My acquaintance with the word of God was when some missionaries came to my school when I was a child about 11 years old, and gave me a bible. As a young child I was an altar boy serving with the priest in the catholic church, but I never owned a bible. I started to read the bible that was giving to me by the missionaries. It was a little pocket bible containing the new testament and the psalms. When I got to the psalms I read the relationship between David and God and I fell in love with the prayers of David to God.

I was fascinated with the awesome power of God. That was the start of my relationship with the God of the bible.

At the age of 19 I travelled to NY to be reunited with my aunt, and I started going to a bible believing church: The Baptist Church of the Redeemer. From there I was gloriously saved and was baptized in 1983.I thank God for the missionary who gave me the bible, the word of God.

To God be the glory in Jesus name!

A Divine Appointment

I remember when The Lord was leading me to my home church. You see, I have been praying for a good church to go to, a good church meaning a church that preaches the whole counsel of God, a church where the shepherd really cares for the flock, a church where the love of our Lord Jesus-Christ is on display.

I had just moved in the area, I did not have any Christian brothers to connect to, I was alone.

Then the Lord Jesus came to the rescue.

I was sitting in McDonald enjoying a cup of coffee and reading a book, when our pastor while leaving the restaurant, engaged in a conversation with me, he asked me if I know the Lord , I responded that he is my Saviour, he continued to invite me to church, and I told him that I did not have a car, he proceeded to tell me that he will get someone to pick me up, and over the next few months he had a dear brother from the church to pick me up three times a week for the services.

When it was time to register my car, our pastor invested some time from his busy day to take me to the DMV and waited for me for about two hours until I was done.

I was blown away by the care, love and graciousness of our pastor.

And the blessings continue.

My first visit to the church "Straightway Baptist Church" I know this was the place I'm going to worship the Lord, not only we have a shepherd who care for the flock and for their souls, but also the gospel is being preached, the whole counsel of God, sin, hell and damnation and not to mention, it is a fellowship that prays, we have a prayer meeting every week.

My soul is immersed in the word of God every week...

One of my delight is going out in the community every week to tell folks about the Lord and the salvation he came to provide for us at the cross.

The last command of the Lord is to " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel"

May 2023 makes it a year since I have been part of the fellowship at Straightway Baptist Church and I can tell you it has been a blessing.

I praise the name of the Lord for that divine appointment on that day with our Pastor, because I am being fed, prayed for and enjoying a loving fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

The shower of blessings from the Lord has been gracious.

I pray that the Lord continue to bless our pastor, his ministry, and his family.

The Lord Knows our needs, just trust him to guide us to port.

He will never leave nor forsake us, He will be with us until the end of time.

Amen, amen and amen.

To God be the Glory.

Most people when they read this might think it’s great, others may say who cares. I just want to take a moment and tell you how great God is. On December 31, 2012 I can personally say now that I was a raging alcoholic. I spent every day trying to drink my life away. Carrying scars from War, losing friends from suicide and dealing with things most would never think about. Looking back now, I cannot thank Travis Daniel enough for not leaving me alone. Every time he would see me in our welding class, he would always invite me to the Dirt Road church. I always had an excuse, I thought there was no way God would forgive me and the things I had done. Finally, after a month or so I gave in. I walked into Greater Life Baptist Church, and Pastor Jonathan McNeese welcomed me with open arms. After attending for a few weeks, I realized not only had I been drinking my life away, but I had also been running from God as fast as I could. I can promise you, it didn’t work out well. On Jan 1, 2013 I sat the bottle down for the last time. I trusted God and not the alcohol. Most people would say well you probably weren’t an alcoholic if you could set it down that easy. I can tell you this, God gave me a miracle that day and today marks Ten years sober, not even a drip. I cannot thank God enough and these men who never gave up on me. I owe them both more than I could ever put into words. My life isn’t perfect, but I can promise you that I serve a risen Savior, who washed my sins away and made me whole again. If you are reading this and struggling, don’t give up. Turn to Christ. If you are reading this and you are struggling, I’m here for you. Life is worth more than a drink, it’s worth living for Christ, because all that He has done for us.

I was raised in church, but was just going through the motions. Not truly understanding what being saved was, or all about. Then as my family was seeking a different church, we heard a knock on our door from members of Straightway Baptist Church who were out spreading the gospel. They invited us to their services, and took the time to show and explain to us from the bible what salvation is, and how to have a relationship with the Lord. I love this church because it is truly Bible based allowing the word of God to guide us and not theories, ideas, emotions, or traditions!

