Mary Covington

My parents were not Christians, but as far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a Christian. I went to church on my own, and at the age of sixteen I joined a church. I didn’t know anything about being saved, and belonging to a church didn’t make a change in my life. Before the week was over I was doing the same things I had done before. I began to wonder where it was all going to end. I knew there was a Heaven and a Hell. I had read that in the Bible. I also read that sin could not enter Heaven, but my mother said no person could live above sin. I began to doubt there was a God.

One day, I looked toward Heaven and said, “God, if you are real, do something for me.” Later, He answered that prayer. My husband and I moved to Medford, Oregon and next door to us were some Christians. I began to watch their lives. I would ask them where they were going and what they were going to do. They started taking my children to Sunday school. I looked in their trash cans to see if any beer cans were there. They asked me to go to church time and time again. I had thought I would never step foot inside another church, but I decided to go and see what this church was like.

The thing that stood out for me was the altar bench. I had never seen one in my life, but I knew it was a place of prayer. After the meeting was over, I rushed to the altar where I earnestly prayed, and God saved my soul. While at the altar, the devil said, “Your husband won’t take the way with you.” But God said, “In the last great day you will stand before Me and give an account of your life, and your husband will not be able to help.”

I am glad I gave my heart and life to God that day. Three years later my husband prayed through to salvation, and from that time on we have had peace and happiness in serving God together.