In the summer of 1971 our neighbor lady asked if our children could go to Vacation Bible School with her children at the Assembly of God church. We said they could, so a church bus driven by Kent Young Sr. picked them up for that week.

Our children at that time were Mike age 9, Angie age 6 and Kris age 4.

When Bible School was over Sis. Arley Young and Sis. Sherill Young came to visit and asked if the children could continue to ride the bus and come to Sunday school. We agreed as we figured it would be a good way to get extra sleep on Sunday morning.

Bro. & Sis. Hill would occasionally visit us, after one visit Gary said, "If he comes back again I'm going to throw him out!" Unknowing to us they were praying for us every day. We didn't realize it, but God's conviction was on us.

I convinced Gary that we should start going to church. We went Sunday mornings only.

In October Bro. Wallace Joyce came to hold revival. Gary wouldn't go but I did. The first night I went I got saved. After I got saved Gary was really mad and he quit going.

Then Bro. Hill thought up a scheme to get Gary to church. He asked him to build a sound room to tape his messages for his radio program. So, Gary set it all up for him then pastor said, "I don't have anyone that knows how to run it, so would you?" Gary agreed not realizing that he would have to listen to the sermons on headphones. Bro.Hill got quite a laugh out of that trick.

In February the church had revival, Gary went and got saved.

Gary had a Country Band that he played for dances on Friday and Saturday nights. When he finally surrendered everything to God he quit the band and played his guitar for the Lord.

A year later God called him into the Bus Ministry then later to preach the Gospel. After being Bus captain for several years and we both worked in Children's Church for five years. He felt God calling him to Evangelize. We also pastored in MO. then ended up in MS. where we have been for eighteen years.

God has blessed our family tremendously. Our two sons, Mike and Jeremy are preachers. Mike is now pastoring the church Gary pioneered in Crowder, MS. Jeremy is the assistant pastor. Our youngest daughter Kris is over the Music Ministry in our church. Our oldest daughter Angie who lives in Independence, IA with her husband and three children have been attending Calvary Evangelistic Center for 23 years. Angie and her husband Tim served in the Children's Church Ministry for several years.  Angie and her daughter Emily are currently involved in the music ministry.

We are so blessed to have all of our children and their spouses plus our ten grand children in church serving and working for the Lord.