Beatrice Jones

No matter where you are, whether you are in a Christian environment or not, you can answer the call of Christ.

I was born into a Protestant family. We were truly “protestant”—always protesting, seldom yielding to Christ’s will.

I was really seeking for salvation from sin and joined a church, but it didn’t help. Later on, when I was beginning nurse’s training, I went to a church that gave an invitation to an altar of prayer and said that I would be saved if I accepted Christ. That didn’t save me. A short time after I had made the mental acceptance of Christ, I was talking about the origin of churches with a girl who attended a Catholic church. I told her who I thought was the founder of the church that I was going to and she said that Jesus Christ had founded the Catholic Church.

The next day, seeking to be a member of Jesus Christ’s Church, I went to the priest and asked if I could take instruction to be a Catholic. I followed that church for about eight years. The main thing that kept me in the church was the thought that if Jesus Christ founded it, it must be the right way. The last two years I was in that church I was under great condemnation. I would pick up the Catholic version of the Bible and read it and pray and cry. I was often tormented at night, wishing I could go to sleep, but afraid that if I did, I would die. And I was afraid to die. I wished I could find some way out. I began to discuss the controversial issues with the priests, but they could not give me satisfactory answers.

I joined the United States Army Nurse Corps in order to get away from my surroundings. I argued religion with the Protestants, but they could not show me the way. I did not believe in what the Catholics taught, either, so I had no friends at all for a long time.

At Camp Stoneman, I was very broken in heart and spirit. The very thing I had depended upon to save my soul had broken completely. I sought a spiritual church to attend, for I felt no spiritual warmth in the Army chapels. I went to a church a few miles away, and there in a morning worship service I gave my life to Christ. I have no recollection of what the minister preached. There is not even a memory of altar benches, but I think he did give at least a hint of an invitation, for I left my seat and knelt at the front of the platform, which had evidently been used as an altar. I poured out my soul, heart, and life to God. I asked Him to forgive me, take me, guard and guide me, and never let me go. He did forgive me and take me, and I know He will never let me go as long as I choose to remain with Him. I knew very little about what His Word really said, but I wanted Him and the peace that comes through Him.

In that hour or so that I spent there, I died to this world of sin. I did not have to be told to make restitutions, for I somehow knew that the old life had to be cleaned up in order to start right on a straight way.          

I was sent to Korea to become part of a U.S. Army Evacuation Hospital. There I met a number of American missionaries and became closely associated with a number of Army persons who had a form of godliness. I helped to start a “G. I. Gospel Hour” in the home of a missionary. Eternal security and other false doctrines were taught. I was not sure of my stand on these issues at the beginning, so I went along with them for some time. After about four months, I invited a soldier who was of the Apostolic Faith to our meetings. When he came, he started questioning the doctrines—eternal security and many other false teachings—that I was beginning to believe. He pointed to the Word of God, showing me how it condemned these false teachings and my very own acts. I repented and ceased to stand behind the program. From then, I started taking a stand for the truth.

I believed in the baptism of the Holy Ghost, but knew that I was not ready for it. This soldier told me about sanctification and gave me many Scripture references on it. I earnestly sought sanctification and received it.

After being discharged from the service, I decided to investigate the Apostolic Faith Church and see if these people, like the soldier, really did live the life of a Christian. One week spent in Eureka, California, among these people, was enough to prove to me that it was what I expected. I received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost and fire, and I thank the Lord with all my heart for it.

Now the Lord tells gives me guidance. He tells me if something is right or wrong. His Word is my bread, and without it, my soul would starve. Without His life in mine, I would be lost. How I love my Lord and Savior! My mission in the world is to do His will. I pray that if it is His will, I may have the privilege of showing Him to others who are sincerely seeking Him.