Testimony

My name is Doug, and I would like to start by saying that I was Born Again in May of 1981, at the Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Maryville, TN.  I came from a split home hearing two different doctrines of salvation while growing up.  The Holy Spirit began to convict me of my sins around age 13.  I knew I needed to be saved, but was mixed up as to “who was right”, concerning how to be saved.  On that particular Sunday morning, while in Sunday school, the teacher was impressed to ask if there was anyone there that knew that they needed to be saved, and if they wanted to. I stepped forward and was “Born Again” on a folding metal chair there in class! 

I joined the Air Force after high school and met and married my wife while in service.  My wife is the daughter of our pastor Bro. Gary L. Hall.  During Desert Shield, God called me to preach. After Desert Storm was over, I was honorably discharged and took a position at the Island Ford Baptist Church, teaching in the Christian School. The following summer I began working at WSOF Christian Radio, which is also a ministry of our local church.

After serving 14 years at Island Ford Baptist Church, God dealt with my heart about serving Him on the foreign mission field of Scotland, more specifically, the town of Dumfries.  Dumfries has a 2001 population of 37,846.  To our knowledge, there is not a single Fundamental Baptist witness in this town. Pray for us as my family endeavors to be that witness.

Lisa’s testimony:

I want to thank the Lord for saving me March 8, 1996. I made a profession in 1979, when I was 11 years old years. My dad was called to preach that same year. All those years as a preacher’s daughter I thought I was saved.

We were in a five week revival meeting in 1996. In that meeting, I tried getting rid of everything that I thought I could, to make me feel better. Lord showed me through the message that night, that the problem was my need for salvation. He told me if I didn’t get saved that night, I would not have another chance! I admitted my lost condition, repented of my sin, and God gloriously saved by His grace.

As our mission’s conference started in September 2005, we were praying about what God would have us to do. Bro. Ronnie Waters, missionary to Scotland, preached to our church the Sunday before the conference started. The Lord began dealing with my husband and me separately about the mission field. We both feel it is God’s will for us to serve Him in Dumfries, Scotland.

 We have been blessed with seven beautiful children; Elizabeth, Joshua, Andrew, Rebekah, Anna, Philip, and Jesse.

Elizabeth was married to Jacob Rickard on August 12, 2006.  Joshua will be remaining in the United States, due to the Visa regulations.  Pray for them as they serve God in our local church and see His will for their lives.