I moved to America from India when I was nine years old, and was always thankful that my grandma taught me about Jesus. Early childhood Sundays in India were spent with her; either at her home eating her home-cooked food or with her at church—Carey Baptist. She always sang Christian hymns and prayed all day long, in the kitchen, in the living room, on the floor, everywhere. She taught me how to pray and how to trust Him. I was confident I knew God.

One day, Pastor Guarneri knocked on the door of our home in New Jersey. I was about 15 or 16 years old. We were a bit hesitant as we knew Jehovah’s Witness often made their rounds here. But, this time it was different. It was a Christian pastor. We took a chance and attended Straightway Baptist, where some 15-20 people convened in a small hotel conference room. Ironically, it was the first hotel we stayed at when we moved to the States.

It was at Straightway Baptist, as a teenager, where I learned that salvation was not earning your merits to heaven. I remember looking back at my childhood and always thinking that if I was a well-behaved, “good” person, God would judge me based on if I was mostly good or mostly bad—that my actions would determine my entry to heaven. But I was wrong. And the leaders at Straightway, (Pastor and my Sunday School teacher back then- Joy O), educated me via scripture- not their words, but God’s. I trusted Christ as my Savior but this time also confessed to God that I believed Jesus paid for our sins today and was raised from the dead, He paid the ultimate price for us. Since then, I’ve felt liberated. Since then, I’ve made plenty of mistakes and been an imperfect human, but I know that God has a place for me in heaven.

Thankful for people and churches like Straightway Baptist, that practice what the Bible teaches:

Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

I grew up in a Catholic family in an Italian American neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY and so all I was exposed to was Roman Catholicism until I went to college. When I was 17, I attended and lived at Columbia University in New York City; went to the Engineering School and played Football there. There were two upper classmen teammates who invited me to a Bible Study in their dorm room. Randy Trowbridge and Keith Hollinger had good Christian testimonies in that there was a strikingly godly joy and peace about them; but they weren’t involved with all the worldly, sinful things that many of the athletes participated in. It was through that Bible Study and the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ that the Lord Jesus and the Blessed Holy Spirit apprehended me with the Gospel message through Bible Study, Gospel literature and godly examples. I trusted Christ and was gloriously saved by the death, burial and resurrection of the Blessed Savior and LORD of all. Unfortunately I stayed in the Catholic Church and with all that was going on with studies and sports I was a lamb without an earthly shepherd to guide me in God’s will for my life. I listened to Christian radio, read the Bible and read about the Christian life after college and tried different churches on my own. Then my employer moved me to Illinois and it was there, in central Illinois, that the LORD led me to a young Baptist church and a great under-shepherd (pastor) Lane Haddock that led me into God’s will for my life. I served in that church for three years and then when I moved back to the East Coast, found a great church and pastor (Bryan Miller) to serve with, and then at age 50 was led to start Straightway Baptist Church in Princeton, NJ.

My wife and I were looking for a new church for a while because the pastor of our former church had retired. We went to Walmart one day in Hamilton, NJ. My wife went in, while I stayed in the car. On her way out Brother Frank gave her a tract and Pastor Lou spoke to her and followed up with us and we started going to Church. One Sunday night, I raised my hand at the invitation and Brother Frank encouraged me to make Jesus my Lord and Savior. My cousin Alan Barclay had witnessed to me about 30 years ago and a seed was planted, but after that service in 2019 I called upon the name of the Lord and was gloriously saved. I was baptized at Straightway Baptist shortly thereafter.

At the age of 12, my friend invited me to her church to attend Vacation Bible School which lasted for 2 weeks. My parents allowed me to go and it was a wonderful experience since I would also stay at my friend's house. We attended every day. My friend's mother asked me to sit down and talk to her, and she witnessed to me. I will never forget! I accepted Jesus as my savior that day.

The Lord led me to my friend and He has been with me through many trials ever since. He comforted me when my two sons passed away. I felt His loving arms surround me. 

I seek His wisdom in all that i do. The Lord is always patient and loving. I praise Him for the many blessings He gives me. I am loved!

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico with a Catholic background, though I never considered myself Catholic, for my family only visited the church once or twice a year. Growing up, my view of God was that of an unseen punisher and I was afraid of him.

