My Testimony: Page Two

Welcome to page two of my story which promises to be as monotonous as page one. Looking at the events which must, at some point, be covered, I’m realizing that certain things will require extended explanation while others will certainly stir up controversy. I pray for wisdom in telling things accurately as I’m remembering back to the mid 1980s, and in such a fashion as to bring glory to the name of Jesus. Well, here we go again:

INSTALLMENT IV “AND YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER”

In early June of 1984, I reported to the USS Guam (LPH 9) in Norfolk Virginia which had just returned from a cruise to be not soon forgotten. They had participated in the invasion of Grenada before heading to the Mediterranean where they were stationed off the coast of Beirut for 142 continuous days. It was during this time that the marine barrackes in Beirut was bombed and several of the fallen marines were brought to the Guam before being returned stateside. When I arrived on board, they were awaiting an overhaul period that would transpire in Philadelphia, beginning in September of 1984 and lasting ten months.

My first couple of months were very uneventful; even dangerously monotonous. I had no fellowship at first as I didn’t know many who were outside of my immediate department. I could feel the spiritual draining and knew that this couldn’t be permitted to continue. Unbeknownst to me at the time, there was a vibrant fellowship on board the USS Guam; all of whom had been on the previous cruise. Incidently, the first saint that I came into contact with wasn’t on the ship. It was a brother whom I met outside the base heading into town. (I don’t even remember his name) We talked briefly before deciding to head out and tell people about Jesus. I had never taken the gospel to strangers in the street before and so it was a new experience completely. The first guy that I talked to sarchastically replied “Oh GREAT!”

“Well yes sir it really is great because Jesus paid for our sins to keep us from spending eternity in hell.” I don’t remember my exact response, but it was seemless and the Lord blessed that night. Interestingly, this was my only encounter with the saint whose name I don’t remember, but something within had been kindled. It’s amazing that 24 years later, my life is far more complex, but whenever I can get into the streets and share the gospel, I feel more at home than anywhere else; even home. A well-meaning friend at work one day told me. “You need some timbob time. You work, take care of your family at home and then go into the streets. You need some time to yourself.” The truth is that sharing the gospel in the streets is like “time to myself.” It’s the thing that’s on my heart. If I were to win a dream vacation for two and the choices were either a seven day Carribean cruise, or seven days on the streets of a gritty east coast metropolis, I would choose the gritty east coast metropolis. (My wife would freak out! lol) I pray that doesn’t sound too ridiculous because it’s the truth.

Mark Gardner and his wife are missionaries in Namibia. Back in August of 1984, however, Mark became the first saint on board the USS Guam that I came into contact with. I learned that there were several others and soon discovered that they had a very close fellowship. It was a Wednesday evening when I visited Brother Marks church on Hampton Blvd. It was my first ever visit to a Pentecostal church, and I was impressed that they spent a half hour or so before service in prayer to the Lord. (Wow! What an awesome idea!) I found a place near the door and began to talk to the Lord, thanking him for this newfound fellowship and a host of other things. While I believed that the baptism of the Holy Ghost is for every generation, I didn’t expect to receive it about three minutes after I began praying. It happened so fast and unexpectedly that it’s like I was talking to the Lord when it dawned on me that my understanding had ceased.

It wasn’t long afterwards that I was baptized again; this time in Jesus name, which I believe to be the scriptural method. This is the name that is above all names, the name that we call upon to be saved, and the name by which everyone in scripture was baptized. This is one of those areas that I probably should elaborate on, but there will be time do do so later on in this testimony. It has been, in times past, such a point of contention; even on the USS Guam, that I tend to resist being drawn into debatings. It became so devicive at one point that I simply began telling everyone, “I’ve done it both ways, leave me alone!” I wasn’t trying to be smart; I was just wearied over the constant wrangling. It was a single sticking point that was disrupting an awesome fellowship.

The remainder of this early time in Norfolk was awesome. I loved the saints at Marks church, loved the saints on the ship, and it was a time of real growth; though much of that growth came the hard way. When we are baptized in the Holy Ghost we are endued with power from on high. It doesn’t mean that we are instantly a lot smarter and I was about as dumb as a box of rocks on a number of issues. My zeal scared a lot of people and I know of incidents where I unwittingly caused scattering. Then there was the early wrestling with spiritual pride; a feeling that I had somehow “arrived.” But God is faithful to finish the work that he has started in us as we strive to each day become more like Jesus and less like us. It’s amazing to look back at certain points in our walk and say “wow; I was really immature and carnal back in those days.” Such observations may be hard, but the past, with all of its missteps and blunders, makes manifest the growth that has taken place. And we glorify the Lord Jesus who is daily transforming us into his likeness.

The next installment will entail our ten month overhaul period in Philadelphia; a city that still occupies a special place in my heart insofar as the people and their need to know Jesus. I’m still wrestling with how much information to place in this testimony although one can be assured that there are coming installments that will cover several years. My first year as a christian however, was complex and it really cannot be rushed through if any level of accuracy is being sought.

INSTALLMENT V “PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENTS”  I’ll get to this when I can.