I gave my heart to the Lord, at 29 years old, on May 17th 1972, 50 years ago, I was sanctified on May 19th 1972, I flushed 10 bags of Acapulco Gold Marijuana down the toilet, which I had just purchased to fulfill my addiction. I traveled all over the US and Canada so I had several small bottles of scotch and many large bottles as well, to support my other addiction, which I poured down the toilet. There were other issues in my life which the Lord delivered me from on that May 19th eve.
I was working as a Senior Design Engineer and had just patented a system which we were building to present at a Graphic Arts Show in Chicago Illinois, my dream was to become very rich and successful but God had other plans for my life. In order for me to do what I was doing on my own I worked 60 to 80 hours a week and I drank a lot to “relax” (ha ha). I discovered that alcohol was hindering my ability to focus so I switched to Marijuana only to realize it took longer to achieve my goal.
I was very blessed to have a young technician “Tim” who was building my designs. I would usually work overnight and leave Tim instructions and he would build the circuits and point out any errors I had made and get it working as I intended. I had a personal problem with the way he corrected me but he was always right. So, one Saturday we were working, getting ready for a show, I packed my pipe with Marijuana and headed out for work, I met with Tim and he began to share with how a friend “David” was delivered from demon possession. I didn’t know about that but for the past year Tim was always right about what he did for me so, he must be right about this.
On Wednesday, May 17th, I walked down the hall to my private restroom, turned around and closed the door and suddenly but gently, someone put their arms around me and said “Bill, I love you“ those words penetrated my soul, godly sorrow just consumed me, I fell to my knees, the toilet was my altar, and cried out “I’m sorry…” “I am happy, because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended. Godly sorrow BRINGS REPENTANCE THAT LEADS TO SALVATION and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corin. 7:9-10)
I started attending the Church of God of Prophecy, in Kirkland Washington, Living with Pastor Don Branscum who became my bible teacher. One early morning I was laying on the floor praying and the Lord showed me a vision of me standing on a hill and preaching to fir trees!!! I explained to the Lord my problem of talking in front of people and He said He could take care of that. Later in 1975 my wife and I were pastoring in Darrington, Wa. we took a drive up a mountain logging road and I SAW THOSE TREES! “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psa. 122:1)
Your personal Pastor -Bill Stockham