up in a strict home in a slum area of north west England. Shoplifting, fighting, gambling and mischief of all kinds marked the teenage years of young Harrison. Said his mother, “You’ll either end up in jail or on the gallows.” But the Holy Spirit worked in his life, convicting him of his sin and of his danger of perishing in hell. When he got a job on the railways, a godly Christian colleague took him…

“I refused 6 invitations to a gospel meeting” (6 mins)

Do you give up easily when someone refuses to come to a gospel meeting? Marco Gebara was asked 6 times, and refused each time! But God was at work, and even when his Christian friend gave up, Marco volunteered to go without being asked a 7th time! He intended to go once and never return…but the Lord had other plans. At the Lurgan conference in 2016, interpreted from Portuguese by Tom Meekin, Marco told his testimony. Marco and Janice Gebara…

Robert Love – “Mother, I’ve something to tell you” (15 min)

Robert Love (1885-1979) was saved at the age of 19 in 1904. This is a recording of Mr Love telling the story of his conversion after 60 years had passed. 10 years after being saved, Mr Love went out full time in gospel work. Robert Love was “a character”, unique in his delivery and original in his style, and known for his plain speaking. A tireless labourer, Mr Love was used of the Lord to see a work done in…

“You couldn’t have got me to a gospel meeting” (29 min)

Norman Coulter (1941-2012) tells how God saved him in February 1962. Brought up in a godly home, Norman chose to seek out the pleasures of the world and broke his parents’ hearts. However, God brought Norman under conviction of sin and he was saved in Omagh one night during a move of the Holy Spirit in the town. In 1994, after 30 or so years as an architect, Norman left his business and gave all his time to preach the…

Leonard Mullan – Saved in Carnlough by the Sea (21 min)

Leonard Mullan (1918-2004)  was born the year WW1 ended, and the Spanish Flu pandemic began. He grew up in “Carnlough by the sea”, from whence he would eventually go to Japan to serve the Lord. He was saved in meetings held in his parents’ home, taken by Messrs Joseph Stewart and David Craig. This is a recording made when Mr Mullan was 85 years old, saved for 73 years!  The record of his and his wife Agnes’s 37 years in…

Matthew McKillen – “Am I saved or am I not saved?” (21 min)

Matthew McKillen (1936-2018) was saved on 30th Aug 1947 as a boy of 10. In this heart-warming testimony he tells how both his mother and father were saved and reveals the fascinating background to his own privileged upbringing in a godly home. Matthew and his wife Margaret were associated for many years with the Gospel Hall in Cambridge Avenue, Ballymena (formerly Wellington Street). Though a busy businessman, Matthew devoted his life to the local assembly, to the visitation of the…

“I thought the Lord had come” (30 min)

Willie Fenton and his brother were both saved on the same night in the summer of 1963. Willie had known the gospel all of his life, but the urgency of the matter had never really gripped him; until one night, when he realised that, if the Lord returned, he would be left behind for judgment. This is a touching story, full of interest and weighty spiritual import. Readings; Heb 12:25, Matt 24:38-42, John 3:16 (Story originally told in Northern Ireland)

George Alexander – How God Saved Me (20 min)

George Alexander (1894-1973) was born in Co Tyrone, Ireland, back in the 19th century. (His distinct localised accent may be a struggle for some listeners!). One day, as a mischievous and worldly young man, George made a plan with half a dozen other young lads to interrupt and disturb a series of gospel meetings being held in a barn near his home by evangelists J. McCullough and T. Braidner. But God intervened in George’s scheme. His companions never showed up,…

“I Didn’t Even Know I Had a Soul” (24 min)

Chris Beresford grew up in the North-East of England in a home where the truth of the saving gospel of Christ was unknown. “I didn’t even know I had a soul,” is how Chris powerfully sums up the darkness he was in. But God intervened in Chris’s life. How? Through a Thursday night “children’s meeting” in a Gospel Hall. Listen to the wonderful story of Chris’s salvation and how God preserved him when his family subsequently made life very difficult…

“I would have given anything to get God’s salvation” (26 min)

Bert Joyce (1927-2017) was raised in a Christian family under the sound of the gospel. He knew the Scriptures from his earliest days and sat under the preaching of mighty men of God like his uncle Albert Joyce, and Herb Harris. However, Bert, like many children brought up in such privileged circumstances, wanted to get away from the gospel and enjoy the world. But God visited Bert with a sickness that nearly took his life. He sobered up and sought…

One word exploded in my mind: “Eternity!” (37 min)

