SALVATION TESTIMONIES OF
MCFERRIN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH MEMBERS
November 2025


Permission granted by members with signatures
Copy of signatures on file
Testimonies compiled for this project
By Janet B.

Doug F. May 1980 Front Steps of the Old Church Age 30
I knew I was lost and every time I came to the old church building, I knew that I didn’t have that peace that I saw in other faces. I had told the Lord that I wanted to be saved, but I just couldn’t go up in front of all those people and give my testimony. I had prayed, Lord, take this burden away and I’ll do whatever it takes, and on the way up the steps of the church, the Lord saved my soul. I couldn’t wait to get up front to tell the church. Through all the troubles in my life, I’ve had that peace to comfort me and guide me. Thank you, Lord.

Phyllis F. January 1957 Pennsylvania Avenue Missionary Baptist Church Age 10
 When I was ten years old, I began attending Pennsylvania Avenue Missionary Baptist Church from time to time. My parents did not go to church so I was taken by an uncle sometimes and by cousins and friends. One Sunday night after service, I got to the door of the church to leave and I started to cry. I didn’t know what was wrong until my uncle asked me if I was lost. At that moment I knew. My uncle and those still at church bowed along with me and we prayed. After an hour or so, I stopped crying and realized that I was lying face down on the floor. I became aware of those around me still praying but something within me was different—I wasn’t scared. My uncle realized that I had stopped praying and asked me if I had been saved and I realized that I was. My salvation did not come like I expected. Instead of great excitement, I simply felt peace. The devil has used the simplicity of my salvation against me often, but I finally realized that salvation comes to us all in our own special way. Salvation comes from the same source to each and every one, but we react differently.

Mark G. March 30, 1986 Rayon City Missionary Baptist Church Age 20
 I wasn’t brought up in the old-time way. When I was a young boy, I was counseled by the minister of the church my parents attended for several Sundays. Once that was done, I went in front of the church on a Sunday morning, answered a few questions the way I’d been instructed and was told everything was all right. We continued to attend the church for a while longer but eventually quit going all together. I started dating my wife, Kelley, in January of 1984. Not long after we started dating, she started asking me every Friday and Saturday night if I would go to church with her that Sunday morning. I would always answer no. I knew she belonged to Rayon City Missionary Baptist Church and I knew she was saved, although I didn’t really understand what that meant. One weekend she asked, and I finally said I would go. I don’t remember much about the service other than Bro. Rodney Carter yelling, spitting, and stomping around the pulpit. He used the term “sinner friend” what seemed like a thousand times and each time it felt like he was looking directly at me. When the service was over and we got out of there, I told Kelley that would never go back to church with her. I didn’t care one bit about having a preacher yell at me the whole time I was there. It did get my attention though. I started asking her a ton of questions, but the one I asked the most was “How can you be sure you are going to Heaven?” She spent no telling how much time trying her best to explain what heartfelt salvation was and that she knew where she would spend eternity. We would ride to work together and when she would drop me off, we’d sit for half an hour while I just continued to ask questions. She was always willing to be late to work so she could answer my questions as best she could. Also, during this time, she never quit asking me to come back to church with her. I finally agreed to go back, but I certainly wasn’t looking forward to it. On March 30, 1986, I believe Easter Sunday, I went back. Bro. Carter hadn’t changed one little bit. He yelled, spit, and stomped as much if not more than he did the first time I was there. He preached a hellfire and brimstone sermon, like before, but with all the questions and answers I had, conviction set in. Bro. Carter continued using the “sinner friend” term like before, but this time I felt as though I had a neon sign over my head that read “SINNER FRIEND’ with an arrow pointing at me. I made it through the service without doing anything about the way I felt. After we were dismissed, everyone was talking and laughing, so I went back into the fellowship hall to be by myself. Conviction was all that I was feeling at that very moment. Sister Barbara Collier came back to where I was and found me staring out a window, crying. She asked if I wanted to go pray. I said yes and within a matter of minutes I was on the altar with the entire church in the altar area praying for me. I don’t remember how long I prayed who said what to me or what songs were sung during that time. I just knew that if I didn’t get this worked out with God, I wouldn’t be able to stand it any longer. After an unknown amount of time I spent praying and crying, I just felt a relief come over me and no need to pray anymore. I stopped praying and told Kelley that I felt better. Didn’t know how else to describe it at the time. Several asked if the Lord had saved me and when I said he had, Bro. Leon Collier just exploded. This was another new experience for me since I don’t believe I had ever heard anyone shout like that before. I also found out at that time from all the members that not only had Kelley been asking me to come to church with her every Sunday, but when I didn’t come she was always asking the members to pray for me. It was through her persistence and the many prayers from the church that brought me back to Rayon City Missionary Baptist Church on March 30, 1986, to give me the opportunity to find the Lord as my personal Savior.

