Pat Pulley's Testimony

Hello, my name is Pat Pulley. I just recently moved to Richmond Virginia with a new career opportunity but my wife Vicky, still lives in Marion and attends Second Baptist Church. I travel home on occasion to see Vicky and family but I always enjoy seeing my church family and friends at Second Baptist. I love to hear and read the testimonies of other Christians and their journey for the Lord.

This is my story. My spiritual journey began in a small church. Mom told me that she and Dad brought me as a baby and put me on a pillow on the church pew because there wasn’t a nursery. As I grew in that church, there were so many people who cared about me and the wonderful Bible stories and the Sunday school lessons will always be part of my memory. I started to understand that God loved me and He had a wonderful plan for my life. The Holy Spirit began to show me that I was separated from God’s Love because of sin and without forgiveness of sin; I could never be part of God’s family. The Holy Spirit taught me that I was a sinner but the Sunday schoolteachers and church family showed me the saving grace of Jesus and told me of His infinite love for me. As a 9-year-old boy, with a deacon’s hand on my shoulder, I prayed the sinner’s prayer and asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I wonder sometimes where I would be today if not for the dedicated Sunday school teachers, deacons and church leaders who took the time to share God’s plan of salvation with me. But that’s not the end of the story.

The church began to grow and we as a church were following the Great Commission to make disciples. Many lives were changed, people were saved and that small church was making a big impact on the community. As I grew older, I began to take an active part in the church to serve wherever I was needed. God continued to bless. I met the love of my life at that church, we were married and together we raised our children there. Our daughter and son were saved and baptized in that church and later my grandson was saved and baptized there also. But that is not the end of the story.

Over the years there has been lots of troubles and heartache with the loss of work, physical illness and death of family and friends. But I can say that Jesus has never forsaken us and has always been a source of strength and encouragement. Our journey has been long but we have found His Word to be true. I remember our past and see where He was always there in good times and bad, and I can look to the future, with the assurance to know that He will always be with us.

That small church where I started my spiritual journey some 60 years ago was Second Baptist. The church is larger but the hunger to share the gospel is still there. One day this old body will return to the dust and that will be the end of this story. But I will be more alive then because I will be in Heaven with my Savior and with God’s Family. That time has not yet come, and I will continue to anticipate the wonderful plans God still has for me and tell others of His love.

If you are a Christian, I trust that you rejoice in my testimony. If you are not a Christian, there are many people at Second Baptist Church that would be glad to share the saving grace of Jesus Christ and His love for you.

The story continues and I am resolved to share the love of Jesus to those around me until He calls me home. Even though I am in Richmond, I pray for the coming revival that God’s people will reach out for the lost and we continue to tell the world of God’s Love.

Pat Pulley