I was retiring from the Army, my wife, a full-blooded Holy Ghost kind of Southern Baptist, was persistent about me attending this revival given by her boss/preacher/chairman of the board/CEO of a large 'christian' philosophy corporation in Columbus, Georgia. (Tragic story #235) She said people was getting saved, healed, baptized in the spirit, on and on.

I may have been brought up a strict Roman Catholic, but I sure wasn't one then. I was having an affair with my secretary then, and the guilt drove me to attend this meeting, out of curiosity maybe? if anything.

The church was an independent holiness church pastored by (the late) Sister Shelly (forgive me, forgot her last name), but was in Revival given by (the late) Ralph Savage. (later to be my mentor, and provider).

I was a little skeptic, maybe scared something would happen. Probably end up making a fool out of myself (vanity), like people was already doing when we went in. Shaking, screaming, laughing in the spirit. When things settled though, they started baptizing in the baptismal pool behind the altar. I don't recall exactly what happened, but I took the first step and the Lord God Almighty took over. My wife said, I started crying and shaking, raising my hands (which I never understood why people did). At the altar I laid flat on my face and asked God to forgive me for my sins. I heard and felt someone touch me on my shoulder and asked me if I accept the Lord as my saviour. I guess I did say, I don't recall, but everyone cheered and I was led to the baptismal and was baptized for the first time as a grown man. I was baptized when born, but of course, do I remember? much less know why?

But here is the rest of the testimony. It was already late, past 10pm. I was cold, soaking wet, people were still getting saved, prayed for, baptized. Up walks this young man, I felt a cold presence. He touches the preacher (Ralph Savage) and wrestles him to the ground! Everyone thought he was annointing Dr. Savage cause the way he touched his forehead and grabbed his shoulder. But when they started violently struggling and both were speaking in tonques of ancient lanquages. (other than speaking in angelic tonque) Everyone started to either run out of church or run up to the altar to see what was going on.

The prayer warriors knew and started to pull them apart but no one could. They were physically and spiritually locked together. The young man's eyes were fiery red with a blank look on his face, speaking different, sporadic languages in what we know as pidgin latin, greek, some noticed Indian, a form of spanish words.

I was unaware that I was holding Ralph's arm and he was looking at me and said don't look at him, he wants to go into you. Right then the young man possessed turned and looked directly at me and a cold shiver ran through me. Someone grabbed me and pulled me back. I was laid down on the floor when I awoke. No one saw me fly back or know how long I laid out on the floor. The fight still going on, it went on til about 4am in the morning. By then, only a handful of prayer warriors were there with Ralph and I. Then Ralph got his strength back and cursed all the demons by 'name.' He knew all their names and told them to leave. I don't remember how many there were, they finally all left and the young man collapsed. To shorten this, the young man was repossessed and killed himself along with his lover, an older man. Ralph later killed himself also in 1993 after building a hedge around me from that day til he ended his own life.

I am just now getting out of my shell since 1993 because every God fearing word I heard from that man, every audible word he said came from God, seemed a lie. I tried going back to church every so often. I am trying now, but as always, God wants you to take the first step, then he'll take it from there! Amen.