Charlotte G. The Fall Revival New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Age 12
I was saved, late on a Saturday night, at the age of 12 during a fall revival at New Bethel. Bro F.L. Ray (my grandfather) and Bro Bobby Sutton were the preachers during this revival. At the time we lived in Kentucky and my older brother and I came to Tennessee to attend the revival. We stayed at my grandparents’ house during that time and every night we would go to someone’s house for supper before revival. I remember we would play outside after eating then go to church. I would always sit up front and when they gave an alter call, some of the ladies of the church would come and ask if I was lost. At the beginning of the revival I was not. But during the latter part of the week my brother got saved and it made me think about myself. I remember one night someone came to me and ask if I was lost and I told them no, but the whole time I knew something was wrong. I didn't feel too good, and there was a heaviness. Didn't know much about being lost but I couldn't shake this feeling. Yeah you could play for a while but that feeling would always come back. This was the first revival I remember attending, or could have been the first that spoke to my heart. After I realized I was lost I hid behind the songbook and did whatever to make myself not seen, like go to the bathroom. You could hide in the bathroom, but when you looked in that mirror you knew. And when someone was looking at you, you would think I know they know I'm lost. That night I couldn’t tell you what was preached but I felt I was the only one the preacher was preaching to. So one night at my grandparents’ house, I went to bed and was miserable, I was so scared because I knew for the first time if I died I was not going to heaven. I knew my time was running out to go to the altar, it was the last night of the revival, I couldn't tell you how many people were there, I was so convicted it didn't matter. I ran to the altar when they gave altar call, no one had to come to me. I knew I was lost. I remember praying and promising God everything, bargaining and pretty much wasn’t getting anywhere. I was scared to leave the 89 altar because I was afraid I would get killed in a car wreck. So finally I realized I had nothing to offer and came to the end of myself and begged God to save me. At that moment God saved me, and I saw a brightness and that terrible feeling was gone. My grandmother was setting on the altar beside me, and I remember looking up and telling her, "Mammaw I just got saved." I joined the church that next morning and was baptized, at a later date, by my grandfather, Bro F.L. Ray.

 
Kenny G. At Home in Bed Age 35
I was saved when I was 35 at home in the bed about 1:00 in the morning. It was a beautiful Sunday morning, and I had a tee time at 1:30 at a local golf course with 3 of my softball buddies. We played softball every weekend but had this weekend open. It was the last Sunday of Revival at Longview Missionary Baptist Church; Charlotte had asked me to go that Sunday morning, and I thought this was a good time since I should be able to get to the course in time to play. What I didn’t know was what was about to happen! First of all Bro. Johnny was still preaching about 12:00 and showed no sign of slowing down. I was really starting to think, how am I going to get out of here? Around 12:30 he closed his sermon. I wasn't thinking of anything he said. I just wanted to go! He asked if anyone had anything to say. A couple of testimonies later it was 1:00 and I was starting to sweat. I was cutting it close. Then my sister-n-law got up and began talking about the separation of spouse and kids forever. That’s when it happen, I was under conviction, I felt like someone took a knife to my stomach and cut me into my soul! I left church in misery, but I couldn't let my buddies down. I played golf with no energy that day, went home and Charlotte asked if I was going back to church that Sunday night. I said no, then went straight to the bathroom and got ready to go. 90 No feeling that night at church, Jill had come to me and I asked her to pray for me. I wasn’t brought up this way, got home that night went to bed thinking all would be ok in the morning. Then I started thinking about the family, I knew now that I had no hope in the things I believed. I believed with my mind, but not in the heart. I used to tell Charlotte I believed in Jesus, don’t worry about me. I started praying silently that night to God, because I didn’t want Charlotte to hear me, but no connection. Then I whispered a short prayer and still no connection. That’s when I called out loud to God for forgiveness and surrendered the thing I held close, my family. I told God I would give up my family to be saved and not worry about what the future brings, you see I didn't think I could live good enough for God. Then there was a peace that I knew could only come from God.

