March - Lake Union Conference

That saved a wretch like me...five years of age, one evening I did some sleepwalking (ithad never happened before or since). I ended up standingbeneath a cross on the wall in my bedroom. The nextmorning my grandmother told me what happened, andsaid that God was calling me to be a minister. My familywas raised in another faith, and it was not my goal in lifeto be a preacher.When I reached the age of 15, God’s grace led Mama toI subsequently entered the ministry (Mama’s prophecycame true), and have been an Adventist pastor for the past38 years, the last two serving as president of my conference.Looking back, there is no doubt whatsoever that I wasa brand plucked out of the fire in a city of more than onemillion people. Why His grace was given to me, “who amless than the least of all saints,” 1 I still marvel to this day!As I neared the end of those 22 lessons, God’s amazing grace took holdof my heart. I found myself accepting the Sabbath and all the otherfundamental truths of Scripture that have become so precious to me.listen to a radio broadcast called “The Voice of Prophecy.”The speaker, H.M.S. Richards Sr., offered a series of freeBible studies for young people. Mama sent for the lessons,enrolling both James and me in the course. She had noidea what denomination was sponsoring the lessons (I’mso thankful it was the Seventh-day Adventist Church).Her only objective was to get a little religion into herteenage grandchildren.Sending for the lessons was one thing, but getting us todo them was another. We kept putting them aside, withno intention of finishing them. However, Mama would“stay on us” until they were completed, and mailed themback to Los Angeles from Baltimore, Maryland, where welived. Somehow, James wiggled out of finishing the course,but Mama wouldn’t let me slide by. As I neared the endof those 22 lessons, God’s amazing grace took hold of myheart. I found myself accepting the Sabbath and all theother fundamental truths of Scripture that have becomeso precious to me.I praise Him, also, that I was permitted to be an instrumentin His hands to bring my grandmother, my mother,my twin brother and 15 other members of my family into asaving knowledge of the Third Angel’s Message.There’s a hymn that says, “What He’s done for others,He’ll do for you.” 2 God’s amazing grace has come into mylife that I might share the Good News with others. It hasalso been given to you for you to share it with your grandparents,your parents, your siblings, your children and allothers whom the Almighty brings into your life. For yousee, one day we will all rejoice around His throne becauseof this AMAZING GRACE.Jerome Davis is the president of the Lake Region Conference.1. Ephesians 3:82. Words and music by Stuart Hamblen, “It Is No Secret,”copyright©Hamblen Music Company, Canyon Country, California.Vi s i t w w w. L a k e Un i o n He r a l d . o r g L a k e U n i o n H e r a l d • Ma r c h 2 0 0 8 | 21