Our Testimonies
Jackie Elwart
I was born to two wonderful parents who had been saved just a couple of years before I was born. I was raised in a Godly Christian home where I was taught the Bible since I can remember. We were in church every time the doors were open.
When I was in the 2nd grade, my mother asked me if I wanted to accept Christ as my personal Savior, I replied "let me think about it". Later, she asked again, and I said I did. I knew it is what I needed to do, and I was the only one left in my family that wasn't a Christian. That day I prayed a prayer with my mom, and began my journey as a false Christian. My whole life I struggled with my salvation. I always doubted my salvation and on a few different occasions, I even prayed again with no belief that the Lord would save me. I was putting my trust in saying the right words or being a good person.
I went to church, a Christian school, and a Christian college. I sang in a traveling choir in college and sang in the church choir at home. I gave testimonies in church and even preached a few different times. I was a youth leader and a deacon in a church. I served in many ways but one thing was always missing. It was the reason for doing all of those things. Jesus Christ had bought me with His shed blood, but I had never accepted His free gift of salvation. I never believed on Him. Everything I had done was for me.
My wife, Kari and I, moved to Kinston, NC after my enlistment in the United States Marine Corps had ended. We looked for a local church and found New Testament Baptist Church. We attended and never looked anywhere else after that first visit. Soon after, we joined the church. I stood up in front of the Pastor's, Deacon's, and the Church family and professed that I was a believer when I was not.
After that, my life continued on as normal, until Friday, September 21, 2007. During revival with Evangelist Mike Pelletier, he read Matthew 7:22-23 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." The Holy Spirit got hold of my heart, convicted me of my sin and the lie that I was a Christian. That night I walked down the aisle to Pastor Tim and told him that I needed to be saved. I listened as Pastor Paul explained the Gospel to me, and for the first time in my life I believed in my heart and accepted Christ as my Savior. That day was the best day of my life and the beginning of my joy in serving Jesus Christ my Savior.
In March of 2008, I gave my life to the Lord to use me however He desired, and I surrendered my life to preach. I praise God for saving me and for what He has done in my life.