Agnes Ostendorf

I thank God for the assurance in my heart that I am a child of God. During a revival meeting we were having in Dallas, Oregon, years ago, I shall never forget the young people around my age who were saved.

Those were depression days and hard times, but you know the Lord was always there in time to help us. We had a large family of 10 children, and mother and dad. Jesus never failed. I could tell you many things that proves that He is real, and I thank Him with all my heart.

We children would gather around outside the woodshed and pray; and many times one of them would preach. We were just playing, but it was impressive. We knew there was something real to the Gospel, and as I grew older my father wanted that victory. He was in church; he had a profession but no possession. He wondered if he could have this victory. The saints of God gathered around him at the altar and prayed, and the Lord gave him this old-time religion. Through that we came into this wonderful Gospel.

My mother was a little bit skeptical, and wondered if what my father received would really last. My father went back over his past life and started making restitution, and through this my mother also gave her heart and life to the Lord, and we children were brought to these meetings where we heard the story of Jesus and His power to save and keep.

I knew there was a God and I knew He saw me and there was something to answer for.

My mother tried to be a Christian before she found the Lord. At the age of 11, she went forward in a little church as she wanted to be a missionary. She didn’t know the depths of salvation, but yet she wanted to as she was hungry for the truth. I’m glad that the Lord put it in her heart to teach us children the Word of God. She said, “I didn’t know I would have a family of 10 to teach the Word of God.” She also said, “Those children had to be missionaries for her because she couldn’t be.” I’m glad that most of us are in the Gospel today. I’m also glad that Mother prayed for us children, and those prayers were answered and were not in vain, and she prayed many times.

I had her in my home the last months of her life, and oh, how she used to pray! I used to say, “That’s a wonderful thing to have a burden of prayer.” And I missed her praying so when she didn’t pray anymore; she had gone to Glory. I’m glad her prayers are following those for whom she prayed, and those prayers were bottled in Heaven, and I know the Lord answered prayer in my behalf.

The first miracle I saw was one time when I had my finger mashed while playing in the yard. The first thing my father did was to put the Bible on it, and he prayed and the Lord took the pain away instantly. I was about four years old at the time, but I never forgot it as it seemed so wonderful. I had no more pain in that finger, and I went out to play after they wrapped it up.

It planted faith in my heart at an early age. I knew there was a God and I knew He saw me and there was something to answer for.

I was just a child when I came into this wonderful Gospel. I was only 13 years of age when I surrendered my life and heart to the Lord from that time on.

That night in those revival meetings the Lord showed me I should yield my all to Him. I wanted that peace they told about; how glad I am that I went to the altar of prayer. I was one of those who prayed my way through to victory at an early age. I pleaded guilty, and told Jesus if He would give me the same peace the people of God told me about, and keep me true to Him wherever I went, I would serve Him.

I have seen the Lord do marvelous things, and perform wonderful healings through prayer in our home.

He heard my prayer and saved my soul. I shall never forget when He came into my heart. I love Him because He has done more than I could ever tell. That burden of sin rolled away. Although I never went deep into sin, when I prayed I meant business, and the Lord made a wonderful change in my heart and life.

He put a hunger in my heart for sanctification, a second, definite work of grace. And in the little children’s tabernacle on a Friday morning, He sanctified my soul. Then that Friday night I came down close to the front of the tabernacle as I heard the founder of this Gospel saying that you have to be hungry like a little bird for its food. And, oh, I was so hungry for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I came right down to the front, and I shall never forget how I prayed at the altar, and how the Lord baptized my soul.

It was so wonderful! I have that blessed experience in my heart still, and it is more glorious as I go on with the Lord. I can see Him move in every avenue of my life. I thank Him for all the blessings He bestows upon me. I couldn’t tell all He has done for me. Only the Lord knows the many things He has done in my life, and I give Him all the glory.

Just a short time after I was saved, there was an awful accident that happened in our home. My brother was accidentally shot. Oh, it was so terrible. I am thankful that we could pray because He spared my brother’s life and he is a witness for God today.

I have seen the Lord do marvelous things, and perform wonderful healings through prayer in our home. I could never doubt the wonderful workings of Jesus because His precious blood availed.

Some years ago it seemed my voice was completely gone after praying one night. The minister had preached a sermon that I knew it was for me. I knew that God could heal; and that very moment it seemed my voice opened up in the prayer meeting. I thank God for answered prayer. I have learned to trust Him. It seems a Christian just automatically asks God when in time of need, and He undertakes and how we praise Him.

Only the Lord knows the many things He has done in my life, and I give Him all the glory.

I thought of my brother who is a minister in this Gospel today, how the Lord so miraculously healed him. I remember when I used to lead him around, teaching him to walk. He walked on his ankle. He was a cripple, but the prayer of faith was prayed, many years ago, when he was in my mother’s arms; and the Founder, Sister Crawford, of this Gospel said, “Jesus, heal him and make him a servant for Your honor and glory.” I’m glad those prayers were answered, and the Lord healed that foot and he could walk on it as straight as anyone. He has been healed these many years.

When I saw my husband so low I knew it was only God that would lift him up this time, and through the prayers of God’s people we have proved the devil is a liar again. Jesus’ Blood flowed through his body and made him well and healed him again. Many people these days think the days of miracles are past, but I can say that miracles are not past. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. We are serving a living Christ, and He has power in Heaven and earth. It is real.

It is a privilege when we have opportunities of singing to the shut-ins in the different institutions, and those who are not able to be in these services. Oh, the blessing that comes when you see their gratitude and how they love to hear the Gospel songs. They know the winner, and we thank God we represent this wonderful story of Jesus – not only that He came as a Babe in the manger, but that He came into our hearts. And we are praying, watching and looking for His soon coming. I thank God for the many years I have proven this salvation over and over, and today I can say I am a little nearer the goal than I ever was.