Testimony of Hershel Carrol Gallaher
Praise God, my name is Carrol Gallaher. For the first 35 years of my life, I was deceived in thinking I was having a good time in the beer joints and honky tonks all over the states. I knew something was missing in my life but every beer bottle I emptied; I'd look in the bottom trying to find what I was missing in my life.
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At that time, I did not know the Lord but he put that determination in me. I give thanks and credit to my Jesus who lived and died and rose again for me and you, yes for you and me.
That same summer I was walking but with a plastic brace around my neck. I remember putting water skies on my feet wanting someone to pull me but no one would. Even though God allowed me to do what the doctors said I would not do, there was still something missing in my life.
I went back to searching in all the wrong places again. Years went by and I was not satisfied. One night I cut a cab driver and got in jail again. It was hot, sweating and lonely sitting in jail. I remember a great and wonderful and loving voice spoke to me; I can't explain how wonderful. The voice said, "Why are you sitting in here when you could be on the outside worshipping me? You could at least get in where it is cool." I said to that great voice, your right, that's why I'm sitting here. When I got out of jail I started looking again for that missing something in my life.
One day, my sister came in at my mother's house to get her children and I asked her why she did not visit me the last time I was in jail. She came over to me and gave me a little piece of cloth; I took it in my hand. She asked me if I knew what it was, I said no. She said, "It is a prayer cloth." I never had anything to hit me so hard in my life. I began to cry, she put her arms around me and we both were crying. She asked me if I would come to church with her tomorrow night and I said yes. So on a Thursday night, I went to church with her and when we walked into the welcome center, I could feel something so wonderful I had never felt before. We went into the sanctuary where the lights were dim and people were around the alter praying and crying. I had never seen that before. We sat down and in a few minutes the pastor came out and said for everyone to stand up and give thanks to God for having a place to worship him in. We all stood and everyone was praising the Lord and giving thanks to God and then they began to sing. I remember saying how much better this is than being in the beer joints.
I went back to that church the next night and all was about the same as the Thursday night before. Then when Saturday night came (10-28-78), instead of the Pastor telling everyone to stand, he said, "the Spirit of God is telling me someone here wants to change the way they've been living and start living for Him, so while we play a slow instrumental song, I want you to come." I thought with as many as is in here, surely I'm not the only one because I am not ready yet! I began to cry still saying, "I AM NOT READY, NOT ME!" After a little while, I was trying to make my way out into the aisle. I was still saying I'm not ready but when I got out there in the aisle, I left that "ain't me" back behind. When I got to the front where the pastor was he asked me if I believed Jesus Christ is the son of the living God and I said YES I DO! He then told me to get down on my hands and knees asking forgiveness of my sins. I did just that, crying and telling God I can't begin to name all my sins but Lord you know everyone of them and will you please forgive me.
The pastor was there praying with me and as he laid his hands on me I remember as it was a great light coming from behind his hands on my back and around under my left arm into my heart all across my chest and up into my face. Praise God, I found that missing part of my life (Jesus) and it did not cost me one penny. I put my cigarettes and lighter to the feet of Jesus Christ and he has delivered me from all that. I thank God now and forever, I am baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sin and am a member of The Lighthouse Chapel U.P.C. where I was baptized with the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues.
I still have the original prayer cloth.
