TES:Testimony of Gary Eide

   I got saved back in July of 1973. It was by His grace that I was
called out of bondage into His glorious light.

   I was a Lutheran for 22 years of my life. I did not know the Lord
Jesus as my Saviour or Lord. I had heard in a round about fashion the
Word of God as I was growing up in the Lutheran Church. In the church
that I was a member of most did not believe in the Born again
experience. Salvation was based upon you baptism and your membership in
the church. My life was not a particularly bad one in the sense that I
had gotten into all sorts of drugs and things. In the world I was
considered very straight. Nevertheless I also was very lost. Not even
realizing that I was lost, I was content in my sins so-to-speak.

   My salvation came about after a woman asked me did I know where I
would spend eternity if I were to die that night. I said probably
heaven because I was not that bad and tried to do what was right and
went to church. Those of course were all the wrong reasons. My
salvation did not come about that night. But I remember distinctly that
the Lord had gotten my attention. From that time forward I had an
interest in Spiritual things. A couple of weeks later in an Assembly of
God Church I gave my life to the Lord Jesus and asked Him to come into
my life. And in His love and mercy He has done just that.

   Since that time I got saved the Lord has been gracious to me. He has
healed my marriage. I was married to my wife at the age of 19, and she
was 18. Needless to say that we were a bit too young. Yet through it
all he has brought my wife and myself closer together. She is saved and
loves the Lord. He has blessed us with nine children.

   As I look back I see definite times of God's dealing with me. He has
brought me from one who had known nothing to make me into a vessel fit
for His use. He has filled me with His Spirit and taught me how to walk
by faith. There are many things that could be shared but time does not
permit me to go on.

   Yours in Christ, Gary Eide
