In 1939 I celebrated my seventeenth birthday. I had a small herd of fifteen young calves

and five horses. Life took on a very serious note. I had become very concerned about

eternal issues, since Margaret’s visit home earlier in the year. She faithfully read the

Bible at the table after supper each day. The whole family sat at the table and listened.

This was something new. Dad and Mom did not object. A verse was read one evening

that arrested my attention and has remained as one of my favorite scripture verses.

(Mark 8:36, King James Version)

I am confident that the Holy Spirit of God arrested my lost soul with this verse, and

even then began drawing me closer to Him through the blessed Son of God who paid the

price for my sin and redeemed me by His sacrifice on Calvary’s cross.

As I lay in bed at night, pictures of my life experiences would flow through my mind.

I would see my small herd of cattle. I would see the horses, and I dreamed of having

machinery and finally a farm of my own. But what would this matter if I lost my soul? What

then? I was troubled. What had to happen to me? Would I somehow receive a message

from the Lord? Would I experience some physical change? How does this being born again

take place? The questions remained unanswered. Some publications began to arrive in our

mail. Articles about being converted caused me to become bewildered and confused.

Nevertheless I had a hunger for knowing the Lord Jesus as my Savior. But how does it

happen?