Myrtle Peterson

I was brought up in a good home; my mother was very strict with us children and her prayers would touch my heart. I remember her standing by my dresser telling me not to go into sin. What she said brought trouble and condemnation to my heart. I knew there must be reality in the Gospel, but I wanted the things of the world. I would go to Thursday night prayer meeting and then to the dance halls, card parties, and theater all in the same week. I would just mix them up together. I continued to go my own way bringing sorrow and remorse into my life. I longed many times to get out of that kind of life, but did not know how.

I lived in the Midwest and then came to the rice fields in California when my husband’s father bought land, sight unseen. We lived in a little one-room house that was not yet finished. The porch was only about three feet square, and the house was surrounded by water which was the rice field.

It was there that I became discouraged and brokenhearted. God was faithful to me, though. He talked to me and showed me that it was not all of life to live or all of death to die, but after death came the judgment. I began to pray for a way out. I prayed to find a people who really knew their God. I told the Lord, “Surely there are people somewhere on earth that really know You and serve You.” Then one day, just a portion of an Apostolic Faith paper came into my hands. I began to read the wonderful words of life that paper contained. I said to my sister, “That sounds just like what I want” and I sent to Portland, Oregon, for more literature.

As I searched that paper and read the Bible, I found that Jesus was coming soon and when He came He would come as quickly as the lightening that shineth from the east to the west. I thought to myself, I will have no time to repent or make restitution. I also read that Jesus was just the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that He was no respecter of persons or places.

I saw what I had to do to be ready for the Rapture—I had to be saved, sanctified, baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire, and a full overcomer. The words that seemed to stand out greater than all were “A full overcomer.” I prayed, “God, I don’t know what that means, but if that is what it takes, that is what I want.”

I settled it in my heart that I did not want to miss Heaven. I stood by my bedside one night and prayed, “Oh God, I don’t care what You do with me, just so You make me ready to meet You.” I was far away from the Apostolic Faith people but I wanted to have in my heart just what I read about in their paper. Thank God, He did not disappoint me; He saved my soul and took out the desire for sin and the things of the world. He planted the assurance in my heart that I was right with Him.

It has stood the test—at work, at home, and everywhere. I surely thank Him for this wonderful Gospel.