Questions? Comments?

back to staff

Herschel Martindale, Pastor

As a child, my parents took me to church. I believed in God.  During Junior High and High School, I decided that church was not for me.  After High School, I joined the Army.  I began to experiment with a lot of things that I had not been able to do before.  I enjoyed going to parties, drinking with my friends, popping pills to give me a “high”.  It was fun trying to “make out” with some of the girls. I was single and wanted to experience everything in life that I could.   Sure, there were some hangovers and tough times, but mostly life was a “blast” and a fun time. After the Army, I studied music at the University, and again it was one big party and fun time.  When I finished my degree, I had a chance to study at the Navy School of Music in Washington, DC. It was a really fun place and all the “glitz” that goes with it. A strange thing happened one Sunday.  I had been drinking in Baltimore, MD the night before and I caught the early train back to D.C. because I had to go on duty the next afternoon. 

The next morning, a soldier came by my bunk and asked if I would go to church with him.  I remember thinking, “What better place to sober up than a church?”, so I said “OK!”  We went to a little church near the base.  There was an old man speaking about the Bible. I hadn’t heard this for years.  When he finished, he dismissed the people.  My friend said, “Let’s get out of here” I said, “You go on, I’m going to stay here for awhile”.  The preacher came to where I was sitting and said, “Young man, if you could know God in a personal way, would you be interested?”  I said, “Of course, but I don’t think that anyone can know God in a personal way.”  He said, “Could I take a few minutes and show you verses from the Bible that will help you understand?”  I said, “Yes, I would like to understand the Bible better.”  He proceeded to gently help me understand how a person can trust Jesus as their Savior, have God in their lives and know for sure that they would go to heaven and be with God when they died.

I asked the man, “How can I believe and trust Jesus as my Savior?”  He said, “You can talk to God just like you are talking to me, and He hears you.  If you really mean what you say, then God will forgive you and give you eternal life right now.”  I just prayed simply, “God, I have done many things that I know are wrong.  I have lived my life without you.  I have cursed with your name so many times.  I have sinned in so many ways.  I believe that Jesus died for my sins on that cross.  Please forgive me, and come to live in my life.  I want Jesus to be my Savior and Lord right now.”  I got up and walked back to the base. I knew that something was different.  I felt clean.  I felt right. I knew that God was going to start doing things in my life.  That was many years ago.  God is one of the most important beings in my life.  I do know Him in a very personal way.  He has been my loving heavenly Father through many years.  I have been a Pastor for over 45 years.  I have a wonderful Christian wife, four lovely children who know the Lord and are serving Him, eighteen grandchildren and have had the opportunity of teaching the Bible to others in over 65 countries in the world.

back to staff