"LIVING LIFE'S GREATEST ADVENTURE!"

Ray's Conversion:

When I was a small boy of around nine years of age I began living life's greatest adventure.  My life prior to this time, however, was not what you would call normal. My first memories of my mother were when the sheriff came to take her away to a mental institution.  My older brother's told me that my father often came home drunk and had abused my mother on a regular basis. (My father repented later in life but lived a life of deep regret.) Due to the physical abuse and the death of twin girls at birth, my mother suffered a mental breakdown. She was confined   until I was an older teen and was never completely well. My dad left our family of five boys in the care of my grandparents, my mother's parents, who had already raised five children of their own.  My grandfather had been a banker and was called to preach later in life. The care of five growing boys was difficult for them because in those days there was little income from the small country church in Tensas Parish, Louisiana.  We had to sharecrop 5 acres and later it expanded to 15 acres. This along with hunting, fishing, and gardening helped to make ends meet. My older brothers did much of the work of planting, chopping and picking the 15 acres of cotton. I was the youngest and could only pull about a half of a cotton sack.   I always looked forward to the cold cokes and bologna sandwiches at lunch. Though many years ago, I still remember that the cotton was higher than my head. It didn't take long until I was soaking wet from picking the cotton while it was still covered in dew. My grandparents did the best they could and provided a home until, as time went by, one by one my brothers moved away to school, marriage, or military.  I can remember during those early years that periodically we would have revival services in this small rural community.  The visiting evangelist would often have large speakers that would be mounted on the top of the church house so the message could be broadcast over the entire area. One day I went to the church office from our home next door intending to speak with my grandfather. Upon approaching the building I heard voices coming from inside. It was my grandfather and the visiting evangelist praying. Though I was small I had heard about Jesus many times from my grandfather. Hearing them pray is still etched in my mind as a defining moment in my coming to Christ.  God used this experience to convict me that I was a sinner and needed to be saved.  I do not recall exactly which service it was when life began for me. I do remember standing in the church pew gripping the back of the pew in front of me under deep conviction that I was lost.  My best friend stepped out during the invitation and that was all I needed. I stepped out right behind him and gave my life to Jesus Christ.  When Jesus came into my heart he made a permanent change in my life.  Experiencing his love for me and what that has meant to me through the years could never be completely expressed.   I have struggled as all believers do but God began the process of growing me up in Christ and the work he began continues today. I have spent a lifetime discovering the spiritual blessings that I received that night as a young boy. I am still opening the treasure chest of his promises today and know that this life that he gave me will last for all eternity.  If you would like to know more about how you can experience this new life and how you can live “Life’s Greatest Adventure” go to the GOOD NEWS. May God bless you. ---Ray Mears