Carl Scates

Born Again: Sunday, March 22, 1969
At 10:20 P. M.
Place: My home, in my bedroom
Age: 37

His Testimony

I<> came under conviction when I was nine or ten years old. I started going to the alter asking the Lord to save me. For some reason, God didn't save me and after three or four years, I stopped going to the altar. Eventually, I stopped going to church. Nearly thirty years later, my wife, Francis, asked me to go to church with her and I consented. After hearing Brother Allison preach the gospel on Sunday night, I was extremely troubled. That night as I was going to bed, I asked the Lord to save me and He did. I do not know why God didn't save me at first nor why He saved me at that time, but I am extremely proud He did. I felt relieved!

Frances Spellings Scates

Born Again: The second week in August
Place: Westport Baptist Church
Age: 14

Her Testimony

I was privileged to be raised in a Christian home where going to church was a way of life, not an option. When I was fourteen years old, I was sitting on the fourth row from the front of the church. During the invitation, the pastor said, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God". This was the first time I realized he was speaking to me. I got up out of my seat and started toward the front of the church. I had not reached the altar before I was saved. I cannot explain how I felt or why the Lord chose these words to convict me of my sins. I was baptized the following Sunday at Maple Creek Lake. Since that day I have failed the Lord in many ways, but he has never failed me. The older I get the more precious this becomes to me and it's this experience I am depending on, when I breath my last breath, to carry me home. Not for anything I have ever done for the Lord, but what he did for me. I'm thankful to be a member of Independent* Church where I feel loved and hear the gospel taught every week.

*Now Huntingdon Missionary Baptist Church