Pastor Josh Carter's Testimony

I was raised in a very strong Christian home, yet I struggled with my salvation for many years.  After I graduated from high school I had my plans for my future but they did not include serving God.  My Father asked me to attend one year of Bible College and I agreed to do so.  While at Bible College I took a personal evangelism class that really shook me up.  I had made professions of faith, but in doing so I was always trying to get out of trouble with my parents.  I realized I was making professions of faith to please people and not because I believed I was a sinner before a holy God.
 
Just a couple of months into my freshmen year I was miserable.  I knew I was lost but I didn’t want anyone else to know it.  During a revival meeting at Southwest Baptist Church in OKC, OK, God turned up the pressure on me, but I refused to walk the aisle.  After the service on November 3rd , 2000 I had to ride the college bus back to campus from the church. The people riding with me kept singing “It Is Well With My Soul”.  I sat there miserable knowing things were not well in my soul.  When I stepped off the bus back on campus I found my roommate who was a senior and talked with him.  That night by the grace of God I got saved.  Not because I wanted to please men but because I finally realized I was a sinner and I needed forgiveness from a great Savior.

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Rochelle's Testimony

I had the privilege of being raised in a pastor’s home.  As a young child, about 5 or 6, I made a profession of faith and remember being baptized, but the older I grew there wasn’t a whole lot I could recall.  I mainly went off of what my older sister told me I had prayed and thought that was enough.  But the more I tried to remember the larger the doubts grew.
 
As a teenager, I always tried to pacify it with being involved in different ministries in the church.  I was a bus captain, sang in the church and teen choirs and always thought of myself as a pretty good kid.  I let my pride get in the way of admitting that it didn’t matter who I was or what good I was doing, I was still lost.
 
When I was almost 17, my Grandpa passed away.  I know the Lord used that situation to speak to me once again, but it was almost a year and a half later before I finally decided I couldn’t live in misery anymore.  In August of 1997 I was at youth camp, and Bro. Dave McCracken was preaching on being 100% sure that you would be in heaven at the Marriage Supper but I wasn’t 100% sure.  On Wednesday evening of that week I finally set aside my pride and worry of what everyone else would think. I went forward to the altar and prayed and received Christ as my personal Savior. Now I am 100% sure, without a doubt, on my way to Heaven.

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About Pastor Carter

As I stated in my salvation testimony, I had the great privilege of growing up in a strong Christian home.  My father has been a pastor for close to 35 years.  Over the years God has used him to plant nine Independent Baptist Churches.  It was a great honor to grow up in the ministry.  My dad didn’t try and shelter us from the ministry but rather he brought us along every step of the way.  Some of my most cherished childhood memories are going out door knocking with my dad and then going to the park or Dairy Queen.  He made serving the Lord our family’s ministry, and he made it a joy.  I have no doubt that is why all my brothers and sister are serving the Lord in good Fundamental Baptist Churches today.
 
After my salvation I began for the first time to truly seek the will of God for my life.  He gave me I Corinthians 10:31 as a life verse, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”  As I sought God, he began to open doors to for me.  He gave me the privilege to travel on the ‘Witness’ group for Heartland Baptist Bible College for two years.  He allowed me to teach Sunday school and be very involved with the youth at Southwest Baptist Church.

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As he opened doors, I walked through them, growing in the Lord and learning His word.  It was in the middle of my senior year that I felt God’s call upon my life to preach the Gospel.  My father asked if there was anything other than serving Him that would make me happy.  The answer today is that same as then, no. So by the grace of God I am still walking through doors as he opens them to me.
 
Right after I Graduated from Bible College (HBBC), I went on staff at Lakewood Baptist Temple in Lakewood, WA.  While there I got to be involved in many different ministries.  I Headed up the Bus and outreach.  I lead the choir, and taught the College and Career Sunday School Class.  After I had Served at Lakewood for a year and a half single God blessed me with my beautiful wife Rochelle.  We served together there and loved the people!
 
A year after we were married God started working in our hearts to take part in starting a church in Grandview, WA.  There was a group of six people looking for a pastor, and God moved us there.  After 3 and half years we were able to see that small group of six grow to around 35.  Then God Began to move on our hearts again.  My father had asked us to come and work with him at the church He started and pastored in Mustang, OK.  We hated to leave Grandview, but my wife and I knew God was in it.  The Church in Grandview is still doing great and growing under their new pastor.  We praise God we had a small part in the work that is going on there.
 
While in Oklahoma I worked as the youth pastor, choir director, & Christian School Administrator.  After two and half years on staff there, we received a call from Bellingham Baptist Church.  We praise God for the way He has lead us and the experience He has allowed us to glean so far in our young ministry.

- Pastor Josh Carter

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