Last, the story of my conversion.
My wife Bobbie started going to church when she was fifteen years old. We married when she was eighteen, and since I was unable to survive financially, I joined the military, the Air Force. After boot camp and training as a medic at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, I was stationed at Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield, California. We got a little apartment in Suisun City and after a while, Bobbie started attending First Baptist Church of Fairfield, Bob Lewis from Arkansas, was the pastor.
I was not a Christian though my dad took the three Philpott boys to church in Portland, Oregon. As soon as I could, I refused to attend, and the same for my two younger brothers. Now I was faced with pleasing my wife or not. To do so, I would occasionally, about once a month, attend Sunday services. One of those Sunday’s, at the typical Baptist invitation to receive Christ, I walked forward, likely to please my wife than anything else. Staff Sargent Al Becker came to me, and he had me pray the “Sinner’s Prayer.” In a moment I was converted! Or was I?
Of course, I would have to be baptized. Usually this would be done within a week or two, but a new, and much larger building was being built, and Pastor Bob decided to wait until the new structure was build and then a baptism would take place there.
About six months went by, and finally the building was complete and there would be a baptism. Too late for me to resist, so I went along with it. I knew I was not “saved,” but for my wife, I had to play the part.
The day came and there I was in line with about 20 other guys, mostly Air Force guys. I would be one of the last to be dunked, and I can still picture myself waiting in line.
I was close enough to see Pastor Bob putting the guys under the water. Only two ahead of me now. And at that moment, something happened. All of a sudden, I was converted, yes, born again, and I knew it. In a few minutes I was in the water, Pastor Bob said something, I said, “Yes” and down I went.
Talk about a radical change! Indeed, it was for me. My life would never be the same.
Final Note:
The first eight stories here all took place during the Jesus People Movement, which were rather typical of a time when the Holy Spirit was poured out in power and there were lots of miracles, undeniable miracles. During what is often called, “Ordinary Times” such events are rare at best. My conversion came during these times, yet it was utterly amazing.
