The Most Important Thing to Ben Hess

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My dad became a Christian when I was about three years old. My mother became a Christian shortly after that and they were baptized at the church by the pastor. We attended church all the time because my dad was a very committed Christian. Mom and dad joined the nearest church our first Sunday after moving to the farm in 1956. I went to all the church events with my family and my dad would usually give rides to others in the community, including my very best friend.

In summer 1959 my older sister and best friend came back from church excited because they'd gotten saved. The next Sunday I understood for the first time the pastor was inviting even me to be saved. We prayed telling God I was a sinner, I believed Jesus was God's Son, and I wanted Jesus to come into my heart and save me. That afternoon me, my sister, and my best friend were baptized at another church that had a baptistry. I was very excited about this great adventure of studying the Bible, praying, and all the stuff at church.

Along the way I wanted more adventure - money, work, cars, and girls. I became very ill. The night before surgery I told God if he would save me, I would go anywhere in the world and do anything but be a Baptist preacher in Missouri. I sensed God saying he had every right to take me out of here but He would give me grace one day at a time. It's been a great adventure since that time for my wife and I. We've been church workers, pastored, missionaries in Kenya, East Africa, and church planting missionaries in Missouri.

The River Community Church