MY TESTIMONY
“Victory in Jesus”
by George White
When I was born I was a heartbreak to my parents, for I was born with a severe speech impediment. No mother could have given more love and care then was given to me. In fact, I was loved so much that I was over-protected from society. When I started school I was laughed at, mocked and made fun of. It hurt deeply and was to stay with me for a long time.
When I reached the age of 12 years, I was to begin a series of corrective surgery— nine operations in all. Lots of pain and many failures. From that time of my life until I was 18 I was filled with hate and bitterness. I hated to hear people talk, laugh or sing because I could not even converse with anyone properly. I used to say, “Where is this God of love and compassion? He made a mistake when I was born.”
From that time until I was 29 I was very lonely and full of self-pity. I had begun working for the Chevrolet Motor Division when I was 18 and in the ten years I was employed there I never conversed with a single person. I wanted to love and be loved, but it seemed it was not meant to be. But during my twenty-ninth year the Lord gave me a wife, one of the finest Christian women anyone could ask for. I did not know why, for I was anything but a Christian. I joined her church (Calvary) and have been a member there ever since. For many years; however, it was in name only, as I attended only as a ritual one hour per week. There was no love and compassion. I was a hypocrite.
One Sunday my dear Pastor Dorraine Snogren, read from John 14:9—a quote from Jesus to Phillip: “Have I been with you so long, yet you do not know me?”
Right then Jesus spoke to me saying, “George, have I been with you all your life of hate and loneliness and you do not know me?”
I sat in my pew crying; Jesus had come in to my life.
I went home and for the first time in my life I opened up the Bible. I read the four Gospels through. I wanted to know more about Jesus. The Bible came alive in my hands as Jesus spoke to me.
Two months later I was to go through a period of depression and weeping. If my family left home to go somewhere I was afraid something would happen to them. My dear Alice even suggested that I go to the doctor for a physical. Then I remembered reading Matthew11:28 where Jesus says, “Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
On the next Monday evening in a church service, I went to the altar for the first time. My pastor and I were alone at the altar and all I could say was, “I am afraid.”
As he placed his hands upon my head to pray, I felt two hands on my shoulders and I knew the Lord had touched me. All my fear and depression left me.
On March 5, 1973, I was to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Three days prior to that time I was in the hands of Satan. Three times I was tempted; twice I yielded and the third time I cried out, “Oh, please, Jesus, help me.”
It stopped right then. On the fourth night I was in church listening to a sermon by Tommy Tyson on the Holy Spirit. I had no intention of being baptized. As I walked out of the church I was stopped and propelled into the parlor. Sallie Stewart asked me if I had come to pray with them. I shook my head, but unseen hands forced me to my knees while Sallie, Pat and Mike prayed for me. The Lord led me all the way back into my [past] life. It was horrible. Then, as He brought me back again, my old self faded and a new life was born. I had a love that was beyond description. I went home and could not sleep for two nights. I just prayed and talked to the Lord in tongues. It was wonderful.
Sure, I have problems, but I know now, where to turn for help —- JESUS! In closing, I pray that all young people will not wait as I did—-54 years—-to know Jesus Christ. Do it now! God bless you.