I was always afraid of the Lord’s coming. My sister Pam and I always shared a bed and I’d wake in the middle of the night absolutely terrified to turn around to see if she was still there or not. She was saved before I was so I knew she would be going and I’d be left behind if He did come back.

We were always brought to any gospel meeting within an hour and a half so I heard the gospel plenty and I decided I’d quietly figure it out on my own at some point. I was very afraid that I was going to miss it but still quietly struggled along. When I was 18, Eugene Higgins and Sidney Maxwell came for tent meetings in Bonshaw. That was 1990 for anyone who likes to know dates. 😊

I sat through 6 weeks of gospel meetings and couldn’t get it. Eugene called me up on Monday, August 6, and asked me if he could come for a chat. I certainly did NOT want to talk to him but didn’t have the bravery to say no so accepted his offer and hardly ate a thing from Monday until Wednesday when he said he was able to come. It takes a lot to ruin my appetite! 😬 He explained to me when he came on Wednesday that when Jesus died on the cross, He died for every one of my sins and explained that in Isaiah 44.22 redeemed meant saved.

Isaiah 44:22 KJV
[22] I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

I went to work that evening instead of to gospel meeting and all I could think of as I rang groceries in (I was a cashier at a grocery store) that I was going to go to hell because I couldn’t just accept something so simple as that. The work was all done, there was nothing left for me to do but take it and I didn’t know how so I was going to hell. I went home from work and was getting ready for bed with all those dark thoughts rolling around in my mind. I asked myself why couldn’t I just accept it? Why couldn’t i just believe it? Why couldn’t i just say “oh” and take it for myself. That’s what I did right then and there. I realized that’s all I did have to do was say “oh, He did that for Me. Thank you!!” 😊

Since I heard the word “saved” all my life and figured that was unattainable for me, I didn’t clue in that I was actually saved but I knew if the Lord came, I was going. What a wonderful….feeling/knowledge/fact!

The next day I went to work again. On my break I got my Bible out again to look at that interesting verse that Gene had showed me. “I have blotted out…thy sins…return unto me for I have redeemed thee. Hey, He said redeemed meant saved. I’m saved!! Haha.

That night after gospel meeting I whispered to Sandra not to tell anybody but I was saved last night. She didn’t agree to my request. She made quite a scene. Lol. I panicked for a fraction of a second then enjoyed that everyone was rejoicing with me. 😊

Psalm 105:5 KJV
[5] Remember his marvellous works that he hath done …

I am a sinner saved by grace.

I was born in Philippines and was brought up as a Roman Catholic. I am the oldest of three siblings. I was a self-righteous sinner. Having confidence in my self that I would be in heaven when I died because of my  good works, attending church, doing the best I could for myself, for my family and for my fellows. Trying to live good and do good. I wanted to be in heaven when I died.

At the age of 28, opportunity came to me, Maricel Butler (a friend and former co-worker in Taiwan) helped me to get a job here in Canada. I got accepted and soon travelled to Canada.  When I arrived, I stayed at her house. She asked me to go with her to attend a gospel meeting held at the Gospel Hall in Springfield West. My answer to her was, “Are they Catholic?” She replied, “No, but they preach the Lord Jesus and the way of Salvation.” Then I asked, “Are they going to baptize me?” She said, “No, we will just sit and listen to the message”.

We went together that Sunday. Two men went up to the pulpit and preached the word of God. all I remembered is this verse he  quoted:

Romans 3:23 (KJV)
[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

As I recall the man who read that verse was Kevin MacNeill ( I clearly remember him because of  big stature but a very gentle voice).

I was wondering about that verse, if sinners would not be in heaven because of sin, what about me? I didn’t know if my sin was forgiven and how could I know? Some of the  girls at the house where I lived told me that they were saved and they knew for sure that their sins were all forgiven and they knew for sure if they died they were going to heaven. They had confidence and boldness. I replied to them “Me too” but really deep inside my heart I had no assurance that I would be there too. I just wanted to feel good. I kept coming to the gospel meetings whenever I could with the help of Mackenzie family. They are faithful and kind. They invited us to go to meetings and gave us rides as well.

Hearing more of the gospel made me worried about my sin. In no time I realized that all my sin would be judged and I was guilty. All my self righteousness was like bubbles when they are popped and disappear. I had nothing. I would not be in heaven when I died. I started reading my bible and praying to the Lord that he would save me. Reading this passage gave me hope.

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
[33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 7:7 (KJV)
[7] Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

That time I was working night shift with Sarah Voutour (she is a believer in the Lord Jesus ). One afternoon Timmy  MacKenzie dropped by to see us and we had a short reading in Luke 15 about the Prodigal son. Then he asked me, “What is the hinderance why you’re not saved?” It made me think. While working i kept thinking about it. Then i remembered the verse in Matthew:

Matthew 6:15 (KJV)
[15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Then suddenly I remembered this guy that I hated most and I cursed to his face that I would never forgive him. I came home with a heavy heart. Before going to bed, I read and prayed that the Lord would give me a forgiving heart. I was thinking that God was so good and kind to me and my  family. I poured my heart to the Lord, giving all the hatred and pain to him. In return the Lord softened my heart. I was able to forgive him.

On Sunday morning Sarah invited me to go with her to the morning meeting. I went with her and sat at the back row.  At the end of the meeting, a man from Summerside, Ken Tran got up and spoke and read in Ephesians 2:8-9.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Hearing the verse and his message on that very moment I came to realize that it’s by grace and faith on the Lord Jesus. It’s all His work on the Cross. He suffered and died on the Cross for sin. Then I realized that he suffered and died for my sin. My many sins  will not be judged but all my sins will be gone forever.That morning I trusted the Lord Jesus with all my heart that when he died, he died for me. It’s not my good works  that saved me and gave me assurance but from His word that salvation is a gift from God and not by good works. Now its not my good works that will save me, and leads me to heaven but the works of the  Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only Son.

My assurance comes from His word that salvation is a gift from God and by His grace. It was June 23, 2013 when I trusted him and became a believer. Praise God for His Son.

I was saved in December, 20 years ago. I was 5 years old and had been troubled or over a year. I knew I was a sinner and was going to hell but I just couldn’t figure out how to be saved.

I was so confused with how to believe and to have faith… So It was on a Sunday night after gospel meeting. Amand Losier was the speaker and he read a verse in Matthew 19:14:

Matthew 19:14 KJV
[14] But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

That verse kept going through my head. It was later on that night in my room that it all came so clear and simple that everything was done. All I had to do was to come to him and that was it!

I was saved the day before my 8th birthday. August 5th, 2006. I don’t remember being majorly troubled before this day, but it was always in the back of my mind that if the Lord came, I’d be left behind… and that always terrified me.

Mom and dad were gone to Ireland and we were staying at Grammie and Grampie Wallace’s. I was listening to a tape (I feel old now 😂) and one of the songs was “I’ll Fly Away”, and it hit me all at once, I wasn’t saved. I’d be left behind in my sins and there would be no hope for me after that.

I went upstairs and knew I needed to get this settled right then, because something else that scared me, was that the Lord might stop dealing with me. I asked Him to save me and realized that it was soo simple. That if I just believed that he died for ME, I wouldn’t be left behind and I wouldn’t have to go to hell.

So so simple. People always say it’s just like child-like faith, but that’s exactly what it was for me. I just believed Him, and he saved me. 😊♥️