I was saved when I was 16 years old, during a City Wide Crusade that my home church was hosting. Evangelist Jerry Johnston was preaching that Wednesday Evening on the subject of “The Holy Spirit”. I was sitting with some of my friends that night and the more that Bro. Jerry preached the deeper and deeper I fell under conviction that I was truly lost and headed straight for Hell.You see, I was born and raised in a Preacher’s home, my parents believed in being faithful to church, so I was in church the Sunday after I was born. I was raised under my Christian parents and under the preaching of my dad, Evangelist Darrell Dunn and many other men like my Pastor (at the time.) Dr. Lee Roberson, Bro. Lester Roloff, Dr. John R. Rice, Dr. Bill Rice & Dr. Jack Hyles.
I knew all about the Bible, I was taught about it at home, at Church and in School. I had taken my Bible and led many people to the Lord, however I did NOT know Him as my own PERSONAL Savior. At the time of the crusade I was even the Chaplain for my Class in High School. I was Lost but yet I served as the Chaplain. What a Fraud I was!That night I sat there trying my best to close out everything that the preacher was saying, he was getting on my nerves and I was somewhat successful in shutting his words out of my mind for a time. I was just thinking about making it through the service. I told myself that if I could just live through this one service then I could “Fake” some mystery illness to get out of having to come back. Man, was I ever kidding myself. One thing that I know about the Lord is that when He wants to get a hold on you, He will do it!
I sat there doing my best to not listen and the Lord reached down and opened my ears. When He did, Bro. Jerry made this statement: “Young people, someone in here tonight is running from God. You have shut your ears to the preaching of the truth that is found in the Word of God. What’s more is that you know the truth, you know the Bible. I want you to know that God knows who you are and He is going to make sure that the Word finds it’s way into your heart.” After he said this I shut him out again. I sat there thinking that Bro. Jerry was talking directly to me!I kept telling myself that I was ok, I could make it, I was going to be just fine.I was sitting there lying to myself when the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart and said: “David, this is your last chance, get it settled, your lost. IT’S NOW OR NEVER!”I sat there a moment longer when again God opened my ears, Bro. Jerry then said: “Someone in here tonight, God has just said to you that this is your last chance” Bro. Jerry went on and said: “He has just said to you that it is NOW OR NEVER!” then my ears were shut again. I sat there as the invitation started going over it in my mind, I was trying to convince myself that it couldn’t be true. Just then, the devil whispered to me and said: “Oh Dave, don’t worry about it, your Ok, your not a bad person, you’ll be fine. Besides everyone in this church knows you, they know you are the son of a Baptist preacher, how embarrassing will it be for your parents, they already think your saved, they will be ashamed. What about all of your friends, you’re a Chaplain, they will all know that you have lied to them about it. It just isn’t worth all of the grief that is envoled, just let it go, your Ok.” I stood there gripping the pew in front of me with white knuckles, then I heard those words echo again in my mind: “IT’S NOW OR NEVER!”
I stepped out that Wednesday night, March 19, 1985, walked down that aisle to the front where my Youth Pastor, Bro. Abb Thomas was standing. I told him through my tears that I was lost and needed to be saved, he cried with me and took me to the same verses that I had used many times to show others how to find salvation. Praise the Lord, I know with out a single doubt that I am on my way to heaven.
I knew all about the Bible, I was taught about it at home, at Church and in School. I had taken my Bible and led many people to the Lord, however I did NOT know Him as my own PERSONAL Savior. At the time of the crusade I was even the Chaplain for my Class in High School. I was Lost but yet I served as the Chaplain. What a Fraud I was!That night I sat there trying my best to close out everything that the preacher was saying, he was getting on my nerves and I was somewhat successful in shutting his words out of my mind for a time. I was just thinking about making it through the service. I told myself that if I could just live through this one service then I could “Fake” some mystery illness to get out of having to come back. Man, was I ever kidding myself. One thing that I know about the Lord is that when He wants to get a hold on you, He will do it!
I sat there doing my best to not listen and the Lord reached down and opened my ears. When He did, Bro. Jerry made this statement: “Young people, someone in here tonight is running from God. You have shut your ears to the preaching of the truth that is found in the Word of God. What’s more is that you know the truth, you know the Bible. I want you to know that God knows who you are and He is going to make sure that the Word finds it’s way into your heart.” After he said this I shut him out again. I sat there thinking that Bro. Jerry was talking directly to me!I kept telling myself that I was ok, I could make it, I was going to be just fine.I was sitting there lying to myself when the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart and said: “David, this is your last chance, get it settled, your lost. IT’S NOW OR NEVER!”I sat there a moment longer when again God opened my ears, Bro. Jerry then said: “Someone in here tonight, God has just said to you that this is your last chance” Bro. Jerry went on and said: “He has just said to you that it is NOW OR NEVER!” then my ears were shut again. I sat there as the invitation started going over it in my mind, I was trying to convince myself that it couldn’t be true. Just then, the devil whispered to me and said: “Oh Dave, don’t worry about it, your Ok, your not a bad person, you’ll be fine. Besides everyone in this church knows you, they know you are the son of a Baptist preacher, how embarrassing will it be for your parents, they already think your saved, they will be ashamed. What about all of your friends, you’re a Chaplain, they will all know that you have lied to them about it. It just isn’t worth all of the grief that is envoled, just let it go, your Ok.” I stood there gripping the pew in front of me with white knuckles, then I heard those words echo again in my mind: “IT’S NOW OR NEVER!”
I stepped out that Wednesday night, March 19, 1985, walked down that aisle to the front where my Youth Pastor, Bro. Abb Thomas was standing. I told him through my tears that I was lost and needed to be saved, he cried with me and took me to the same verses that I had used many times to show others how to find salvation. Praise the Lord, I know with out a single doubt that I am on my way to heaven.
It was just a little over a year later that I was at a Youth Conference where God called me to preach the gospel. I have been preaching now for just over 22 years, 15 years as an Evangelist traveling and holding revival meetings, youth camps, rally’s, soul winning classes teaching people how to reach others, and then continuing the cycle teaching the ones they bring to Christ how to go and do the same. I am blessed to be a servant of God. I know of no greater calling that the one I have received to give my life to the furthering of the Kingdom of Christ.
In His Highest Service,
Pastor David J. Dunn
In His Highest Service,
Pastor David J. Dunn
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