Most of you may have gotten saved because someone witnessed to you or you may have heard the gospel preached, a tract or just someone you knew told you about it. None of those apply to me, even though I had so-called Pentecostal family members, no one ever took the time to tell me. I do believe that the reason is that they themselves didn't know. It's true that you can't give what you don't have and you can't teach what you don't know. 

So I went on living my life with what knowledge I had of right and wrong. Though I considered myself a respectful person, I found myself making the wrong choices in many ways. After ten years of an abusive marriage, I got divorced and went back to the island with 3 children and no child support to a non-supportive family.

As you can imagine, life was tough, very tough! and I made more wrong choices as I lacked good sense and wisdom. After a few years, my life was a mess and I became desperately hopeless. So one day I broke down and cried like I had never cried before. In my cry, I called upon the Lord and I told him that I could no longer go on carrying that heavy burden, that I needed him to help me and take away the load that I was carrying, and I said: "Lord, If you take this from me, I'll do whatever you want me to do" As soon as I finished saying those words something happened; I felt as light as a feather and felt this peace come upon me, and I asked myself, what happened and I thought...God...he heard me and he is answering my plea. 

I was in awe for a few days and shared my experience with many people, but no one could comment on it. So after a few days, I put it out of my mind and went on, life as usual. Remember that I said, to God, "I'll do whatever you want me to do? That's when I began to hear an inner voice saying: Seek! In the beginning, I thought it was my imagination, but it kept on happening, until one day the voice said, what are you waiting for? it seemed urgent, so I said, I don't know what I have to seek for, but I think that I should find it in a church, but You have to show me what church. So I took upon myself to drive by different churches and stop in front of them waiting for God to tell me if it was the right one. This went on for months and then I had to move to another city.

On my way to the nearest mall, I began to notice a very small sign on a house close by the mall, and for some reason, I kept wondering what the sign said, for I couldn't see it from the road. So one day I heard that voice again saying: That's your church. The car stopped, but there was no church building anywhere, so I took a turn to see what the small sign said. Guess what, it said: Calvary Baptist Tabernacle. So I made plans with my daughter to visit that church. 

And so we did, and for the first time in my life, I heard that God loves me and that he sent his son to die for me so that I could go to heaven. Then the Pastor told me that I needed to pray for forgiveness and ask Jesus to come into my heart and save me, which I did. Still, I didn't understand God's infinite love until one day as I was reading the book of Ezekiel, then it all became clear to me, as I wept tears of joy. 

Not long after that my daughter Sharon also got saved. Though I've been told that it's a far-fetched story, God is my witness that it's exactly how it happened.

Forty two years ago a young, cocky pharmacist came home for his favorite ethnic meal: pasta, meatballs and ensalada (salad). Little did he know the appetizer would begin as an appetizer for the Word of God that ultimately fulfilled his eternal destiny – the hope of glory of Jesus Christ.

His beautiful, godly-inspired wife had purposely left a Christian program on the “telly” dealing with salvation and the Book of Revelation presented by the ministry of Evangelist Darryl Duan of Tennessee Temple Baptist Church.

What an eventful collision “of religious” concepts was about to take place, “Julie, what is this guy talking about?  Sounds like some occult religious crap” (Note: I did say young, cocky wise guy). “Do we have a Bible I can check him out?” “Why, yes sweetheart, we do.”

As I began to study in Revelation, it became apparent I needed lots of help – I had none.

But God, the Holy Spirit intervened and directed me to read and re-read the Gospels of Salvation.

I truly believe that three particular verses of scripture influenced my ultimate decision to invite the Lamb of God to be my eternal Savior. Here are those verses:

1.    Call no man Father but the Father in heaven – part of the dogma of my Catholic faith had convinced me differently in great error.

2.    Be not in vain repetition of prayer – The dogmatic teaching of my religious faith had encouraged this in more ways than one.

3.    There is one mediator between God and man, the person Jesus Christ. 

Wow! This was the most crucial part of my study. I had dogmatically trusted in the priest for the forgiveness of sins. God forbid. Jesus only is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I shall place my trust for the forgiveness of my sins with you, Lord Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, sweet Savior. Hallelujah what a Savior. Hallelujah what a friend we, believing on his name, his forgiveness of all our sins, and must crucially, resurrection to defeat not only sin, but to conquer death.

