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Salvation Testimony of Rev. Al Domerese
It was Sunday morning August 23, 1953. I was eighteen.
My mother had been attending a small General Baptist Church in our home town of
Flint, Michigan. She had been attending with one of my older brothers and his
family. On previous Sundays, mom had not pressed me to attend church with her.
She had simply let me sleep in. But on this Sunday she said to me, "Son, I'm
going to church this morning and I think you need to go with me." And she said
that with a gentle firmness in her voice that I recognized as meaning she wasn't
going to take "No" for an answer.
At that time, the church was meeting in a basement.
Shortly after, they completed the structure with a nice building. But that
morning mom led me down the aisle to the third row from the front and on the
right. I sat on the aisle seat. I don't remember all the young preacher talked
about but I did know that I was lost in my sin. I had known for several years
that if I should die in that condition I would spend all eternity in the fires
of hell.
After the young preacher was finished and we were
singing an invitation hymn (I had been to church enough to know what they were.)
an elderly gentleman approached me from behind and whispered in my ear, "Son
are you a Christian?" I said, "No sir, I sure am not." He said, "Would you like
to be?" And I think I surprised myself as much as anyone there. I said, "Yes
sir, I sure would." (Oh the mystery of God's saving grace!!) I knelt that
morning in the front of that church knowing nothing about inviting Jesus into
my heart. I had never heard that expression. But as best I knew how I told
Jesus I knew I was a sinner and I asked Him to save me from the awful fate I
knew was waiting for me. And with all my heart, I believe He did. I believe
"
He inclined to me, and heard my cry,
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a
rock,
and established my steps. He has put a new
song in my mouth Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear, and will trust in
the Lord"
(Psalm 40:2b-3).
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