Only A Sinner, Saved by Grace!

(The following is a testimony of God’s saving grace shared by our nephew, Aaron Bridges, who now pastors in Western North Carolina. Aaron is the son of Ellen’s sister, June, and June’s husband, Ed):

“I am so thankful that God called me to preach the Word and allows me to serve in any capacity in His kingdom! If there’s anyone who was ever undeserving, it’s me.

This time 20 years ago, in 2004, I had just come out of an oxycontin overdose a few weeks prior and was in a secular rehab facility in Boca Raton, Florida. Doctors had told my parents I would be brain dead if I lived, and, at best, a vegetable due to my being without oxygen for so long. But, people around the country prayed for me and I eventually woke up and left the hospital after about a week. Unfortunately, I didn’t wake up from my spiritual blindness for quite some time.

My life was an absolute wreck. A few weeks after the overdose, I got my first DWI (yes, the first…not the last) after wrecking my car; and I was arrested for that charge, along with two drug-possession charges for marijuana and Xanax. Hence, the trip to rehab, which was truly just an attempt at lowering my charges when I went to court. The following two years of my life were an absolute disaster and train wreck, with a continual descent into alcoholism. In my mind, I reasoned that alcohol wouldn’t be as bad as drugs because it was ‘legal’ (more lies and deception).

However, God began working on me. My coworker and boss at the time, Scotty Briggs, invited me to church with him at Faith Christian Assembly of God in Wilkesboro, NC, on a Wednesday night in October of 2006. That night, Pastor Eric Jones preached out of the book of Ephesians, and the Lord was working on my soul the entire time. On the way out, Pastor Jones asked me how I was doing, and immediately I broke down into tears and told him I needed to be saved. My life changed instantly that night, and he prayed with me until I “prayed through” and was born again.

When I got home, I had to empty out my house and my cabinets (and closet too) of the things that had been a snare in my life for far too long. That’s what “works of repentance” means. God changed me that night, and although I’ve had times of failure since then, everything was different from that point on.

A few weeks later, God called me to preach in a revival service at that same church, and I surrendered to that call and stepped out in faith, leaving my job and my home in Wilkes County to go off to Holmes Bible College in Greenville, SC. Fast forward 17 years or so, and I couldn’t be more thankful for all that God has blessed me with. A beautiful and amazing wife, the opportunity to serve the best church in Western North Carolina (Cartoogechaye Church of God), a family that is loving and caring, a nice home in the hills of Macon County, and on and on.

It pays to serve God. His dividends are out of this world. Get serious about your relationship with God because He’s about to wrap this thing up, y’all. And never forget there’s a God in heaven that is merciful and patient with you. No matter how far away from Him you are right now, He’s only a prayer away!”

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief.” (I Tim. 1:12-15)

Note:  Aaron’s parents, June and Eddie Bridges, love God and have served him faithfully all of their married life. They had their family in church regularly, and their children attended Sunday School, VBS, and all the church activities. Aaron’s sister lives in South Carolina, and she and her husband have reared their children in church faithfully. In my opinion, Aaron’s grandpa, a faithful man of God and pastor, prayed Aaron to Calvary, and June and Eddie loved Aaron into the arms of Jesus—never giving up on him or the grace of God. Aaron’s grandpa—June and Ellen’s father—never lived to see his prayers answered, but Aaron’s Godly parents have watched the spiritual transformation from a front-row seat, as it were. Eddie is battling cancer at this time. Never give up. Never stop hoping and praying. God still hears and answers prayers, and He is still in the soul-saving business!

By the way, there is an excellent book by John Elmore that I have used in counseling and have found  very helpful: “Freedom Starts Today: Overcoming Struggles and Addictions One Day at a Time.”

Thank you, Pastor Aaron Bridges, for sharing your powerful story with “You and God” readers.