For God so loved the world (me and you), that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This is my story, this is my song. Help me Holy Spirit to praise my Savior all the day long.

My mother was saved by grace through faith in Jesus when I was still in her womb. I grew up going to church in obedience to my Mother, but it wasn’t until I was a 20 years old that I heard the LORD calling me and I was personally saved by grace through faith in Jesus in a church service. I was baptized soon thereafter at that same church. Jesus accepted me and I received Him as my Savior; and now I am awaiting His return so I can meet Him as He is. To God be the glory!

BACKSLIDDEN

I was saved at an early age, around 9-10 years old. At the time my family and I were attending Faith Baptist Church, in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, NJ. My Father was Baptist and my Mother was Roman Catholic at the time.

One evening during one of our revival week meetings, there was one of those hell, fire, and brimstone type evangelists delivering a message about Noah's Ark. He stood on stage pounding the door to the stairway leading to the basement screaming "Noe, Noe", as he was reenacting how the people responded as GOD shut the door to the ark. Talk about putting the fear of God into someone (Matthew 10:28b but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.) Needless to say, the Holy Spirt spoke to my heart and I responded by repenting of my sins and accepting Christ as my Saviour.

Not long after that, my mother also accepted Christ; then my father and myself were baptized by the Reverend John Lee, who at the time was the pastor of Faith Baptist.

I continued to attend church up until my mid-twenties. After that I went sporadically on and off again, attending a few other Baptist and other denominational churches. I became a backslidden Christian. I allowed the things of life to overtake and control me, I was not heading in the right direction, certainly not following the footsteps of Jesus.

Time marches on, in-fact it is very fleeting. When I was in my late fifties and retired from the fire service, I found myself not happy and feeling very empty inside. The problem was that I was the problem. How can a true Bible believing Christian, knowing Jesus died for his sins, accepting Christ as his Lord and Saviour, ever be happy when he omits God from his daily life?

After I got over my pride, which was the main reason my for problems, I started searching for answers. First and foremost I repented of my sins that I had committed against God. Although I am saved I still own my sin. Speaking of taking ownership, never did I blame God or ask why things in my life weren't going well. I already knew the answer to that question. I actually found a "few" good preachers on social media and would listen to their sermons on a regular basis and then I followed up with prayers for God to lead me to a good bible believing church.

God answers prayer if you ask for the right things. One day in June of 2019, about a month before my back surgery, there was a knock at my front door. When I opened the door, there stood Pastor Guarneri. My first impression was that "hey, they're not JW's". I didn't see anyone holding a copy of Watch Tower. Pastor and I talked briefly and he prayed for my upcoming surgery. I also remember pastor coming by for a follow-up visit. I prayed about these visits that I had received. Was it my answer to prayer. About a year went by without making a commitment to going to church. But still in my heart there was this constant longing to attend church. The Holy Spirit was speaking to me and I had to respond. God had indeed answered my prayers but I still had to respond. I was led right to Straightway Baptist Church.

In September of 2020, I was accepted as a new member of Straightway Baptist Church. Even if you as a true Christian should stray from the Lord, remember:

Hebrews 13:5b "for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

I was raised a Catholic. When I was little I remember seeing my Mom praying on her knees in the pew. She left an impression on me. She didn't go to church much. She would just drop us off for Sunday School once in a while, go home and then pick us up. I only went a few times that I remember. I went to Catholic Sunday School when I was about five years old. They taught me God was everywhere and in everything. I took that literally that God was in everything. I remember being very excited about God and filled with love and I tried to tell my younger brother about it but he didn't understand it.

I remember being very curious about God. I remember asking my best friend to explain the trinity to me because she went to Catholic School. I grew up being afraid I could go to Hell. My grandmother told me there was no such thing as the Devil or Hell. Oh, how wrong she was!!! The Devil is alive and working. He is very sneaky. And I know there's a Hell because Jesus warns us about Hell in the Bible. I know who wins the battle in the end and I want to be on the winning side! 

I remember being fascinated by my grandmother's bible. It was a big family bible full of beautiful pictures. There was a picture of Jesus on the wall in my Grandmother's bedroom and I was afraid of it, probably because I knew I was a sinner. I remember being in preschool and I stole a toy by mistake. I put it in my pocket because I wanted to play with it. I didn't want anyone else to get it. I left it in my back pocket and forgot about it and then I hid it in my closet when I got home. I remember being convicted about it.

