Here I am Lord

This week I was reading about what people like to read about in a church blog entry and I discovered that people like reading other peoples testimonies. So, I thought I would share my personal testimony.

Here am I Lord

My calling into ministry

Hello, my name is Lou Dickens. This is my story of how God called me first to be a Children’s Pastor and then a Pastor.

My Youth

I grew up in an abusive home. My dad was both a physical and emotional abuser. My mother who grew up in a Christian home made me attend church up until I was 14 years old. My mother pretty much demanded that I attend church even though she never did. Since I was forced to attend, I was very rebellious and I frequently caused problems in the children’s ministries. At the age of 14, my dad said son you no longer have to attend church. At that point I made an agreement with God. You don’t bother me and I won’t bother you.

I keep my promise, BUT

At the age of 20 God started STRONGLY revealing to me where I stood with Him and the current condition of my life. At the age of 21, I gave my heart to the Lord. One week after that I was asked to become a children’s bus driver. The following week I was asked to be a children’s Sunday School teacher, and the following week after that I was asked to be a children church teacher. You know looking back it seems strange that anyone would ask a three-week-old new Christian to take over a large part of children’s ministries, but I strongly believe God was in this. Because at some point in the next few years it became absolutely clear to me that God called me to be a children’s pastor. God gave me a heart kids. Especially for abused kids. Because of my childhood I could spot an abused child a mile off, and I knew what they desperately needed was love and encouragement. When others saw extreme behavior problems, I saw a kid who needed love. When these kids received my love and God’s love that was showered on them in response to their behavior they were blown away and many of them came to know Jesus their savior. I could tell you lots of stories of how God changed the lives of the children that I had the privilege of ministering to.

Children’s Pastor to Pastor

I have been a children’s pastor for over 45 years and I know for a fact that God called me into this ministry. How do I know. Well hundreds of times on Sunday on the way home from church I said “I am quitting this ministry on Monday. No one should have to put up with this”. But during my Monday prayer time I would hear God say “I called you into this ministry”, and my response would be, ok God I will continue if you will give me Your help and Your leading.

Now at the age of 68 I feel God is changing my calling from children’s ministries to pastoring. Today there are so many people that are hurting and they desperately need to hear that I love them and so does God.