About

My Walk In Faith

A Personal Testimony from Joe Locke

I was born into a good Christian home.  We always went to church.  I would have to say that my mom and her mother, Grandmother Strider, were very influential as I grew up.  I sang in the children’s choir, youth choir and now the adult choir.  We had a very strong youth group and a large choir – The Real Life Singers.  We would go to different places and sing, pray, and some would give their testimony. 

During the summer of 1972, we had a lock-in at our church, and in a small room called the Upper Room - I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.  It was a great weekend, but then I had to face my friends at school… Junior High School was a very interesting time for me – as it is with most teenagers...  We had just finished going through desegregation – but there were still many problems.  I was friends with a lot of different people.  Some were jocks, some were in the band or chorus, and others just liked to “hang out”.  Several of my friends were starting to smoke and dabble with drugs and alcohol.  I was being pulled in different directions and many times I felt like such a hypocrite – I had to make a choice.  Either way I was going to loose some friends, but I knew what I had to do – and I chose Christ. 

No one explained that I needed a relationship with God – or – that He wanted one with me.  As a result, I was a “child” of Christ for a long time.  I went to church regularly and did all the “church” things like serving on committee’s, volunteering for all sorts of things, etc.  Finally, I became so frustrated that I just pulled back and stopped serving and volunteering.  I quit teaching adult classes, and just focused on teaching Sunday School for the children.  When my daughter started going to the youth I decided it was time to get involved again.  I found myself spending more time preparing lessons and praying.  Some of the youth leaders got together and decided to do a study group and we did Experiencing God.  It was in this small group that I finally learned what was missing in my life – God and I needed a relationship with each other.  

I started working on it, but for some reason I did not stay on course for very long.  Then, not long after, we participated in a Franklin Graham Festival.  In preparation, they had some training sessions where we were given ideas on how to share the gospel.  A small handout by Charlie Riggs called “Practicing His Presence” was very meaningful – and it all of a sudden clicked.  

I had to have a regular time to spend with God.  So I started every morning getting up early reading God’s Word and spending time with God in prayer.  I began the new millennium with a renewed since of purpose.  Exodus 34:14 in the New Living Translation says:

You must worship no other gods, but only the Lord, for he is passionate about his relationship with you.  

My only regret is that it took me so long to understand this.  I spend time with God everyday (I do sleep in occasionally, so I take time in the evenings to catch-up).  

My question for you is simple.  Do you truly love Jesus?  Do you really love Him?  Is He your friend?  If so, spend time with Him.  Build a lasting relationship.  If you do not have a relationship with Christ – This is the time!  

If you have any questions, or would like to know more, please feel free to contact me.