Cecil Banta

There is such gratitude in my heart that God ever led me into this wonderful Gospel! I was just a pleasure-loving young man when the Lord found me in my teens, still in school. My whole ambition was to get a good education and have a good time. I would spend my time and money with the crowd of people seeking pleasures of the world, trying to enjoy the cheap things this world holds out to a young person.

I knew the right way; I had godly parents who did their best to start me out right. They planted the Word of God in my heart and told me that Jesus is the sinner’s Friend. I turned those things aside and went my own way.

I thank God for the night I came into one of the Apostolic Faith Church meetings! I sat in the back and heard the wonderful testimonies. That night I heard the call of God. All the things of the world lost their charm for me. I forgot my friends. I knew they would only laugh at me if I served God, but I yielded to the Spirit of God. At an altar of prayer I sought Him with all my heart. And oh, I found Him! How I thank God for that wonderful night that Jesus came into my life! He took all my sins away; He lifted my burdens and gave me victory and reality in my life.

The Lord has healed my body through these many years. I had a violent affliction on my body, but I trusted Him and He healed me and renewed my strength. Also, for twenty years I had to wear a hearing aid; without it I could hear very little. As a member of the church orchestra it was very difficult to tune my own instrument. I could only hear the instrument nearest to me, so I had to have help. A prayer of faith was prayed for me and God wonderfully answered. He restored my hearing. Now I can hear all instruments in the orchestra as well as the singing. I can even hear the birds singing so beautifully. I feel I have touched the hem of His garment, and I praise Him for His goodness to me.

I was seventeen when God found me and I am now almost seventy, and I have never been sorry for the choice I made. I have never been ashamed of the Name of Jesus that means so much to me. Jesus is wonderful; He does the things which seem impossible. He is still performing miracles today in the old-fashioned way.