Testimony | Calvary First Baptist Church

My Salvation Testimony

From the time my wife and I were married and began our life as husband and wife, we felt that there was something wrong with the churches we were attending. The church my wife grew up in was charismatic and we felt that it was not a Godly place at all.
The Pastor owned the church and the staff of the church was only immediate family. The Pastor and his family lived a life of lavish luxury, driving new jaguars, Bentley's and Mercedes Benzes. Something just did not seem right with that.
Then there was the issue of "catching the Holy Ghost" which it seemed that everyone did, except the musicians. I deduced that the "Holy Ghost" was a creation of the musicians for they NEVER caught it. And if the Spirit was of God, what made them immune to the power of God. Something just did not seem right.
And then there was the issue of change, there was no change in the lives of the members. Teenage pregnancy, immorality, drunkenness, homosexuality, infidelity was prevalent in the church. There was also known sin occurring in the church among members and the Pastoral staff. Something just did not seem right.
The final straw for us was the money issue. We received letters on a monthly basis asking us to give $500 or more to the Pastor, his wife, their parents, their children for birthdays, anniversary's, appreciations, and other self promoting events. Nothing for the community just to seemingly support the pastor's lavish lifestyle. Something just did not seem right.
I grew up attending a missionary Baptist Church and it was a moan and groan type of church and what would we would call a dead church. No teaching, no standards, no convictions. You can live any way you want just come to church on Sunday and ask the Lord to forgive you. The only sin that would send you to hell was suicide, because you couldn't ask the Lord to forgive you. I knew I did not want to go back to that type of church.
Finally, there were the "white" churches. They appeared to be pretty solid. The Preaching was good and the kids looked and acted like Christians. Unfortunately, it was made very clear to me on several occasions that blacks were not welcomed. So for a long time my wife and I were not attending church at all. We did not care for the Black churches and the White churches didn't care for us. And then God stepped in.
On Thursday, March 13, 1997 my wife and I were in our apartment in Memphis, TN. We were having an argument and to be honest I was losing. There came a knock on the door. I answered the door. It was the new recently installed Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church.
We knew it was an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church (though we did not know what that meant). We were familiar with the Church because it was the local voting site. However, we had been told it was a "white" church. Interestingly enough, my wife had received an invitation to the church on two prior occasions. She had been in the parking lot with some other ladies and their children when a lady from the church came to hand out flyers about some activity that the church was hosting. My wife thought nothing about the invitation but simply thought hers was given out of kindness, since she was in the company of other white people. She felt the invitation was really for them and they didn't want to be rude and not give her one as well.
The Pastor was doing follow up visits on individuals who had recently visited the church and filled out the visitor information cards. He had a card with our address, but the individual names were not ours. He seemed extremely confused and perplexed and asked me if he was at the correct address, yes, and had we attended the church recently, no.
With a shrug he apologized and said he did not know how this mistake could have occurred, I said no problem and was just about to shut the door when he said. "Mr. Hite, again, I apologize for the error, but since I am here, could I ask you a question?" I said sure, go ahead. "Mr. Hite, if you died today are you 100% sure you would go to Heaven?" I said, I believe that I would because I hadn't killed anyone. He said "Mr. Hite, if I could show you with the Bible that you could know for sure if you were going to Heaven when you died, would you like to know?" Sure, I said, that is some information that I would love to know. And with that statement, I allowed Pastor Dave Biter and his soul-winning partner to enter our home and share the gospel with my wife and I. He took us through the Roman's Road and we both understood completely and without hesitation we bowed our heads together, and holding hands with tear filled eyes we asked the Lord to be our Savouir and not to just come into our hearts but come into our lives and impact our home. We knew we had found what we had been seeking for He had been seeking us.
We had no idea what a profound impact that day would make on our lives. We began attending Calvary Baptist Church of Memphis, TN that very next Sunday and stayed faithful. We taught Sunday School classes, had a bus route, I led the congregational singing, we were active with the youth group, fellowships and choir. God has blessed us because of that day. It is because of that day that I am here today, a man called to Pastor and repeat in the lives of others what was done in my life, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and changing lives through the teaching of the Word of God

