June 3, 2002, E-Wire contributor, Dyserth, UK

Janet

What comes to mind when you think of the year 1919 ? To me that was the year when as a small child I took the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour. It was in the evening of the 5th August 1919 that I went with my family to a Christian event in Liverpool, at which the preacher was a Mr. Fred Elliot. I had been brought up in a Christian home where we read the Bible every morning around the breakfast table, but I began to be aware that that did not make me a Christian. We had recently moved to Liverpool and I had started school there. As I listened to Mr. Elliot's words that evening, I felt that I needed to do something. An incident had occurred at school which showed me that I was not the good little girl that I appeared to be, and so, when Mr. Elliot asked if anyone wanted to know more about salvation, that they should make their way into the Enquiry room. I slipped off my seat and went in. A dear lady whom I recognised took me onto her lap and showed me that if I really wanted to be saved I could be, simply by just trusting what the Lord Jesus had said in His Word, the Bible. Then she got me to read from her Bible, the gospel of John Chapter 3 and verse 16. " For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." All I had to do was to believe what the words of Jesus meant, and to believe that when He said WHOSOEVER He included me in that number even though I was only a little child. I knew full well how to believe my parents when they spoke to me and now I could also believe the Lord Jesus Christ. I knew about His death on Calvary's cross, and His resurrection, but now I could know with certainty that His death was for me, for my sins. I felt so happy then, and also knew that my parents would be happy for me and as I continued to read the words in the Bible, particularly those in the New Testament, they applied to me. The promise to send His Holy Spirit to be a guide in my life; the promise that He would hear me when I prayed to Him -- all became so real. I can remember talking about my Saviour to a little girl as I walked around the school playground. I knew her parents went to a different church to mine, but she knew what I was talking about. Let me commend my Saviour to anyone reading my simple story: the joy of knowing the cleansing from wrongdoing; the peace in your heart that results from committing all your way of life to the Saviour, for His help and strength. With he wonder of hindsight I can see His hand leading me through childhood, adult life, married life, family life and now in widowhood. He remains faithful and available to all who call upon Him. Come to Him today; I urge you do not delay. Remember that you too are include in the WHOSOEVER spoken of by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Janet 3/12/2001. Editors comment. Janet's home is adjacent to the famous ' Offa's Dyke Path' which runs alongside a earth mound dyke constructed by an ancient King Offa of Mercia, to contain the Celts (Welsh) hoards who pillaged across the border. Many ramblers use this path and, as it passes directly through her garden she has opportunity to greet them and give a word of testimony and a gospel tract.