How I Came To Know the Lord
By Frederick Simpson

I have always known the Lord. Let's start at beginning. I grew up in a home with Christian parents and I had to go to church, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. My father knew the scriptures and he could tell you where to find anything in the Bible. I wanted to know the scriptures too, like my father. I like reading the Bible because the stories was interesting and, I didn't know one was suppose to meditate on what was being said to understand on worldly things and I did as those in the world did. After finishing high school, I could not wait to join the Navy and get away from home in Atlanta Georgia, no more church unless I wanted to go.

At 18 years of age I joined the navy and was off to see the world like the navy promised. Now I am on my own to make my own decisions and do what I please. I stayed in the service 31 years and did everything a worldly person would do, such as I smoked for 20 odd years. I even tried those no name brand cigarettes once, didn't like it, tried alcohol, didn't like it, womanizing, now you're talking that is what I like to do! I went three quarters way around the world and as they say in the navy there is a pretty girl in every port! I continued to read the Bible and even prayed and you know I knew I was doing wrong, but I pushed that in the back of my mind. During those 31 years of service, I got married to a wonderful woman and we had 6 boys, we only had 4 together, it was mine, hers and ours.

During the last few years of my service career, I was meditating on what I had accomplished, what I had done and where I had been. I stayed in the service 31 years, achieved the rank of Master Chief (only 1% earns this rank) and raised a family.

I learned a trade in the mechanical field which enabled me to get a better job after leaving the service.

I have seen things, done things and been places I would not have been able to afford if I had not gone into the service. Through all that time I still continued to read the scripture and stayed worldly. I had my ups and downs but I got through it all.

When I began to contemplate I would be leaving the service in a few years, I began to worry about getting a job, housing and in general how I would take care of my family.

In 1987, I began to read the scriptures and meditate on what it was telling me with a purpose. I also realized that what I had accomplished, I did not do it on my own. The more I studied the Bible and the commentary, the meaning became clearer. I went to Pacific Beach Bible Church on occasion in the past but after truly started studying the scriptures my attitude changed and I began to attend church regularly. I got baptized and after a period of time I was asked to join the Governing Board (I am a member).

In the past, I sought the world wisdom and did the things the world did but, now I seek God's wisdom and try to the best of my ability to live as God desires me to live. When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior he promised to be with me, regardless of what situation is and he would be there with me. I believe in God and put my Faith in him and his words. I love God but I know he first loved me.

God tells us to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all our needs will be given to us. I believed the scriptures and everything it stands for.