Well, as I grew up I didn't know God or learn about God. I was rebellious. I had a friend that was a bad influence on me. We got caught stealing makeup. I felt really bad about it and threw all the makeup in the dumpster. She just kept hers. We did a lot of bad things.

My parents divorced when I was two or three. I didn't want to listen to my Mom. I didn't want to go to school. I ran away at thirteen. I ran from my problems instead of dealing with them. I lived with my Dad and then my uncle. I dropped out of highschool in the middle of tenth grade. I hooked up with an older guy and moved in with him when I was sixteen so I could get away from home and not have to follow the rules. I got pregnant and had a miscarriage. Then I got pregnant again and had a son right after I turned eighteen. I got pregnant again at nineteen with my second son. I was barefoot and pregnant and very poor, (I stole from my job and I stole food and cigarettes) but God sent a girl to me. Her name was Carlene. She smoked crack.  She noticed me and she would come over my apartment and tell me to get my GED. She did this three times before it finally sunk in and so I finally decided to get my GED. She died of AIDS shortly after.  I believe God sent her to me.

So being pregnant again everyone told me to abort that baby, (My family, friends and neighbors). Except Carlene, she was excited for me. Unfortunately, I was so young and immature that I didn't understand how precious life was, so I went to the abortion clinic but there was an older lady outside at that abortion clinic. (I believe God sent her to me also). She was shouting to women, "Don't kill your baby!" They would yell back, "Shut up and go away!" She had a wad of money and she gave some money to my boyfriend and he left to get breakfast with my first son. The lady told me not to kill my first son's brother and then we sat on the curb in the parking lot and she showed me pictures out of a magazine of baby toes, how they were already formed in utero. I thought those pictures were very eye opening and so I changed my mind and I didn't abort that baby!  I thank God for that!

Meanwhile, I was struggling with this relationship with my boyfriend so I moved back in with my Mom. I was in so much turmoil that I searched for answers from God. I started getting interested in the Bible. I wanted my kids to have their real Dad so after three years, I moved to Virginia to be with him and I had my third son.

The relationship with my boyfriend got bad again so I moved to Connecticut and then moved in with my sister in Ohio. I finished my nursing degree and moved back to New Jersey and bought a house. I always felt empty inside like there was a missing piece. Literally like a hole I couldn't fill. I thought my boyfriend could fill it so my boyfriend and I got back together again and I had a daughter. I finally married him under conviction after reading the Old Testament. I had made a deal with God that I would marry him!

I started to go back to the Catholic church. At work another nurse told me how she used to be Catholic but her daughter told her that when she prays to God she shouldn't look at an image of Christ on the cross but to pray to Jesus Christ in Heaven. Then a bunch of Pilipino nurses took me into a room and prayed over me and layed hands on me. I cried. I always thought that I could only go to Catholic church and nowhere else. My sister-in-law also encouraged me to try other churches.

Many, many Christians have encouraged me along my walk because they saw my interest and openness to learn. I believe God sent them to me and He still does. I learned so much more about the truth, God's word, at the other churches. 

I wanted my two youngest kids to go to Christian school so I moved to North Carolina so I could afford it.  I started going to church at a Southern Baptist Church. I was thirty six years old. I walked down to the altar at the invitation time and I got saved! I followed up with one on one discipleship. I trusted in what Jesus did for me on the cross to save me from my sins and Hell. My sins are as far as the east is from the west! When the earth rotates the east never catches up with the west! I trusted in Jesus' blood atonement to pay for all my sins, past, present and future. Jesus saved me from Hell and took my punishment so I could live forever in Heaven with Him. I was sorry for my sins but now it was Godly sorrow because I sinned against a holy God.

I was sitting in the pew one Sunday night. The preacher was teaching us about forgiveness. I was fighting it. It was like a real battle going on inside me. I didn't realize I had to forgive, it seemed so unfair. But I had learned that Jesus commands us to forgive because He forgave us so I knew I had to forgive. I was crying a lot and I was so shook up that I realized I was shaking. I looked down at my arms and hands and they were shaking! I really didn't understand what actually happened. It was like my old man and my new man were fighting over me. I was still struggling with my relationship with my husband. I knew I had to forgive and be a Godly wife but I didn't know how.

