James Rigsby

God let the light of this mighty Gospel shine upon my pathway, and I am glad. My heart is thrilled when I hear people say that they were reared in a Christian home and knew the way of salvation, but that was not my case. My parents did not pray or read the Bible, and I did not know the first thing about the saving grace of God.

I lived on a farm as a child, but when our crops failed, sin and divorce broke apart our family. I left home at a young age when my parents separated and went to work in the logging and road camps. There I mingled with a rough crowd. My life became full of sin and misery, and I found out that the way of the transgressor is hard.

The time came when I never stayed long on any job. In fact, I couldn’t stay long anywhere. I just drifted through life, looking for something to satisfy. I came to the city of Portland, Oregon, broken-hearted and despondent. I was tired of sin and tired of living. I wandered around the employment offices as miserable as I could be.

I remember so well when the light of the Gospel shone into my life. I was walking along Third Avenue one Sunday afternoon without any thought of God when I heard some wonderful old songs of Zion ringing out on the street corner. Some Apostolic Faith workers were holding a street meeting, proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ and that beautiful Story of salvation. It stopped me in my tracks. I listened to the testimonies of people who said the Lord had completely changed their lives. Men were telling in no uncertain terms of the great things God had done in their lives. It was something I had never heard before, and it sounded good to me. Those people had something to live for, something real in their lives, and I knew I needed it in my life.  

At work the next day, God talked to my heart. He said, “You’d better come.” I went home, changed my clothes, and went to the mission on Sixth and Burnside. I left my job, my friends, and everything else outside the door that night. I simply stepped away from everything I knew, and trusted God. I did not know anyone in the meeting, but I had heard the call of Christ, and it kept ringing in my soul. I went to the altar of prayer at the close of the meeting. I knew I was not right with God and I wondered if He would hear my prayer and do for me what He had done for others. I did not know how to pray, but I asked the Lord to help me. I prayed earnestly, repenting of my crooked and sinful life, and calling on God for mercy.

I had not been there very long when God heard and answered. The most marvelous thing that ever happened in my life took place when God answered that prayer. He changed my life and gave me a real, definite Bible experience of salvation. The heavy load of sin lifted from my heart in an instant of time. The old life of heartache and misery was gone, and the peace of God came in. The temper that ruled my life for so many years was taken completely out. I had victory!

God helped me go back and make restitution. Out in the camps, I had jumped my room and board bills, and my transportation bills. I had stolen blankets from the bunks, lied, and blasphemed. God helped me go back over my life and confess out the wrongs I had done. I thank Him for clean hands and a pure heart. I am so thankful for a victorious Christian life.

I work hard these days carrying hods of bricks. It is a good way to prove the old-time religion, and I have found that the grace of God is sufficient to keep me. I am able to work from morning till night with the peace of Heaven down in my soul.

I thank God for all He has done for me. He not only saved me, but He sanctified me, and gave me the baptism of the Holy Ghost. He also gave me a nice home and family. And when I was sick, I consecrated my life to Him, and He came down and healed me. For many years this salvation has been very real to me. The hope of Heaven burns brighter and brighter every day!