Annie Morgan

I am so glad for the day that God called me to take the way of the Cross. I have been thinking of the opportunities I had when a young girl. My family was well thought of, and I had an opportunity for a good education. They sent me to a finishing school where I studied music and art. I belonged to the clubs, and associated with a class of people that did not have to work for a living.

I had been a church member from the time I was about thirteen years old, and I tried so hard to serve the Lord. I was always on hand when there was anything to be done. I worked among the poor. I loved the downtrodden and was always so willing to help neglected children. But somehow, in the back of my mind, there was always that thought that I was not right with God. I feared to die, and I knew that Jesus was coming again and I wasn’t ready to meet Him. The question was always coming to my mind, “Am I right in God’s sight?” No one ever told me—I never even heard it hinted—that a Christian could live above sin. But I am so glad that I struggled on. I always knew that somewhere on earth God had those who would lead His people. I was willing to be led; and so I searched everywhere.

One day I received a little paper titled “Divine Healing,” so I got real light concerning the Word of God. It made such a change in my life; it opened up worlds in that Word of God. That paper was full of life. It said that Jesus still healed the sick, the same as He did when He walked the shores of Galilee. From that very day I trusted God. At the same time I heard about Christians paying tithes, and I thought that was so wonderful, so I did that also. I kept the Sabbath as well, but still, I knew I was not right with God.

One night I was so discouraged and broken hearted that it seemed there wasn’t a thing in life for me—nothing to look forward to. I took my little children upstairs and put them to bed, and turned the light down low until they were asleep. Then I knelt down by a window in their room that faced the East. I thought about Daniel and how he prayed to God, and God heard him. I thought if I could talk to God as Daniel did, He would hear my prayer. I said, “God, if You will lead me to Your people, I will follow them to the ends of the earth.”

We had a nice little home with everything we needed, and we had a good start in life, but my husband made up his mind we were moving to Portland, Oregon. I thought it was such a foolish thing to give up everything and move west, but we did it. My husband moved first and on his first Sunday here, he heard the Apostolic Faith people.

A few months later I arrived. Just one hour after reaching Portland, I sat in one of the meetings among these people. I was there under protest. When I left from the East I thought I was through with religion. I had tried so many different doctrines and studied so many different things. I had tried Christian Science, Russellism, Mormonism, and Darwinism, but somehow they did not register true in my heart. I held to the Bible all my life. I never could remember a time when I didn’t love God’s Word, and I tried so hard to live according to it.

The trip from Canada with three little children had been a long one and I was tired and weary that night. But I heard the Shepherd’s voice when I entered their hall and listened to the meeting. A preacher stood up and preached the Word that says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” He said it didn’t make any difference how many churches a person belonged to or what profession they had, if they sinned they were a sinner. God showed me the Cross, and I saw Jesus on the Cross. He spoke to my heart as though I were the only one in the entire world He had died for. He opened my eyes to the truth and I realized for the first time in my life what the problem was with my Christian experience.

Such a fear came into my heart; I thought I was the worst sinner there. Every crooked thing I ever did came up before me. But I am glad God gave me an honest heart. I got on my knees, and God gave me real repentance and a godly sorrow for my sins. For the first time in my life I knew I was right with God. He set me free from sin, and oh, what victory and peace came into my heart! God has given me power to live the life of a real Christian. I had no trouble turning the old world down with its folly and pride, for I had found the peace my soul had sought for so many years. I rejoice that God has counted me worthy to be a child of the King.