My older kids didn't adjust to North Carolina so we moved back to New Jersey after three years. I started going to an Independent Baptist Church and I taught Sunday School for seven years. I also got involved with child evangelism.  All the while my husband didn't want me to be involved. I just did it anyway, I didn't care what he said. He threw all my ministry stuff in a garbage can. I thought it was garbage in the can and so I put the garbage can out to the curb. He brought that can back in! I asked him, "Why did you bring the garbage can back in?" He said, "I don't want to get struck by lightning!" The next day I came home from working all night and the whole street was blocked off with police cars and fire trucks. It was all smoky. A electrical wire had fallen down on the sidewalk right where I had put that can! The sidewalk had burnt up! It was a clear sunny morning and there wasn't any storms overnight. So I believe God had caused that to happen because He was mad that my husband tried to throw away all the ministry supplies. After a while I got tired of fighting with my husband and l finally gave in and pulled out of all ministry. 

I started focusing more on my marriage. I still am trying to focus more on my marriage.  My husband still loves me and puts up with me even though I have been a terrible wife at times. I realized God wanted me to have a ministry at home. I didn't want to do ministry God's way. I wanted to do it my way. The only reason I am still married is because of God. I want to be a testimony to others not to divorce, no matter what!!! I want to be a good wife to please God."To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.' ( Titus 2:5 kjv).

I have learned so much since I was saved. God is still teaching me so many things. I have been through a lot in my life that has brought me on my knees and closer to my Savior. I am still seeking Him and depending on Him all the time. I don't know how anyone can live in this evil world without Him. I surrendered my life to Him and I only want to live to please and glorify Him.

My marriage is a picture of Christ and the church. The church is the bride of Christ. Once we are saved, we are always saved. Christ will never leave us. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is sealed inside me and cannot get out. I don't want to ever leave Christ. So how can a divorce be possible? The husband and wife become one.  "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"…(Eph 1:13 kjv).

I still struggle with things in life but I trust that God listens to my prayers and He will work all things out according to His will as long as I pray with the right motives. It's not my righteousness that I depend on for salvation, it's His righteousness that gets imputed onto me, I am cleansed with His precious blood that washes away my sins. I am not trusting in anything that I do but only trusting in Jesus' precious sinless blood. Now I have hope and assurance that one day I will be in Heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ for eternity and I look forward to that day when He comes back in His glory for His church when we will be given glorified bodies that live forever without sin in Heaven with Him FOREVER!  For now, I try to die to self and live for Christ. I can only do this by God's power and strength living in me. My spirit was dead but now I am alive! My soul is mixed with His Holy Spirit and I am a new creation, spiritually born again! The spiritual circumcision has cut away my soul from my sinful body of flesh. Even though my flesh is weak, I am strong through Christ who strengthens me. When God looks down at me, He sees Jesus Christ's righteousness. When I go through trials, I know that God allows them so I can grow closer and closer to Him. I hunger and thirst for Him because I depend on Him for comfort, strength, wisdom, and understanding. He reveals so much to me when I ask Him. I trust Him and ask for more faith when I doubt what He can do in my life.

As I look back on my life, I see how He blessed me. I see why He allowed certain situations and trials. It all makes sense. I have learned to trust Him more and to have more patience. I keep my eyes open to what He is trying to show me. I have a wonderful relationship with Christ, my Heavenly Husband. I want to suffer because He suffered for me. He bought me with a high price. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." (Phil. 1:29). 

The churches today are preaching the "love gospel", "unity", and ecumenicalism. They leave out God's judgement and hellfire preaching for those who don't obey Him.  Jesus preached we should be set apart from the world, not be a friend of the world. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (Jms 4:4 kjv). 

Being a Christian can be tough because people won't like you and you will be persecuted. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell". ( Matt 10:28 kjv).

I know that I know that I am saved so I always have that Blessed Hope that one day when this life is over I will be with Him for all eternity in glory! Amen! I love the Lord!

It was very rare and unusual that a popular and successful Southern evangelist would come up north for a series of meetings. But Evangelist Oliver B. Greene did exactly that. He came to Chester, Penna. in July of 1956 and set up his huge "circus tent" for a month-long meeting. He had the backing of many churches in the area.

I was going through some rough waters at the time. I had been attending a local Methodist Church in the area and was empty inside and dissatisfied there. The pastor of that church was very popular and on the radio daily. When the tent meetings began he attended one night and that next Sunday he warned the church folks not to go there. I decided to take his advice. In fact me and a couple of my friends would drive by with my red convertible with the top down and mock those in the meetings by shouting: "holy rollers" and "religious nuts", etc.

