Life is full of choices. Some choices are most insignificant while others carry a tremendous amount of value. Choosing a wife is the second most important decision in my life. Buying a house was also important. purchasing an automobile is very important.  However, the most important decision in my life was when I received Jesus Christ as my Savior.  I was seventeen years old at the time.

    My parents were outdoor show-people, consequently, the family traveled a great deal throughout the eastern part of the United States.  We had no real assets until early nineteen fifty when my parents purchased a home in Glens Falls, New York. We slowly began to settle down and establish good living habits. We never attended church and for that matter, we never owned a Bible.  The Church, the Bible, and Jesus Christ were never part of our daily life. Just before I turned eighteen in October 1953, I was invited by a young lady, a member of First Baptist Church of South Glens Falls, to attend a special evangelistic service.   I attended this service out of curiosity, however, for the first time in my life I heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached. The exposure to God's Word made me aware that I was lost and in need of the Savior. The Holy Spirit began convicting my heart of sin, and certain spiritual needs were created.  The days following this incident caused me to think much about my relationship with the Lord.  Two weeks passed before I was invited to attend a Youth Rally at the Word of Life Camp in Schroon Lake, New York.  I went along with some other young people from the First Baptist Church, and again I was told by Jack Wyrtzen that I was a sinner and needed the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  Many total strangers and those from the First Baptist Church told me that they were praying for me. It seemed strange that these people were so concerned with my spiritual needs.

    I knew that my heart was under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and while attending Church one Sunday night, an invitation was extended to me by the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I surrendered my life to Him and was assured of my salvation through the Scriptures and the witness of the Holy Spirit in my life.

    During the month of March 1961, Janice and I were praying for a definite leading of God's hand in our lives. We had been praying a great deal previously, seeking direction from God's Word regarding our future. At the time we were active in Young Peoples and was involved in the visitation program of our Church.  The increasing knowledge of the Bible and the exercising power of the Holy Spirit caused us to apply for entrance at Buffalo Bible Institute, Buffalo, New York.  Our intentions and basic motives were to start learning God's Word further and to prepare for some type of Christian ministry.  While enrolled as a student at BBI and while studying the Bible, I received an individual and personal call (not mystical nor audible) to enter the pastorate.  Perhaps it can be best said by Jeremiah's words, "then I said, I will not make mention of Him (God) nor speak anymore of His name (God). But His Word was in my heart like a burning fire, shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forebearing, and I could not refrain to speak,"(20:9).  I was struck with the urgency and importance of these words and decided to prepare for the ministry.  We later graduated from Houghton College (BS65) and Grace Theological Seminary (MDiv74).   We did some post-grad work at Westminster Theological Seminary.   God has marvelously blessed us with a fine Biblical education and many faithful productive years serving Him as a Pastor.

    As Senior Pastor I do not believe in the "DICTATORIAL or LORDSHIP" relationship over the Congregation, but as "a Shepherd who feeds the flock", (I Peter 5:1-4), and "overseer, servant and a leader".   No man is qualified to be Pastor who is concerned with pleasing men rather than pleasing God.  I try to offer good judgment, leadership ability, financial integrity, a life of prayer, and a well balanced family relationship.

    I believe as Pastor that I have a responsibility to edify and exhort the Saints.  We are living in an age of humanism, rationalism, materialism, secularism, and apathy. It is essentially important that the local Pastor teach the Word of God, making it relevant to the lives of his people. Pastor and people should grow together in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, (II Peter 3:18). Knowing and being able to handle the Word of God, contending for the faith, and maintaining a positive view of worldly separation is vital to Christians today. We are facing the onslaught of cultism and atheism, coupled with complacency of Christians and non-christians, which makes it virtually important that the Pastor present a positive relevant message from the Word.

    There are countless numbers of opportunities to which Christians may avail themselves to an evangelistic thrust in the furtherance of the Gospel on earth. There are opportunities today which never been available in the history of mankind. There are untold millions who have not heard the Gospel. There is a pressing need and urgency of the hour to develop ministries of literature, radio, television, and personal soul winning, etc. to reach our communities, state, and nation with the precious Good News.

    I wonder as you read this brief testimony if you have ever received Jesus Christ as your Savior.  The Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved."  Invited Him into your life today and received the assurance of eternal life and the peace of God.  "Therefore having been justified by faith, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1:)