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.