Delois P. September 1946 Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church Age 11
My Dad, Elder F. L. Ray was pastor of Union Hill at that time. Elder N. C. Fuqua was helping in the revival. Dad would come to school and get us out of school to go to the morning service. It was on the second Monday of the revival about midday when I got saved. There was no preaching that day and sinners were getting saved all over the church house. They never even gave an altar call. What a day to remember!

Bob S. On a Sunday in Church at an Altar
I always knew something was missing in my life. I just didn't know what. Then I met my wife Norma and my life began to change. She was always faithful to her church and I would go with her occasionally. I just couldn't believe all the praying. The first time I heard someone shout, I was in shock. I had never heard or seen anything like that. A revival started and I went; and, man, did that minister make me feel uncomfortable. He was so intense and really working hard to get the message to everyone. Everything he preached about seemed to be about me. I couldn't believe it--why me--preach to someone else. He finally finished and I was so relieved it would soon be over. I just didn't know my life was about to change. The altar call was made and I sure wondered what that was about. Then Bro. Doyle who had been preaching walked down the aisle toward me. He stopped, looked at me and said young man how about you, are you ready? I said I think so. He said you had to know. Do you have a place and time? I had respected him from the first time I met him. He was such a godly and humble man. When he asked me to go to the altar for prayer, I thought I was going to pray for him. When I knelt down, I knew that wasn't the case. I didn't even know how to pray, especially pray for him. After that prayer, I went back to my seat. I didn't sleep much that night. I vowed I'd never go back to that church. I didn't get ready for church the next morning. My mother-in-law (who I loved dearly) said Bob, why aren't you dressed for church. At that, I got ready. On the way to church, I told them don't expect me to ever go to that altar again. Bro. Doyle preached again, the same way. When he was finished I couldn't wait to walk down that aisle to the altar. I still didn't know how to pray. When I knelt, this godly lady knelt beside me and told me to tell the Lord I loved Him and beg Him to save my soul. I began to call on Him and begged Him to save me. I said, "Please God save me, I'm willing for You to take me now". In a few seconds, the burden was gone. The choir began to sing, "Take My Hand Precious Lord." I have never been happier than I was at that time. I had been raised of a different faith. I guess God wanted me to know for sure that something wonderful had really happened to me so when I looked out over the crowd; it looked like they were all angels. I have never doubted my salvation. I have enjoyed every minute of it. I know what happened to me that Sunday and it will never leave me. Thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon me.

 
Norma S. Age 13
I was saved when I was 13 years old. I had been lost for some time but didn't want anyone to know. I was so troubled I thought I was going to die because my heart was beating so fast. Then it seemed like I was going to smother to death. Everyone kept asking me to go to the altar to pray. I just wouldn't go. Mr. Morris, a deacon in our church, came and talked to me all the time. A revival started at my home church, Pleasant Union Baptist Church in Brownsville, KY. The altar call was made and, of course, here came Mr. Morris. My sister who was sitting beside me just gave me a little nudge and I went up for prayer. I was saved the next day. I was praying for God to save me and forgive me for my sins. My mother and Aunt Molly were praying with me. I felt like standing up and when I did, what a blessing I received. I was the happiest person in the world. A moment in time I can never explain, I felt only complete happiness. Every time I think of that moment in time, I just feel like I'm floating around for a little while. What a simple thing I had to do for my salvation, just stand up for God. That time has never faded after all these years. I received such a blessing that day, that it is hard for me to understand why people don't know if they have been saved. That day, my cup runneth over.