Clear Fork Alliance Church

By the time I was 24, I had it all figured out. I believed that science had all the answers (including evolution) and pleasure (joy) was to be found in material things. I had started playing in a band professionally at age 14. It wasn’t cool (playing in my dad’s band at the Liederkranz, a German beer hall), but it was good money. When I was 16 I bought my first car, paying cash I had saved from playing in nightclubs, and met my lifelong sweetheart, Sandy. I didn’t believe in God or the Bible and was only interested in discussing either with someone so that I could show those who did believe, the error of their ways.

In June of 1969, Sandy and I got married and lived a relatively good (material) life for several years. I became so involved in my own needs, wants and desires that I ignored those of my beloved. I neglected her emotional needs and (not being a Christian) couldn’t detect or begin to meet her spiritual needs.

Several years into our marriage, after drifting apart, Sandy and I filed for divorce. We had paid the lawyers fees and were separated waiting out the required time for the divorce to become final. Although I didn’t believe in God, He believed in me. Sandy and I reunited and tried to repair our relationship. We were together but I really hadn’t changed so we continued to struggle in our relationship.

Some friends of ours told us about a Marriage Encounter weekend that had really strengthened their relationship and encouraged us to try it. I told them “if you have to believe in God to benefit from the weekend, don’t hold your breath.”

During that weekend, God worked a miracle in Sandy’s and my life. He gave us a love for each other and a relationship that I had never believed possible. He also brought me the faith to believe in His existence and His Word. The next Sunday we went to church and I listened to the sermon for the first time believing in God and His Holy Word. The message was from Ephesians and was about marriage. Soon afterwards I was led to Christ and prayed the prayer of salvation. God, our magnificent creator, gave me a new life in Christ, a new marriage relationship with my beloved wife and as of December, 2004, a new church home here at Clear Fork Alliance. Praise God!