Testimony of John P. Charbeneau
I grew up in a mainstream protestant Church in the 1950’s and 1960’s - the Congregational Church which then became the United Church of Christ. There was little mention of sin, or why anyone would need a Savior. Most of the emphasis was on the teachings of Jesus that related to interaction with others. Not until much later in life did I realize how unbalanced that emphasis was, and that the central message of Jesus was really quite offensive and divisive, namely that all have sinned, that we cannot hope to gain entrance into heaven on our own merit, and that our only hope is in the Gospel (rightly called The Good News!) placing our faith in Him.
Although I attended non-evangelical churches with my family, from an early age I was attracted to other churches nearby, specifically the Assemblies of God church near my home. Although I was at first scared by the loud and vigorous participation of the congregation, quite the opposite of the reserved New England Congregationalists, I knew at some level in my soul that the Truth was being preached here, and at a more personal level. I am sure that I heard the Gospel message presented more than once, but I did not respond outwardly because it wasn’t in my home church and I would have been embarrassed.
In 1967, when I was 17, a lay pastor who, unbeknownst to the church leaders had an evangelical streak was serving our local Congregational church. We also had an organist with a Southern Baptist background. With this combination, it didn’t take long until one Sunday morning in April the pastor gave an altar call, complete with all the verses of Just As I Am. I came forward, and I truly believe that I was saved then and there.
That evangelical pastor moved on fairly soon, and no doubt recalling the altar call, the church council chose succeeding pastors from the United Church of Christ. Once again no mention was made of the need of a Savior because of our sin. Thus, while I attended church regularly, I never received any Bible based preaching or teaching. Instead, we were constantly exposed to the writings of the “Great Theologians” and much was made of our denomination’s stance on political and social issues of the day.
In 1970 I finally convinced Shirlene to marry me, after years of pursuit, and we were married in 1971. She had grown up in the same church, and we continued our activity there as we started our family. Between 1979 and 1985 I was on the board of directors of the Vermont conference of the United Church of Christ, and for two of those years I was chairperson of the board. I have to say I was quite impressed and proud with the positions I held. Shirlene also held positions at the statewide level. These were heady days for us, but I was becoming increasingly dissatisfied. At the time I didn’t realize it, but I now know that the Holy Spirit was moving in both of us.
We left the United Church of Christ in 1992 under quite a lot of stress. Many of our friendships had been formed and grew over many years at this church, and many of these friends were confused and angered when we left. We didn’t have a clear answer for them, except to say we felt led to leave. We spent a few years at the local Mennonite church, then around 1997 were led in a very clear manner to a believing church in a nearby town where for the first time we were exposed to consistent Bible based teaching and preaching.
Our new church, First Congregational Church of Woodstock VT, is a Congregational church in name, but it had split from and renounced the United Church of Christ in the 1970’s. Back in my U.C.C. board of director days this split was still fresh, and I remember thinking at the time how weird and cult-like the people at this church must be to ever think of leaving the United Church of Christ. It is wonderfully ironic, and something only God could do, that I now credit this same breakaway church with finally giving me the teaching I craved for decades after being saved.
This is not the only instance in my life that God has turned me completely around from a direction I thought I should be going. I have seen many examples of His grace and provision in my life, and many instances of answered prayer. We had planned for many years to take early retirement and move from Vermont to this area of Virginia. Not only have all our plans and arrangements worked out perfectly surrounding this major move for us, but also I was replaced at my former job by a young Christian man who is now pushing the legal limits of evangelism and witness at my former employer.
We feel blessed to be attending a Bible preaching and teaching church, and especially blessed with our Sunday School teachers and class members. We have been through so many church situations over the years that we know there is no “perfect” church on this earth, but we also can discern where the Truth is being taught and practiced to the best of our fallen abilities. We praise God for leading us to this fellowship!
As I was praying the other night I started to list the people God has used over the years to point me closer and closer to Him. I was humbled by realizing how many people were used, and how more names keep coming to mind after I thought I was “done” with the list. Some of the people are obvious like a great teaching pastor or Sunday School teacher. But sometimes a word or two, aptly said by a fellow saint, can stick in our mind and influence us for the Lord when temptation comes.
Finally, consider the gift of Salvation. It is freely given to all who will pray to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I was drawn by the Holy Spirit to do that in April of 1967. Hallelujah!
“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
Psalm 84:10
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