Ben Sutton (1922-2007) grew up in a drunkard’s home. Hardship turned to tragedy when his mother died while he was still a boy. When Ben left school he became a coal miner and then, during WW2, he was in the Merchant Navy. He saw the horrors of war close-up, as German U-boats targetted the British and US ship convoys. With the War over, Ben returned home to South Shields in the north east of England, where his favourite places were…

“If there’s a God, I hate him” (54 min)

Stan Ford (1920-1991), once an atheist and a communist, tells the story of how he was converted to Christ in 1938. A large man, over six feet tall, with a strong voice and a distinct West Country accent, Stan Ford’s story will thrill your heart. He ran away from home at 13 and got a job at 5 shillings a week. Falling in love with boxing, he soon became good enough to make a living at it. His first brush…

“I wanted to know I was saved before I was saved”! (8 min)

Dave Bagnall grew up in Winnipeg, Canada, attending the West End Gospel Hall and knowing the gospel from a child. Moving to Vancouver at age 10, he lost his mother at 14. Attending gospel meetings by Albert Joyce and David Adams, one of Dave’s friends got saved. That shook him and he began seeking salvation himself, but he struggled as to how he could know for sure that he was saved. Listen to hear how Dave was saved and knew…

“One day I intended to be saved…” (12 min)

Redmond Blair from Vancouver, Canada, tells his story of conversion. Brought up hearing the gospel and memorizing Scripture, as “Reddie” grew older he became careless and lived for the enjoyments of the world. Awakened by the salvation of a friend, Reddie spend months searching for salvation, even daily reading his Bible alone at work in the lunch break, but he found he was much darker than ever he had realised and couldn’t find salvation. Then a cousin got saved; but…

“I never thought I’d be an adult and not saved” (24 min)

Seth McKinley, from Vancouver, Canada, grew up in a Christian family, knowing the gospel and memorizing Scripture. He was soft towards the gospel as a child, and at one point thought he was saved, but as the teenage years came he rebelled against the gospel and decided he would just “do his own thing”. University took him further away, but the prayers of his parents followed him and the Holy Spirit began to work in his heart. Listen to the…

Allen McCandless’s Testimony (23 min)

After some helpful comments about John 6:37, including details of how this verse was pivotal in no less than John Bunyan’s conversion, Allen McCandless (Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada) relates the story of his own conversion to Christ on July 29th 1979 – in which God again used this powerful verse: “Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). (Testimony given at Pugwash Junction conference, Nova Scotia, Canada, 2016)

A Devastating Question (31 min)

John Toisma was born into a religious home in the Netherlands in 1947. Emigrating as a young lad to British Columbia, Canada, John continued to be religiously minded, but was not saved. His mother died very tragically when John was 15. Then a preacher from a local Gospel Hall by the name of Lou Swaan contacted John and got him out to a gospel meeting. Afterwards, Lou asked him if he had ever been born again. John said “Yes”, and…

“The Lord Jesus said it: I have it!” (11 min)

Jeremiah Collins grew up “going to meetings”. He knew the gospel from childhood, but that was the problem: the gospel was so familiar to him that he stumbled over it and made very heavy weather of receiving it. When God convicted him of his sin and danger, he earnestly sought salvation, but still could not find deliverance. Listen to how Jeremiah finally found peace and rest in Christ (Testimony given at La Crosse Conference, Wisconsin, USA, 2015)

“I Said the Rosary Every Night” (34 min)

Butch Paquette grew up in a drunkard’s home in a poor community in Northern Ontario, Canada. After his father left, young Butch’s mother raised 7 children alone, reciting the rosary with them each evening at bedtime. Though an altar boy in the church, Butch became a troubled young lad who ended up spending time in numerous foster homes. Life went from bad to worse, leading to a number of visits to prison. But God worked in Butch’s life and in…

I Didn’t Really Care if I Lived or Died (24 min)

Theodore Chiasson, born and raised in a Roman Catholic home in Cape Breton Island, Canada, relates his story of conversion as a 24 year old young man back in the 1970’s, after hearing the gospel for the very first time. Theodore had a wholesome God-fearing childhood, but at college he went into drugs and ended up disillusioned and empty. Then a Christian witnessed to him and gave him a Bible…and the Lord saved him that same day! (Testimony recorded 7th…

“Man Overboard!” – Stories of the Sea (51 min)

Deep sea fisherman Alex McLean (1932-2019) recounts how he was saved in Stornoway, Scotland, in 1954 in his early 20’s. He had tried boxing, dancing, smoking and drinking, but discovered that life is empty without Christ. John Noble Steven showed kindness to Alex and shared the gospel with him. Taken to a gospel meeting the Lord saved Alex the very first time he heard the gospel preached. There follows an incredible account of Alex’s life at sea, which includes the…