When God Called Me to Preach
I have always had a desire to help people. I just did not know the most effective way to do so. At one point in my life I considered going into medicine, thinking that I could help people best by healing them. But with science comes a whole world that says that there is no God. And, sad to say, an environment in which many people trust more in a pill or a doctor than in the Lord. I decided against medicine.
I considered going into politics, thinking that I could help people best by enacting and enforcing laws on their behalf. Unfortunately, with politics there is tremendous corruption, back door dealing and compromise. The winner in politics is seldom the average citizen needing help, but businesses and politicians who line their pockets with the hopes and dreams of their contingents. The answer to a problem in the government view is to throw money at it. I'm sad to say that I've never heard a politician say, "People just need to get saved and get right with God." Also, most politicians are not altruistic in their motives for seeking political office. The politician is a person seeking power, prominence, prestige through a position. They already have wealth, now they want the power. That is not the group that I wanted to be associated with, nor expected to work with. I decided against politics.
I started teaching in Memphis, TN thinking that I could help society by affecting a generation at a time as a teacher. I felt that I could use my influence in the classroom to change their lives and then let them pass my teachings on to their children. Unfortunately, the one hour that I spent teaching the student did not compare to the influence the student was receiving the other twenty-three hours of the day from the world. Plus, there was the parent to deal with and I had to carefully watch what I said to students so as not to violate the "separation of Church and State" policy. And sadly, the teacher giving Godly advice to the students was not the one they want influencing them. The students always sought out the "cool" teacher. The teacher who thought immorality was ok as long as they were "safe". The teacher who thought the drinking age was too high. The teacher who shared their rock and roll music collections with the students. The teacher who not only attended their parties, but would also host them for the students. The teacher who would "bum" cigarettes off students and do the same for students. Sadly, I found that teaching in the public educational system was not the effective avenue for enacting change that I initially thought it was.
I was struggling in life and trying to find my place. I decided to get a Doctoral Degree in Education and pursue a career as a college professor or attempt to become a School principle or Superintendent of a school system. I felt that maybe if could dictate policy from the position of a leader of leaders then maybe I could affect the change that I desired. I really wanted to help people. But I was not seeing any of the results that I desired. But quietly in the distance, unbeknownst to me, a man of God was watching. And he and I would have a conversation that would change my life forever.
I was saved March 13, 1997. I began attending Calvary Baptist Church of Memphis, TN. I knew that the Bible had the answers for society and I was an avid soul-winner. I also felt that in the back of my mind that preaching was something that I "could" do but it wasn't what I wanted to do. Nor had I ever felt compelled to pursue it. Strangely enough though, people would often ask if I was a preacher. Before I was even saved, I can remember growing up and people saying to me "you seem like a preacher". A very strange statement indeed to make to a thirteen year old, but one that would be repeated throughout my life.
In the fall of 2003, my pastor, David Biter, asked me to have a talk with him. He asked me about what I was doing with my life. He asked where was I going, what were my plans for the future. What did I feel was my purpose in life. He knew I wanted to help people and he knew of my desires to accomplish that task through the areas mentioned above. He also knew that God wanted me to choose Him and choose the ministry. He asked me several questions:
So, you want to warn people about the tricks of the devil.
Yes.
So you want to help people know the danger of drugs.
Yes.
You want to help people stay out of prison.
Yes.
You want people to trust in God.
Yes.
You want married couples to not divorce.
Yes.
You want people to live for God.
Yes.
You want to help people who feel down on their luck.
Yes.
You want people to live a more Godly life that is in life with Biblical principles.
Yes.
I said to him "I know what you are trying to say." He said, "Oh, it's not me that trying to say anything."
He then opened up his Bible to Isaiah 61:1 and asked me to read it to myself and then out loud.

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."