Then one of my friends in that car decided to attend what I called the "freak show" and the next time I saw him he was all excited and dared me to go with him. He talked about getting saved. I had no idea what he was talking about. I decided that if a certain girl I had wanted to date could convince her parents to allow her to go with me, I would do so. They had never wanted to allow her to date me before due to my reputation. But since this was a "religious meeting" they said O.K.

So when the night arrived I picked her up in my convertible and off my friend and his girl friend and the young lady and I drove to the meeting. This evangelist was loud and convincing and nothing like the soft-spoken, intellectual pastor at the Methodist church. But it really sounded like he knew the Bible he preached from and did so with great conviction. I was uncomfortable during the invitation but felt I should raise my hand to indicate I needed Christ as my Savior. But with our heads bowed I peaked at the young lady next to me to see if she was raising her hand. She didn't, so I was too embarrassed to do so. The congregation sang what seemed like 100 verses of "Just As I Am" and I couldn't wait to get out of that tent and vowed never to return.

The next night my friend again invited me to go back to the meeting. I had mixed emotions about that, but decided if that same young lady would be willing I would go along. She accepted my invite.

That night it seemed like Evangelist Greene had somehow found out about my life-style and knew what a sinner I had been and it was like he was preaching directly to me. This time when the invitation was given I knew the Lord wanted me to go forward. I didn't care what that young lady or anyone else did at that point.

The evangelist preached from a tractor-trailer flatbed and in back of that platform was where I was led. After shaking the evangelist's hand, I was introduced to a preacher who took me there and began to go over God's plan of salvation. I knelt down in the sawdust and asked the Lord to save my soul. Of course He did and that began my new life in Christ.

I was directed to a table with a young lady who took down my name and address to turn over to a local church pastor for follow up. Little did I know then that Shirley would later become my wife. She grew up in a Christian home and was saved as a young girl.

I had recently joined the U.S.Army and was shortly shipped out to Stuttgart, Germany for two years. I wrote to that young lady and she finally wrote back. We courted through the mail regularly after that and when I came back to the States, after one year of dating, we were married. It was obviously a part of God's overall plan for the two of us and God then called us to go to Seminary and into the pastoral ministry. We spent the next nearly 50 years together happily married. Shirley and I had two girls and two boys and "lived happily ever after". She was a wonderful wife and "helpmeet". She went to heaven two years ago and I miss her every day. We will be shortly reunited.

God was so good to us. After Seminary we pastored 4 churches. Two in N.Y. state, one in Maryland and finally one in Fairless Hills, PA. for 31 years. Though serious health problems forced me to retire, we continued an itinerant ministry for the next several years. We chose our home church to be Straightway Baptist under our pastor/teacher Louis Guarneri and the great folks there in Lawrenceville, N.J. (Because of his generosity and kindness this OLD preacher continues to preach and teach God's Word along with occasional meetings in other churches in our three state area.)

Visit Pastor Fedena's excellent website here: https://pastorpaulfedena.weebly.com/

I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home with two parents who deeply love the Lord and lived to serve him any way possible in their daily lives.  When I was about 7 my family went to a special meeting at church. I don't remember what else the preacher spoke about but I know he preached on hell and that is when I realized that I didn't want to go there and that I needed to be saved.

I remember leaning over to my Father and telling him that I didn't want to go to hell. He encouraged me to go forward during the invitation. I did and someone opened the Word of God and explained to me the way of salvation and I trusted Jesus as my Savior that day! Praise the Lord! At the ripe old age of 7 a huge weight was lifted and I felt peace and happiness.

Growing up in a Christian home is indeed a blessing, but there are also challenges. As I started my new life in the Lord I heard the Pastor talk about becoming a new creature and how our lives are changed when we ask Jesus into our hearts. I didn't see any change in my life and that really bothered me. Looking back, I'm not sure what horrible sins I would have been involved in at that age. But, I took everything literally and didn't think I was a "new creature".

My Father said not to worry and as long as the only thing I was trusting in for my salvation was what Jesus did on the cross, then I was saved.

But I worried. This went on for several years. One day when I was 12 I was alone in my tree fort praying for assurance. Our wonderful, loving, merciful God looked down from heaven and spoke to me. I remember it so clearly, the Holy Spirit, held me close and gave me such peace and assurance that has never left me. With tears streaming down my face I went running into the house to tell my mother that I was saved! really saved! God told me so!

