Our Family
Trey's Testimony of Salvation
As a child, I grew within a family that rarely attended church. Though I never needed for anything, our family dynamic was very difficult and my relationship with my parents left much to be desired. As a result, I used athletics as an escape from reality. There I would find great success both on the football field and wrestling mat. Quickly these sports became my idol, and my success led me to believe that I was sufficient in myself. My senior year just before I signed a national letter of intent, I suffered an injury that would cause me to lose most of the scholarships I had received. I was devastated and chose to attend a local college to train for another chance at a college scholarship. During one of our games, I suffered a career ending injury that would require back surgery. Convinced that my life was over, I began searching for answers to the meaning of life. I tried to cover the pain with drugs and alcohol, but these only made matters worse. After almost losing my life, I called my mom to come take me back home where I could recover. During the trip, there was an accident that caused the interstate to close and we were forced to take a back road home that passed by Open Door Baptist Church. As it turns out, it was a Sunday and church was just about to begin. I remembered back to my senior year in high school when I visited the church for a pregame meal and the gospel was presented to me. I told my mom that we needed to stop, and I went inside looking “for a man named Jesus who could help.” On that day, Pastor Mike Johnston preached a message on the 10 Commandments and the Holy Spirit gripped my heart with conviction. I did not accept Christ as my personal Savior that day, but I continued attending faithfully for the next several months. On March 23, 2011 Pastor preached a message on the attributes of a true believer and I quickly realized my lost condition. At that moment, I knew that if I were to die I would spend eternity in Hell. That night I went forward, repented of my sins, and accepted Christ as my personal Savior. I was changed to a living example of 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Call to Missions
Shortly after my salvation in 2011, God began to deal with my heart about preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I went to Pastor Mike and explained what I was going through, and we began a one on one discipleship where we would meet weekly and study the scriptures. During this time, I was working as a Phlebotomist at our local hospital and befriended a little girl who was terminally ill. Each day as I would go in to draw her blood we would pray together and give testimony of what God was doing in our lives. As she drew closer and closer to death, our time together became sweeter and sweeter. The last time I saw her alive I walked in and prayed with her, as tears filled my eyes I asked if she was afraid of death. She responded “for my parents yes, but for me NO! I know where I’m going and when you see me again, I won’t be sick anymore.” I walked out of the room knowing it would be the last time I would speak to her on this side of eternity. Later that day I received a phone call from my supervisor with the most bittersweet news I had received in a long while, my friend was face to face with her Savior.
When I walked into the room her parents were distraught, the pain on their faces was unbearable. I quickly escorted myself to the nearest vacant room and fell on my face and wept before God. As I wondered where their pastor was, and who was there to point that family to the only One who could comfort at this time? At that moment, God made it clear: it’s you. In that hospital room I surrendered to whatever God would have for my life.
​
As I grew in God’s Word, He solidified the call to preach upon my life through Romans 10:14-15. I began to pray about what capacity God would have me to serve. Later on, God would use the BSALT statistics to break my heart about the need for church planting in America. The Lord allowed us to plant a church in Colorado and serve there for almost six years. He has now directed our hearts to New England. Through much prayer, God has led us to Portland, Maine where we we will plant a church. Please join us in prayer for the hundreds of thousands of people in need of the Gospel.
Ashlyn's Testimony of Salvation
I had the wonderful privilege of growing up in a Christian home. It was the place where I first learned of Jesus Christ. As a young child, I made a profession of faith. Over the next several years I would continually struggle silently doubting my salvation. In my teen years, I would seek counsel at a Christian camp only to be convinced that I was probably saved and only struggled because my parents were in full time ministry. The doubts continued, sometimes they were quiet and other times I was overwhelmed with conviction. I asked God to make it evident in my life whether I needed assurance of my previous decision or if I was in fact still lost. It didn't take long for Him to show my the need for me to fully rely upon Him alone for my salvation: not a memory, experience or prayer. I confessed my sin and accepted Christ as my Savior, no longer to doubt that He did exactly what He said He would do. Since that day, I have experienced radical growth in my Christian walk. While I've always had exposure to the things of God and growing up was challenged to live for Him, the last few years of my life have shown me what a real walking relationship with the Lord can look like and all the blessings it can hold. My life verse is Psalm 16:11 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." I can testify today that the source of my greatest joy is my relationship with Jesus Christ!
Our family
Our Accountability
Sending Church
Open Door Baptist Church in Christiansburg, Virginia with Pastor Mike Johnston is our sending church and has played an integral part in our lives and ministry.
Mission Board
Prayer Baptist Missions International has a passion for assisting local churches and missionaries in fulfilling the Great Commission, emphasizing Biblical principles and practical experience.