me

My story of finding Salvation through Jesus Christ.

     My name is Rick Barber. I currently reside in Orlando, Florida where I am originally from. I have spent the last 8 years living in South Carolina in the beautiful town of Walhalla.

     For the last 6 � years I have served as a Police Officer, first for the town of Westminster, S.C., then for Seneca, S.C.. On October 20, 2001, I heard a sermon preached by my father at the Shepherd's Home Wesleyan Church in West Union. The Pastor of this church is Rev. Jim Manley, who served in the early 1980's with my father as Police Officers in Walhalla.

     The Shepherd's Home Church was an experience that I will never forget. I have attended church in many different places over the years, but NONE of them had ever touched my soul like this one did. If you have ever wondered what it feels like to be in the presence of the Holy Spirit, I encourage you to take a trip to West Union, South Carolina. For the short time I was able to attend there, I don't believe I ever heard a moment of silence in this church because there was always an "Amen" or "Tell it" or "Praise God" being lifted up in honor of our Savior Jesus Christ.

     I was asked to attend a Revival meeting at the church, in which my father, Tom Barber, was to be the guest speaker. I went into the church that night half interested to hear what he had to say and half amused at the thought of my father "preaching" at all. I will ask my dad to add his own story to this site very soon and I think that will give you an idea of why I said what I just did. (READ HIS STORY HERE)

     I sat in the next to the last row with my wife Cecily, and our two children Adara and Garion. Behind me was my grandmother, Betty (dad's mom) and her husband Don, who both were up visiting from Orlando at the time. I slouched in the pew and tried to get comfortable as Pastor Jim introduced my dad and told a little about their past together.

     What happened next is burned into my memory. I may one day forget all that was said out loud by my dad but I will NEVER forget what happened inside. With every passing second I felt my chest constricting, and I knew the second it started what was happening to me. The Holy Spirit was paying a visit to me in that little church. My eyes watered, my nose got stuffy and my breathing was very labored. As I think back to that night my body responds the same way at just the memory of that night and the call the Lord put out to this terrible sinner.

     My dad covered many topics that night but when I heard him say the words, "My Savior" something inside me shattered. My head was spinning and I know I was sweating as those words sank in. I had just heard my dad call Jesus Christ "My Savior," and I was more envious of my dad right then than I had ever been of anyone in my entire life. There was a terrible fight going on inside of me as part of me wanted to fall to my knees and cry out for mercy, and the other half, the half ruled by the love of this world and sin, fought with me to brush off this nonsense. You�ve been here before was all I could hear as �self� battled with �salvation� inside me in an incredible tug-o-war.

     I wanted to fall to my knees and beg Jesus to let me call Him MY SAVIOR. Even with the battle raging inside me I knew that Jesus had a plan for me, though I didn�t know what that plan was I knew I had to share this with others. I struggled with thoughts and flesh, thinking of my �fun� I had with the guys at the bar after work, the pornography I loved so much, the foul language that poured out of my mouth as easily as I exhaled. I thought of Salvation, of living forever in the presence of God where there would be no more sin. I thought of my children who were sitting with me on that bench and what would become of them if I didn�t change my life and start living the way they needed me to. My wife, who had begged me to go to church with her since we were dating, needed a real man, a Christian man in her life, to be her husband. Then the words of my little girl came to mind, just weeks before when she said, �Daddy, when I grow up I want to be just like you�. All I could think was, no baby, no you don�t. I could clearly see my daughter sitting in those bars one day, enjoying pornography and using words that are pure filth, all of which daddy was going to teach her by example. I was a wreck inside fighting a losing battle against Satan, and only because I was fighting it alone. I knew where my help was but I had to reach out for it.

     There was the usual alter call for those wishing to dedicate their life to Christ and with my son in my arms I moved to the front of the church, and for the first time in many years, sank to my knees and honestly called out to Christ to help me. I asked for forgiveness, compassion that I didn�t deserve and for Him to guide me to where I needed to be.

     When I stood again and returned to my seat I sat with my mind racing. I knew the feeling I had inside me was the presence of Christ, but now what? After the service was over, I told my dad what a wonderful message he had given and he told me, "Don't waist 30 years like I did". I left the church thinking to myself, "I am 28 years old...I have wasted 28 years". I have always been around churches, and even attended church schools, but here I was wanting to tell everyone what just happened to me and I didn't know where to start.

     I left that church knowing I wanted Christ but my body was still fighting with the wants of �self�. For two days I struggled and wrestled with the Lord over a silly question, �do you really want me?� On the night of that second day I broke. In the privacy of my home, with no one or nothing around to distract me, I told Christ that I wanted to be His. I told Him that I knew how unworthy I was and I literally begged Him to forgive me for the sins I committed against Him. I asked Him to accept me as one of His children and to use me for His glory. I finally knew and professed to myself that Jesus Christ is the risen Messiah and he died and rose again for ME. The Joy that filled my soul at that moment made what happened at the church seem like goose bumps. I felt like I had been hit by lightning. If you have never experienced it there are no words that will ever be able to describe the feeling that came over me. I was already feeling half choked by the presence of the Holy Spirit then Jesus answered my prayer and I breathed in my first deep breath of the night. I felt the whole world wash away as the AWESOME presence of Jesus flooded my soul.

     There is a gospel song called "I Went Down A Begger, But I Came Up A Millionaire", well, friends, that�s what happened!!! I knew as I opened my eyes I was a new man, I felt new and the old man was gone forever. I finally understood a song I had heard that said, �This is how it feels to be free�. Jesus was in front of His Father�s throne telling Him that I had finally stopped running and was coming home. There is something very, very comforting about knowing that the Risen Lord Jesus Christ was speaking about me to God. I was the topic of conversation in Heaven right then, and I have no hesitation saying that the angels rejoiced as did my Lord and His Father. As much as it makes my heart swell I know I am still unworthy of the gift of Salvation and I thank God on a daily basis for his forgiveness. This is Grace, pure and true from the Lord.

    This was just the simple story of my acceptance of Salvation. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior I encourage you to do so. The path of a Christian is not always easy, there is no assured �easy life� here and you have just put yourself on the top of the enemy�s list. I know my daily walk with the Lord will be tough at times, but if I stay the course, and keep the faith by walking in His footsteps, my place in heaven is assured. I have finally found that Blessed Assurance I have heard about my whole life, but never understood.

     Don�t let satan trick you like he did me with lies like �your not good enough�, �your not worthy� or the excuse I used for years, �I have to get my life straight before I can go back to church�. They are all lies of the devil that will keep you from knowing the true loving nature of our God. People are worried that if they go to church people will look down at them, think they are not good enough to be there with them, but I assure you of this; a true Christian will welcome you in with open arms upon your arrival. Jesus said �come�. What a simple request. Remember also that there are those in church that are not Christian, they walk in darkness not knowing or making excuses as to why they live in sin, but do not let them be a stumbling block to you. Just keep the call of our Lord in your heart, �come�.

Please take a moment to read my dad�s story.

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