From the time I first asked Jesus into my heart, God started teaching me how to pray. I had always heard that God answers prayer, boy does he! I had a lot of growing to do. God taught a little girl about prayer one step at a time. He answered so many of my childish (and yes selfish) prayers I really believe just to show me how much he loved me. I learned to pray specifically and most importantly of all to pray that His will be done.

I won't bore you with the list, we'd be here all day. But, when God started Straightway Baptist my husband and I were serving at another church with the Guarneris. God put a real burden on our hearts for this church and we started coming down on Sunday afternoons to do what we could to help and then going back to our church for evening service, 30 miles each way. We not only prayed that God would bless the new church but that he would guide us and show us what he wanted us to do. When the church had it's very first service we were there. The following Sunday we were back in our places at the other church. The Lord moved in the service and in the Sunday School class that I was teaching, but something wasn't right. On the ride home from church I started crying, I asked my husband what we were going to do. He didn't even hesitate, he said that God wanted us to be at Straightway. Praise God for my husband! 

There have been good times and bad, but through it all God has been there and richly blessed our family. Thank you God I can't imagine life without you!

For as long as I can remember I have felt a draw to God. There was a church around the corner from my house, and I could often be found there, when the doors were open. My mother never forced me to go to church, I would get myself up and out the door. But I was not saved. My siblings and I would spend summers in the small Pennsylvania town where I was born with a great-great aunt. This aunt, who was born in 1890s, was saved and she had a firm idea about how girls should be brought up. So, at the age of ten I was tasked with reading the Bible to her daily. This became a habit which I took home with me, reading it every night. By the time I was twelve I felt the Lord pulling on my heart. Verses like John 3:16 and Ephesians 2: 8 called to me. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.", became a drum beat in my soul, calling for a response. One night, about a month before my thirteenth birthday, I knelt beside my bed and prayed. I remember asking God to forgive my sins and telling Him of my believeth that Jesus died for them. When I closed that prayer, I felt reborn. I was certain I was saved. Then I went to church the following Sunday. I should state here that the church I was going to was Pentecostal, my young mind did not know it was not scripturally sound. I was excited when I told my Pastor that I had gotten saved, his response was "did you speak in tongues?", my response was 'no'. I was then told I was not saved, and I needed to "tarry" at the altar until it happened. As a child I did what he said after service that day, nothing happened, nor did it happen at any other time, leading me to believe I was not saved. It was not until years later when I met my future father-in-law that the assurance of my salvation was explained to me. At that time, I learned to rest in my salvation, and I was finally baptized. From that time on I have walked with the Lord.

I grew up in Kolkata in a house where my mom was a Christian and my dad a Hindu. My dad never really practiced his religion and he never stopped my mom from practicing hers. I always considered myself a Christian thanks to my mom's influence! I always knew that Jesus died on the cross for me and most importantly that He arose on the third day. I knew He is a living God and not some idol and that I can talk to Him whenever I wanted and that I did not need a priest to intercede for me. In spite of knowing the Lord, deep in my heart I always thought I could lose my salvation if I did something terrible. One day Pastor Guarneri came knocking at my door. He was just about to start a new church and was inviting people over. I'm so glad and thank the Lord that He sent Pastor to my door. I was attending a church and was a member too but it was a huge church and no one really knew anyone there. Pastor showed me the Romans road to salvation and told me I am a sinner and that Jesus has paid the price. I realized that it does not have to be paid again and again. Jesus paid the price not in silver or gold but with His precious blood. He took our sins upon Him and the pain and shame on the cross. ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED! Ever since that day, I am a100% sure I am on my way to Heaven and all my doubts are gone. The Lord sent Pastor to my house that day, it was not a coincidence! Pastor kept following back with me and I started attending Straightway Baptist Church and have been coming here since the doors opened seventeen years ago. The minute I walked in I felt so welcome and I knew this was where I wanted to worship. Pastor preaches from the Bible and has a burden for the unsaved and will not miss an opportunity to share the gospel with someone. When my mom attended Straightway Baptist for the first time, she told me she was praying for me to find a good church and that she was so happy the Lord had answered her prayers. Happy to add that my dad accepted the Lord on August 1st, 2015, the first day my mom started her chemotherapy. Now both are waiting for me in Heaven!