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At the age of nine, in the summer of 1963, I accepted Jesus
Christ as my personal Saviour. My parents and I were
visiting my aunt's church in Newport, North Carolina, Holly
Springs Free Will Baptist, where they were having revival
services. At that time my parents were members of First Free
Will Baptist Church in Morehead City, North Carolina. They
had been saved for only a short time and we agreed to be
baptized together in our home church. We were members of the
Freewill Baptist denomination because at that time there
were no Independent Baptist churches in Morehead City.
However, within the year, Brother Clyde Eborn moved from
Kinston, North Carolina to Morehead City and founded Grace
Missionary Independent Baptist Church. The church location
was across from the old Atlantic Beach Bridge. We moved our
membership and stayed there until September 1969, serving
the Lord diligently.
Dad was hired as a long distance truck driver at Pilot
Freight Carriers in Kernersville, N.C. (from which he
retired) and I enrolled in the tenth grade at East Forsyth
Senior High. The Lord and the advice of Pastor Clyde Eborn
led us to Kerwin Baptist Church with Pastor Joe Myers as
soon as we were settled in Kernersville. It was in 1969 and
during my first year at East Forsyth Senior High that I met
Deborah Sue Martin and we became very good friends. "Sue”
was in the Youth for Christ Club at East Forsyth and very
active in the youth groups at Gospel Light Baptist Church,
with Pastor Bobby Roberson where she was a member. She was a
great encouragement to me, getting me involved with many
other Christian young people. It wasn't long before I became
the treasurer of the Youth for Christ Club in 1970 and
enjoyed serving the Lord in this capacity. Being from a
small coastal town with very few young Christian friends,
this was a very big and bold step for me.
On September 2, 1972, at the age of 18, Sue and I were
married at Kerwin Baptist Church with Pastor Joe Myers
presiding over the wedding. At this time, Sue and I were
members of Kerwin and remained members until 1974. We were
serving the Lord in the Bus Ministry at Kerwin when I
received the Call from God to preach the Gospel in 1974. We
were expecting our first child in July. So uncertain of
everything and so immature in the Lord, I could not bring
myself to tell this happening to my pastor or my wife, and
tried to keep it a secret from anyone. God immediately took
away all my joy from being in His service in any capacity. I
tried in every way to keep going as if nothing had happened,
but to no avail. I became so miserable that I decided to
take my wife and child to another church and start again. I
still cannot believe how foolish and immature I was.
We remained at that church for about a year before I was
driven on in my despair and unhappiness. From then on, I
flat out refused to attend church anywhere and dodged every
Christian I had ever met, including my own mother and
father. It was March 1976 when God issued His first warning
to an unfaithful son. I was involved in a shooting accident
and hospitalized for two weeks. While a patient at the
Forsyth Hospital, Brothers Bobby and Steve Roberson visited
me. I was happy to see them for Sue's sake but I decidedly
did not want to have anything to do with them. I was under
conviction, severely. The doctor told Sue and me that I was
fortunate I did not lose my leg. Infection would have been a
major concern if I had been shot with a lead bullet and
amputation a strong possibility. Needless to say, I did not
heed the Lord's warning and went right on running as soon as
I was able.
Following in the father’s footsteps, I decided to go into
the trucking industry to make a living for my family. Very
surprised that God would allow this career change, I was
always suspicious in my heart how far God would allow me to
run. But believe me, I ran in any direction as hard and as
fast as I could run.
God soon issued another warning. In January 1981 while
driving through the state of Delaware, I was hit head on by
a drunk driver. He was killed instantly as my tractor drove
across the top of his car at 50 mph. Although my tractor was
completely totaled, I walked away with only a bad limp as my
knees were slammed into the tractor's metal dash. After
being released from the Wilmington, Delaware hospital, I
returned home to find my wife and my parents begging me to
repent, make things right with the Lord and stop running. By
this time, everyone knew God had His hand on me for a reason
but only I knew the reason why. I remained in the trucking
industry for some years following the accident, except in
different capacities. Driving had become “sour grapes” and
held little attraction for me after the collision. It was
during this time that I began to notice my health
deteriorating. It seemed that the harder I tried, the slower
I got. I began changing jobs more often and seemed to always
take a pay cut. Down deep inside, I knew my time was running
out. Having made yet another career change, I relocated my
family to my hometown of Morehead City and worked as a
marine/boat mechanic for the previous four years.
In November 1996, I was stricken with severe arthritis in my
lower back and became bed-ridden, partially paralyzed from
the waist down. God had me exactly where He wanted me. I did
not realize that at this time my wife, Sue, was meeting with
a lawyer. She was having legal separation papers prepared
and making plans to take my children and leave. She had
taken all the abuse and recklessness she could stand. I
thank God He never allowed the separation to occur.
On April 26, 1996, I fully surrendered my life to the Lord
and as time went forth, was restored with health and
happiness. For the first time in 20 years I could honestly
say, "it was well with my soul.” I gladly picked up the
Cross and am determined by the power of the Holy Spirit to
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My family and I returned
to Forsyth County in July 1996.
As I look back across the years, I can see by the knowledge,
wisdom, and understanding imparted to me by my Lord that He
had enrolled me into an expensive institution of higher
learning, "The School of Hard Knocks.” I can clearly see
that my Lord knew what it was going to take to mentally,
spiritually, and physically prepare me to perform the duties
that lie ahead. He makes no mistakes.
I have been chosen by God's will and I am honored to serve
in all humility. Romans 8:28 is real and a part of me. I can
see clearly that God allowed Satan to buffet me, wearing off
those jagged edges, and polishing my character through
experience. My Lord truly chose me, broke me, and continues
with the process of molding me into a vessel unto honor.
In His
Service as His humble servant,
Albert G.
Pollock, Evangelist
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