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Leon Kirksey
Born Again: In the Summer
Place: On a hillside, just off a country lane
Age: About 16
His Testimony
My mother died when I was two years old and all my life I was told that her dying request was that everyone would pray for me to be saved someday so that I could meet her in heaven. That stayed with me all my life. My family attended church and I grew up knowing that everyone needed to be saved, but I was not convicted of my sins until I was about fifteen or sixteen years old. I didn't tell anyone, but when I was by myself I would try to pray. I remember plowing a field one day and as I plowed up roots they would fly back and hit me on the leg as if they were condemning me. One night I walked out of the house and down a lane toward a creek. I was so burdened that I determined not to come back home until the Lord saved me. On a hillside beside that lane, in the dark, I prayed earnestly to the Lord and He saved my soul. The night was suddenly as bright as day to me and my burden was gone. A few weeks later, the revival started at New Hope Baptist Church. The Lord was working in power. So many people came that they had to stand outside the church. Sinners were under conviction and were down praying in the altar of the church, in the woods surrounding the church and in the church yard. I have never seen a revival like it before or since. I joined the church and was one of forty people who were baptized in Batten's Creek by Brother Hersey Hopper, pastor of New Hope, after the revival was over. A cloud came up while Brother Hopper was baptizing and it began to rain, but no one seemed to mind. They just stood there until everyone had been baptized. They were still full of the Spirit of the Lord. I have not always done what the Lord would have me do, but He has always been with me.
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Marguerite Kirksey
Born Again: Friday, the Third
Week of August
Place: Concord Baptist Church Revival
Age: 11
Her Testimony
I felt lost for the first time at age eleven during Concord's revival. I thought Brother Elihu Martin preached every word to me. I was so convicted I went to the altar for prayer twice that week. On Friday, I was determined I would not leave until I was saved. The burden was so heavy I thought I would die and after the church had dismissed, I asked if they would pray one more prayer with me. I don't remember much about that prayer except praying, "Please Lord don't let me die like this. I will go to hell." Suddenly, I knew I had something I couldn't wait to tell. I had planned to shout, but I didn't. I just had a sweet peace. I joined the church and was baptized the next day.