Ruby Banta

I thank God for the wonderful things He has done for me. I surely owe God a debt of gratitude. I hear young people speak of being brought up in a Christian home, but I didn’t know anything about that. I was brought up in the most wicked, sinful home you could think of, but my heart cried out for God. I was taught the life of sin; taught to drink liquor and was even taken into saloons and thrown into bad company. I drank and played cards, and was bound by a terrible temper. I went after the things of the world trying to find what I thought they should give me, but all I found was sorrow and heartache.

God gave me a chance in life. He led me to the Apostolic Faith Church through someone I met at my work who told me about the old-time religion. My heart was hungry for God, so I asked my coworker questions about his religion. The Lord convicted me of my sins and I began to attend the meetings. It was a most wonderful night when I first stepped in among God’s people. Right then, I made my choice forever. When I really repented and turned to God, the burden rolled off my heart and Jesus came in and gave me what I had been searching for: contentment.

I had been converted previously as a child of thirteen, but did not know how to keep it. When I came to the Apostolic Faith, I learned of the perfect way that keeps me free from sin every day. Thank God for the old-time religion that He planted in my heart.

­It has been good to serve the Lord. I remember so well when I made my choice for God; it was so definite and real. It isn’t just what He did for me forty years ago, though. This salvation gets better and more wonderful. God is with us every day in our home; we can turn to Him in time of need. It is wonderful to serve God, and I thank Him for the old-time religion.