51 years ago - yesterday March 21st

Ok, all you "oldsters" - wonder how many remember the old evangelistic meetings we Baptists used to have. They usually lasted at least a week - every evening and twice on Sunday. A travelling evangelist would be the main speaker and sometimes he brought special music or something special for the kids or whatever. I remember one young evangelist we had - I believe his name was Lance Ross (no relation) and he was so cute and so sweet. His wife played the marimba and was she ever good!!! She could play with four sticks and really go fast!! Anyway, at the end of the week, he kissed me on the cheek and I swear I didn't wash that spot for a long time. I think I was about 7 or 8. Anyway, back to 51 years ago. On March 21, 1958 we were having an evangelistic meetings week with Rev. Clifford Lewis. He was a very dynamic preacher and I really don't remember much about the meetings except his preaching. I was 6 years old and remember sitting in the front row with my friends listening to his sermons. I'm not sure what night it was - it could have been a Sunday night and maybe the last one. Anyway, his sermon was on heaven and hell and which one were we going to? Well, as I sat there listening, I realized my mom and dad and brother were going to heaven when they died, but I wasn't. My little child heart was crushed and I remember during the invitation thinking I should go forward and ask Jesus into my heart. But I was pretty shy back then and little afraid. After the final prayer, I went over to my dad and told him I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart. My dad was a deacon in the church - who better to go ask? He took me to Rev. Lewis and they both took me back to a room behind the stage. I remember vividly the coolness of the room, the very cold metal folding chairs we sat on and the cold tile floor where we knelt. After Rev. Lewis explained salvation, asking Jesus to forgive our sins and live in our hearts and asked me if that was what I wanted to do, I said yes. He knelt on one side of me and Daddy on the other and I prayed and asked Jesus into my heart. I remember it all so clearly. Rev. Lewis told me I had to go tell someone, so I went out and found my mom sitting and waiting and I told her. The church was made up of a lot of my relatives and I imagine my mom had spread the word, as I got hugs and kisses from aunts and uncles and of course, my dear grandma. I have always loved the fact that my brother, sister and I were privileged to grow up in a church with close friends and relatives and to have the wonderful Christian heritage we had. Those memories are dear to me. So, Happy Birthday to me - 51 years ago!!