Sven Hagen

I praise God for His mercy to me. I am thankful I am saved. I was born in Sweden and I left home when I was fifteen years old. I did not have to leave, but I felt the pull. I was raised way out in the country where everything was clean. You could see the snow. I did not know anything about city life, but I went to the city. There, I got into the company of somebody who was wrong for my age. They dragged me down—farther and farther.

I do not think anybody had more determination to do right than I had in myself, but when a person is on the wrong path, the enemy will find him. That goes for the young and the old alike. I started to drink when I was a little over sixteen years old, and it was not very long before I was an alcoholic. I tried to get away from it. I knew I was lost and I knew I was wrong. I was raised in a church, but I never saw anybody that was saved. Nobody told me what it was like.

I walked into the Apostolic Faith Church on Sixth and Burnside, not knowing anybody, but I felt something there that I had never felt before. I did not know all about it, but I went several times, thinking I would slowly catch it.

One time Brother Jack came and asked me to go to the altar. I was under so much conviction, because I had heard the testimonies. Several people came up to me and said, “Come and we will pray for you.” I prayed and cried from the heart. God didn’t change my mind; He gave me a new heart. I appreciate Him and I praise Him for everything.