Jim Lytle

The mercy of God found me on a street corner under the influence of liquor, the clothes practically off my back, down in the very depths of sin. There I heard a group of Apostolic Faith people tell me of His love, that I could pray to God in Heaven who hears and answers prayer. I didn’t have a hope left in my life, but they told me that God could become real, even to a man who was in the gutters of sin. Isn’t that a marvelous thing to hear, when one has never heard it before?

I was not reared in a Christian home; I never heard my father or mother pray. I wasn’t used to going to Sunday school or church, and was a grown man before I even knew that Jesus was the Son of God. I left home when just a boy, and went out into the logging camps in northern Idaho to work among loggers and lumbermen. I began as cook’s helper in the woods, and worked hard at various jobs until I was finally made assistant purchasing agent for all the operations of that large lumber company.

There were many who pointed me toward the downward way, but not one time did I meet one who could tell me about Jesus. One day, when working in one of the camps with men far beyond my age, the drinks were passed around. Although I was only fourteen years old at the time, I took my first taste of hard liquor. Sorry to say, I soon developed a taste for it. Oh, if I had never taken that first drink! That is what started the downward slide in my life. I began doing other things the older men did—gambling and playing cards. Sin ruined me; I was just a young man and I should have been enjoying life, but I was not. I made resolution after resolution, all to no avail. I simply could not change my ways nor rid myself of those habits in my own strength.

I thank God for a people who go out into the highways and byways, and down on the old skid road to tell the Story of Jesus and His love for mankind.

Finally, when the booze got me down to where I was sick and couldn’t handle my work, I started out on a vacation. I thought I was going to beat the old booze habit; but before I was through I was living in a boxcar on the railroad tracks down by the river here in Portland, Oregon, and had sold my coat to buy more whiskey. I felt as if all the sins that could be fastened onto a man’s life were attached to mine. The sorrow and remorse that gambling and liquor bring lay heavily upon my heart.

I thank God for a people who go out into the highways and byways, and down on the old skid road to tell the Story of Jesus and His love for mankind. If they had stayed at home or in their church, I wouldn’t be here. It was on an old dark street corner at Third and Burnside Streets that I saw the light of the Gospel. Our precious Scotch minister, who has gone to be with the Lord, took an interest in me. He came across the sidewalk, put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Won’t you come up to the church and let us pray for you?” Thank God for his love for my soul. I followed them to the church at Sixth and Burnside Streets, and it was the best move I ever made in my life. Here he showed me an altar of prayer and told me how to pray so that God would answer. Down on my knees I prayed a prayer that went through to Heaven, and a real change was made in my life that night.

I found that the Lord could keep me in the Army during the service of my country.

I went back down by the river to the old boxcar where I had slept the night before, but I was happy, and I had no trouble trying to sleep that night. As I lay looking through the boxcar door at the stars, I knew there was a God who heard and answered prayer. As I walked uptown the next morning, I felt as if I could have conquered the world; I knew I would never have to take another drink. Thank God, it has lasted. For many years I have proved that God can take a man out of the gutter, clean him up, and put peace and joy and victory in his life, and praise to God in his heart. It was a real transaction that took place in this life of mine. The joys of this wonderful Gospel came down in my life and I had what I had been seeking for years in the saloons, card games, poolrooms and the life that goes with such places. I found the joy of living that night. I found it at the foot of the Cross.

It hasn’t grown old, but it has taken me through many years of serving God. I found that the Lord could keep me in the Army during the service of my country.

He keeps me on the job, and today I have a happy Christian home and we can raise our children under the sound of this wonderful Gospel. I praise Jesus for the privilege of being here today to say it is good to serve Him.