"Whoa!" that's all I could say. Pastor Biter made me realize that God had placed in my heart a burden for people and for souls and that the peace I was seeking would be found if I embraced God's will for my life. The only hope for America, families, children, marriages is a Man of God preaching the Word of God. It seemed obvious to him that God had given me a Pastor's heart. It made sense. I believe the Bible and everything in it. I believe that if people would follow Biblical teachings their marriages, homes, children, lives would be so much happier and fulfilled. I just did not think that it was my calling to do it.
Finally, Pastor Biter took me to the book of Romans and asked me to read Romans 10:13-14

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"

He said "Eric, I can't make the decision for you. Just as you did in salvation, you must choose God and His will for your life. I only ask you not to be like Jonah and run from it. Embrace it, whatever it is and believe it by faith."
He and I prayed and I went home...,scared to death.
It was September 01, 2003.
I prayed and fasted all week and sought the Lord. "Lord is this what you would have me to do?"
One phrase kept repeating over and over in my mind:
"The only hope for America, families, children, marriages is a Man of God preaching the Word of God"
"The only hope for America, families, children, marriages is a Man of God preaching the Word of God"
"The only hope for America, families, children, marriages is a Man of God preaching the Word of God"
God said, it and that settled it.
I embraced God's will on Friday September 05, 2003. I made a public profession on Sunday, September 7, 2003.
Now here I am 5 years later, graduating Bible College on May 9, 2008 and prepared to take my place in the ministry. By faith, embracing God's will.

Why Start a Church in Jackson, MS?
I am starting a Church in Jackson, MS for several reasons. First of all, it is the ministry that God has called me to and if it is God's will, then that is what I want. I got saved following God's will. I started attending Calvary Baptist Church following God's will. I began tithing, teaching serving, working in the church following God's will. I surrendered to preach following God's will. I decided to go to Bible College, following God's will. I chose to attend Bible college in California, following God's will. And now I know that it is God's will for me to start Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, MS.
Secondly, Jackson, MS needs a Bible teaching, Bible Preaching, Bible Living, exciting, Independent Fundamental Baptist Church to reach the 200,000 people who live in the area. Jackson has churches and the people have religion but they are lost. Sin diseases, crime, drug use, divorce, abortions, are not only prevalent in the community but in many of the churches. No change, no salvation, no truth. How can a city that has one of the highest per capita ratios of churches to people, be in such a dire strait and have so many problems?

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." Hosea 4:6a

The Jackson, MS Church Plant is my true thrust into the service of God. What a privilege it will be to do the work of God in the Jackson, MS. What a privilege it would be to work to create a thriving ministry. What a privilege it will be to have a Sunday School class and bus route in Jackson, MS. What a privilege it will be to get to know the people of the area through the church. What a privilege! That is what the ministry is to me, a privilege. To be entrusted with the work of God and thrust into the ministry that Jesus started over two thousand years ago is a privilege.
I desire to do something great for God. I desire in my heart to reach souls for Christ. I believe that God would have me Pastor and proclaim the Name of Jesus to the sick, the lame, the blind and the halt. I believe in the words of Isaiah when he said,

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

I see the horrible situations in America today. I see the broken homes. I see the drunkenness, immodesty and immorality of the fathers and mothers that has contaminated the minds of the children and I desire with the help of God to do something about it. I see how the secular music of today has so adversely affected people of all generations, with filth and debauchery. I see also that the only hope is through the Man of God, preaching the Word of God in the Church of God. I desire to do my part in fulfilling the great commission and attempting to make a change in the lives of people. The same change that God made in my life twelve (12) years ago with that first step, the knowledge of salvation, I desire to pass on to others just as Paul commanded of his son in the faith, Timothy.

"And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." II Timothy 2:2

I desire to reach the world from Jackson, MS.
God has been so good to me, as He has been to us all, I want to share Him with, and Proclaim Him to the world. I want to shout it from the mountaintops the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. I want to be faithful in passing on the teachings of Pastor Dave Biter and Pastor Jack Trieber and the countless other men who've invested in me the teachings of Jesus Christ to others. The Lord has called me to do just that from Jackson, MS.
I am from the area and I seek to do a great work for God. And more importantly, I want to be constantly in the will of God and if God would have me in Jackson, MS, that is where I shall go. I know it is God's will for my life to Pastor a Church in Jackson, MS.

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