Is there any greater joy in this world than the experience of leading a lost soul to faith in Jesus Christ? If there is, it must be the joy of leading your own children to the Savior. At the time of this writing, I have experienced such joy three times and look forward to the prospect of hearing the rest of my children call upon the name of the Lord in Acts 16 fashion.
This couch was the altar where I called on the name of Jesus.
Can children understand such things as redemption, forgiveness of sins, propitiation, and atonement? Well, I remember vividly my meeting with Jesus as a five year old boy. I still can’t spell any of those words without the help of my word processor but I know that I am saved. In my limited understanding, I knew that I had sinned against almighty God and I would be punished for my sin forever and ever and ever in a fiery place called Hell. Kneeling beside me that day was my father, Gary Byers; who was leading his third child to Jesus.
Dad with my and my sister's kids
All five of dad’s children profess Jesus as their Savior and to my knowledge; all his grandchildren above the age of seven have called on that wonderful name. I think this number comes to eleven grand children who profess to be saved by faith alone in Jesus. Add this to his five children and you have a total of sixteen family members who trust they are ready for the rapture of the Church soon to take place. Only God knows the hearts and I realize that profession of Jesus does not necessarily prove possession, but we have been blessed with a goodly heritage nonetheless.
By now I hope you are wondering how my dad came to know the Lord. He was not raised in a godly home. On the contrary, my dad’s parents divorced when he was young. Yes, divorce is still sin even in 2010 and will continue to be sin forever. My grandparents on dad’s side smoked, drank, and frequented the nightclubs. Dad says their main goal in life seemed to be “having a ball”, and so they did. God was only a curse word in that home. I remember visiting my grandparent’s home and hearing the Lords name used in ways I had never heard before. Church wasn’t on the schedule in dads broken home.
When my grandpa Byers was on his death bed with cancer, my dad was broken over his soul. He wanted one last chance to speak to grandpa about the Lord, but the stepmother wasn’t going to make it easy. For several days grandpa was in and out of a coma at his house in Oregon. The family took turns watching him and dad was taking his turn when grandpa Byers sat up in bed one night. Earlier dad tried to speak with him but to no avail. This night, grandpa Byers looked right at my dad and said “Gary, could God save an old sinner like me?” Well GLORY TO GOD and PRAISE THE LORD! Chalk up four generations of Byers’ for the family reunion in Heaven. No, the circle won’t be broken.
So then, it wasn’t grandpa Melville Byers who planted the seed, watered it, and then picked the fruit. This line of born again, blood washed, heaven bound Baptist believers that currently stretches four generations started when a young boy named Buddy Brock invited my dad to church. At the age of fourteen, my dad attended a Baptist Church in Camas Washington and heard Pastor Lee Brock preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The spirit filled preacher offered an invitation for sinners to come to Christ and the preacher’s four year old son spoke to my dad while standing on the pew next to him. “Gary, don’t you want to get saved?” were the simple words uttered by the boy. My dad said that’s all the nudge he needed to walk the isle of that little Baptist church and get saved.
Although we have never met, my dad has repeated this story so many times that I feel I know Pastor Brock. The Lord called me to be a preacher not long after finishing High School. Currently I am planting a Baptist church in Illeshiem Germany. About three years ago while traveling across the United States seeking support to begin our ministry here in Germany; I received an e-mail from Pastor Lee Brock. He wanted to know if I may be related to a Gary Byers. Apparently, Pastor Brock found my website on the internet. I was thrilled to answer the e-mail and thank this man of God for impact he has made in my life. If Bro. Brock only had one convert during his time in Camas Washington, I would praise God through all eternity for this preacher answering God’s call. I am so glad Bro. Brock had never heard of this nonsense about “the 10/40 window.” (my preacher friends will understand what I mean by that) Can I tell you that we are not done yet? By God’s grace, we plan to win many more souls to Jesus. In our first year here we led four people to Christ
Poems of a Cowboy Preacher
and baptized one. I am certain that Bro. Brock will be rewarded by God for each and every soul that was saved as a result of his obedience to God. I could hardly believe it when the Brocks began
supporting our ministry financially each month. We have still never met and perhaps never will until Heaven.
A few weeks ago I received an E-mail from Pastor Brock. He has written a book called “The Poems of a Cowboy Preacher.” The book can be purchased on Amazon at this link, and I can’t wait to read it. May I recommend this book to you before I have even read it? This was written by a man who made a difference for the cause of Jesus Christ.
Kevin Byers
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Bro. Kevin,
That is a tremendous story! Thanks for sharing. May God bless the life and ministry of Pastor Lee Brock. We are praying for you as you continue to serve the Lord in Germany.
Bro. Alverson
PTL! for another faithful servant who witnesses and
preaches The Word. What a wonderful Godly heritage.
For me, as a 10 yr.old, it was the VBS Principle who made the Gospel clear again, & asked for a personal decision to accept Christ, in Collingswood NJ.
For my husband, his friend, the Baptist BK, bugged him to
come to after school Bible Study & when he finally did, explained the Gospel & he, at12 years old, accepted Christ.
Thank you Kevin, for your kind words. Your dad and my son Buddy were school mates from grade one through high school. Olin was the one who spoke to your dad. He is now a preacher, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Vancouver, WA.
God is so Awesome! Thanks for sharing=)
Kevin,
I just got a chance to catch up on some e-mails. Your e-mail was a real blessing and a wonderful reminder of the joy we have when leading a person to our precious Saviour. Not knowing, at the time, the impact it could have on a whole family for years to come. Bless you as you so faithfully serve our Lord, Nancy Kerr
I just received my copy of “The Poems Of A Cowboy Preacher” in the mail a few days ago. I was blessed by the poems, they are really good! Josiah felt so inspired after hearing several poems that he wrote a few of his own. I suppose I will post them here in the coming days.
Hello Kevin, Thank you for sharing this great bit of family history. It is truly a wonderful example of God’s amazing grace. I can’t wait to order Pastor Brock’s book on Amazon. Your blog is such a blessing. You are using it well to bring glory and honor to the Lord and seeing the photos of you all makes it feel like you are not so far away. We miss you here at Solid Rock. You are in our prayers. Love in Christ Jesus. ~ Bonnie