Ray Roby

I thank God for the workers and ministers who put forth an effort to spread the Gospel story. I had never been taught the right way to live, and back in Centerville, Iowa, as just a young man, I was bound by about every sin in the world.

When I was in my early twenties, bound by sin on every hand, I was given a Gospel tract published by the Apostolic Faith Church entitled, “Can a Christian use Tobacco?” I had tried to quit smoking, but was bound by that habit. I would throw away my cigarettes only to find myself crawling around in the bushes the next day trying to find them. I read in the little tract that God could deliver me from smoking and all other sinful things in my life. I wrote to the headquarters of the Apostolic Faith for further instructions, and they told me I could pray in my own home. They said God would save me and give me a witness in my heart that it was real.

I began to pray. People made fun of me, but I kept right on praying. One morning, after I had refrained from smoking cigarettes for three days, I felt burdened down by sin. Standing by my back door getting ready to go to work, I sent up an S.O.S. to God. I threw the cigarettes away and said, “I am going to turn my life over to You, Lord. Take my life and do what You want with it.” Then I said, “God make it real.” God came down and saved my soul; there was a change in my heart right then. I never had a doubt about it. The desire for smoking was gone, the drinking and stealing were gone, and those sinful appetites have never come back. I have been free from that day to this.

My wife, Rosie, was not a Christian, but she watched my life of victory and soon afterward also prayed and received an assurance of salvation. After a short period of time, we inquired of the Apostolic Faith if there was more to the Christian life. In response, we were sent literature and encouraged to seek a second definite work of grace called sanctification. I tried to pray in my home with no success, and then heard there might be a group of believers in St. Louis, Missouri. I had no transportation, so I set out hitchhiking. It was winter and my trench coat would freeze in between rides, but the next ride would thaw me out. I eventually found that my travel was in vain; I did not find the group I was hoping to. After arriving back in Centerville, I was sitting with my feet in a pan of warm water talking to the Lord when His Spirit came down and sanctified my soul. Later, Rosie and I both received the baptism of the Holy Spirit—before we had ever been in an Apostolic Faith meeting; it was all by corresponding through literature. Both in our early twenties, God had given us a foundation for our marriage.

About ten years later, in 1943, we sold all our possessions in Iowa and moved to Medford, Oregon, with our five little children to be in the Apostolic Faith Church. I had rheumatoid arthritis at that time from working in the damp coal mines. It had been nearly seven years. I worked with a hammer, and every time I brought it down on a nail, the jolt would hurt my wrist. In 1944, to satisfy the draft board, x-rays were taken of my wrists. I was told I had only one or two good joints left; the rest were black as coal. I could not lift a sugar bowl and pass it along the table. I began to pray that May, and I prayed until September. Then one night a brother said, “Get a grip on God’s promises. Get a witness that God hears you, and all the devils in Hell won’t be able to rob you of the answer.” I began to pray harder, and one Sunday, after having been anointed and prayed for by the ministers, I felt different; I felt something was going to happen. I continued to hold onto God, and the next Wednesday morning on the street corner, God spoke out of Heaven and said, “What would you do if I healed you?” After all those sleepless nights and pain, I said, “God I don’t have anything to give you, but I’ll tell about it.” God came down right there and healed me instantly. He put me back on my feet. I have put foundations under existing houses, finished concrete, built fireplaces, and used a hammer all day.  

I love this Gospel. My wife and I have a happy home. It is a great privilege to gather our five children around the table and give thanks to God. The Spirit comes down and blesses us. I thank God for the old-time religion.

After being healed, Ray Roby continued to do hard work with his hands for over forty years. He and his wife are now in Heaven with three of their children while the remaining two continue to serve the Lord.