Thelma Nelson

I thank God for the Gospel and for the blessings and benefits that accrue to those who serve Him. The Lord saved me when I was young, and I believe this saved me from many heartaches and troubles.

I realized it is not necessary to be in jail to need the Lord. I had never seen the inside of a jail and had never formed the habit of drinking or cigarette smoking or any of those things, but yet I was not a Christian.

I was living in southern Alberta, Canada, and going to church and Sunday school faithfully from the time I was a small child. I believe it kept the fear of God in my heart and kept me from going deep into sin. I believed the Bible from cover to cover, but I needed someone to guide me into the way of righteousness.

I thank God for a Christian home where I was taught the Word of God. If there was a meeting I was there; but if there was a dance or a show I would be sure to be there, too. But God was faithful to me and looked down into my heart and saw how much I needed Him.

I believe it was the hand of God that led my sister from the state of Michigan to the west coast that she might hear the Truth. She heard the Gospel workers were coming from Portland, Oregon and Port Angeles, Washington to hold meetings in an Indian village in Jamestown, Washington.

I believed the Bible from cover to cover, but I needed someone to guide me into the way of righteousness.

God dealt with her heart there, and she realized that although she was a church member, she didn’t have victory in her life. She prayed among these people and the next time she wrote us she told of the marvelous change God had made in her life—that He had changed her and she was a born-again Christian.

She became concerned about the spiritual condition of our family, also. She prayed for us, and I was living in southern Alberta, Canada, and received an Apostolic Faith paper. I had the idea I was a Christian. I had been confirmed, but the Lord knew my heart and that I needed something better. This paper told about the old lighthouse by the bridge being too small to accommodate the crowds; and of the new soul-saving station that had been erected at Sixth and Burnside Streets, with the sign on top, JESUS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. It told about the arrows pointing to the entrance; it spoke of the testimonies and sermons being taken down in shorthand by shorthand reporters who were giving their talent in the service of the Lord. Then they were transcribed, put into print, and sent out all over the world; and were also translated into different foreign languages.

I had just finished a commercial course and planned to go east and accept a Government position offered me in Washington, D.C. I remember my mother saying that she was willing for me to go to Washington, D.C. to work, but she insisted I first come down to the State of Washington to visit my sister who was a Christian. But at first we didn’t think that would be possible.

He saved my soul and took the terrible temper I had out of my heart, and He made such a change in my life.

I was just a sinner at that time and had other plans. However, I did go and visit my sister, intending to stay only a short time. But the Lord had other plans. I came to an Apostolic Faith service with my brother and a friend. I thought my brother needed salvation because he had been selling whisky and he had modern ideas about Hell. I thought he was the one who needed the Lord. Someone spoke to him and he went forward to the altar and that broke me up.

I then realized that I needed salvation, too. God led me to go to that same altar, where I cried out for mercy. He saved my soul and took the terrible temper I had out of my heart, and He made such a change in my life. After that I didn’t have to struggle and strive against those former temptations. I had no more desire for the worldly pleasures, but the desire of my heart was to serve the Lord. I then realized the Lord had more for me.

I prayed for two weeks for sanctification, the second definite work of grace, and the Lord wonderfully sanctified me. Then I prayed for about three months and He gave me the mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost before I went to the camp meeting. I am glad I attended the camp meeting, and I enjoyed the blessings of the Lord there.

At the close of the camp meeting one of the ministers asked me if I would like to work in the Apostolic Faith headquarters office. How happy that made me! I thank the Lord for the privilege I have had for over 53 years to help spread the Gospel throughout the world, in my own little corner, and having a part in the Gospel missionary work. I love Him with all my heart.