The Bergsma family – Reached through a Rice Pudding! (32 min)

Andrew Bergsma (1930-2013) grew up in a “Dutch Reformed” home in Canada. His family endured poverty during the Great Depression. All 9 children were raised in the old fashioned way and walked 5 miles to church and back twice on the Lord’s Day. A lady from a nearby Gospel Hall saw the large family of children and visited with a rice pudding and an invitation to Sunday School. That was the opening for the gospel in the Bergsma home that…

Part 1 – Out of Drugs. Peter Orasuk’s Conversion (55 min)

Raised in a strict home and taught traditional values as a child, Peter Orasuk (1948-2005) got in with a rough crowd in his youth and ended up a drug addict and dealer, and eventually behind bars. His was the party lifestyle, constantly flirting with danger, always knowing his next fix could be his last. But, in 1976, by a remarkable series of events, light came into Peter’s darkness. Through the gospel message in the Bible he was completely and miraculously…

“Twice Rescued” – Rob Oliver’s story (18 min)

Rob Oliver loved to surf. Catching big waves on the east coast of the USA was a favourite summer activity for Rob and his friends…until one day, when a perfect ‘wave ride’ went inexplicably and terribly wrong, and in Rob’s own words, “I heard a crunch…and suddenly I couldn’t move at all”. Paralysed and submerged in water, Rob realised, “If someone doesn’t come and get me out of this water, I’m going to die”. But this wasn’t the only time…

The Last Thing I Ever Wanted to Become Was a Christian (45 min)

Alec Catchpole grew up not knowing the gospel. Leaving School he got into drugs and soon became an addict. Then he was seduced by the ideas of Karl Marx and became an activist for socialism, even taking part in the riots at the Wapping dispute in 1986. He was full of hate, believing the only answer to the UK’s problems was a revolution where the workers take over the means of production, leading to a communist utopia. However, travelling to…

Jim Smyth – Saved at “Cooper’s Corner” (33 min)

Born in New Bliss, Co Monaghan, Ireland, Jim Smyth (1919-2012) grew up without a knowledge of the gospel. His father drank a lot, leaving the family dirt poor. Jim was a hard working young man who enjoyed the pleasures of the world in the local badminton team and as the drummer in a dance band. He heard the gospel once from two “Faith Mission pilgrims” in a meeting in New Bliss, but he didn’t like it and left the meeting…

“I Chose Never To Attend Another Gospel meeting” (38 min)

Albert Hull (1936-2015) tells the thrilling and heart-warming story of how God saved him “on the roadside” in 1957 listening to the gospel through the open window of a gospel meeting. As a preacher’s son, Albert knew the gospel well, but a point came in his teens when he made a choice never to attend another gospel meeting. Off he went to enjoy the pleasures of the world. Yet, even when he was drunk, he was still able to preach…

“I Tried to Solve the Puzzle of Salvation” (25 min)

Born in Trinidad, West Indies, Andrew Ussher grew up as a child of missionary parents, familiar with the gospel message. During a year’s furlough in Northern Ireland, Mr & Mrs Ussher took young Andrew to gospel meetings. In one of them Andrew heard about the final judgment from Revelation Ch 21 and for the first time in his life realised he was sinner who deserved God’s judgment – but the impression made didn’t last. The following year (1973) Andrew moved…

How I Was Saved Through Luke 19:10 (12 min)

Murray McCandless relates the story of his conversion. Raised in St Thomas, Ontario, in a Christian family, he grew up learning memory verses in Sunday School. As a child he would often ask his parents to tell him how they were saved. He was awakened to his own need of salvation at the age of 12 under the preaching of Oswald McLeod at the Sarnia Conference. He tried to get saved, but could not understand what he needed to do.…

“Pleasure was putting myself right out of my mind” (26 min)

Mark Thomas was born and bred in “the West country”, a few yards from the scenic Cheddar Gorge and just half an hour from the epicentre of the UK’s festival scene in Glastonbury. So, when Mark got into the drug and rave lifestyle as a young man, he had every opportunity right on his doorstep to dive into the ‘ecstasy culture’ where pleasure was defined as “putting yourself right out of your mind”. Despite a couple of close shaves with…

“What is Life All About?” (29 min)

He called himself an “antichrist”, his god was rock ‘n’ roll, and he was addicted to drink, drugs and cigarettes…but every now and then, Malaysian born Christian-mocking atheist John See, would wonder to himself, “What is life all about?”. John’s journey took many twists and turns but finally, incredibly, through the words of that famous hymn “How Great Thou Art”, he discovered the greatest truth in the universe, that “Jesus died for a sinner like me”! John and his wife…
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