Jim's Testimony
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Hidee!
My name is Jimmy Lee Barnes. If you like me, you just call me
Jim. Someone wanted to call me George, after Grandpaw on
Daddy's side...Wheew!...I don't know who won, but I'm sure glad
they did! Now my Mother and Sister have always called me
"Jimalee", but now they're from around here and you just have
to give them credit for their "Southern Drawl". Born May 5th,
1952, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL, the son of an
Air Force Medic. Shortly after my "hatchin'", the family
returned to Houston, Texas. Later, Daddy went to work for the
Texas Prison System and Momma for a local bank. So, my sister,
Cheryl and I were raised on Clemens Prison Farm near Brazoria,
TX.
I began to make strange noises at about 10 years old, on an
old "Gene Autry" guitar, given to me by my Grandmother. In
1970, I graduated (yes I did!) from Brazosport High School in
Freeport, TX and went to work for the Texas Prison System at
Ramsey I, gaining the rank of Sargent, I ran the Prison Laundry.
In August of 1971, Ol' Uncle Sam called (we had a Draft Lottery back in
those days, and my number was 41) and was called for Mental
and Physical testing for entry into the service. (Yes I
managed to pass both, slim on the Mental Test, though...) But,
before I was drafted, I enlisted, in the U.S. Army. I spent the
next 8 years as a Military Policeman, serving at several
different Army Posts within the boundries of the United States with
a tour in Vietnam and another in Thailand. (For you more experienced
folks, that's the old country of Siam, you know, The King and
I...They changed the name, I understand) I was released from
active duty, December 23rd, 1978, and went to work for the Dow
Chemical Company, in Freeport, on January 8th, 1979, where I
have been gainfully employed ever since.
Currently, I work for the Emergency Services and Security Department as a Senior
Emergency Services & Security Dispatcher. (that just means "An
Old Security Radio/Computer Operator", but sounds really
important, don't it?).
I was raised up in both the Baptist and Episcopal Denominations,
attending the Baptist Church when visiting my Grandparents and
the Episcopal Church when at home. I was "confirmed" and
Baptized at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, in Freeport when I
was 10 years old, by "sprinkling". This meant that I had been
through some Bible classes and believed that I had accepted
Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and that now, I could receive Holy
Communion (or the Lords Supper). After this, I rarely attended
church, but believed strongly in the Bible and in Jesus. He
was always with me and continued to put up with me, I believe,
because He knew that I would one day truly come to Him and into
His Service.
Praise God, in September of 1983, I did. A good
friend had been witnessing to me for a month or so, and The
Spirit of the Living God was calling me. Earlier, I had made
up my mind to read the Bible. At the time, I was working Gates
on the night shift at Dow and had been reading a lot of other
books, and decided that it was time I read the Bible. I owned
a King James Version of The Bible, so I got started. I had
made it into Psalms (finally!) and had been saying to God,
"Lord, these are great stories, but what do they have to do
with me?" Well, one night, the Lord woke me at 3:30 in the
morning and spoke to my heart, saying that I was not saved. Now,
I argued with Him, (imagine that!) recounting my church history
to Him. But He, with Great Love and Patience, told me again
that I was not His. As I'm sure you know, you're not about to
win an arguement with God, and soon I fell under terrible
conviction, and judged myself worthy of death and hell,
because of the sin in my life. My Lord called me there and
then into His Service, and I was Born again. As I made Jesus
the Lord of my Life, I was filled with His Holy Spirit and I
knew that my name was forevermore written in the Lamb's Book of
Life! By the way, my Lord again spoke to my heart that night
and said, "Tonight, I have answered your Grandmother's prayer."
(Grandma Everett had told me for years that she had been
praying for me. And by now, she had been with the Lord for 3
years. But I understood exactly what He ment! He had answered
her prayers of faith for me, and He wanted me to know.) The
next day, I couldn't wait to tell folks what Jesus had done for
me during the night! Suddenly, He and His Word became alive and real
and I had my answer about His "book of stories!"
Southern Praise, my Country Gospel Band was active in the area,
1991 - 2002, and currently I sing and play with a Country Gospel
Band called "Back Porch" out of Houston, TX, and I try to sing for
several area Nursing Homes and out at the Hospital, when I can make
the time. Jesus called me into His Music Ministry and put
me to work telling others about Him and Ministering to them.
You see, I believe that when we minister to anyone else, in
any way, we are really ministering to Our Lord, Jesus. He said
that, "if you do this unto the least of my people, you do it to
me." Well, I believe His Word, and when ministering to someone
that I might find undesirable, for any reason, I remember who
it is that I am really ministering to, then, this Ministry
becomes constructive and good, and I am Blessed beyond
measure.
Paula and I were married April 25th, 1993. Together, we have 4
children. From oldest to youngest they are Melissa, Craig, John,
and Lee. We have been serving at Faith Baptist Church of Sweeny, TX,
where Brother Buddy Dudley is my Pastor, since August of 2003. I
was Ordained a Deacon on June 22nd, 2008 and truly appreciate the
chance to serve my Lord and my Church Family in this manner.
I am very thankful for my Family and my Church Family, but I am
most Thankful to You, Lord Jesus, for Your Birth, Death,
Resurrection, and for my Precious Hope in You! Because the
Good Work that you have started in me, I know, You will surely
finish!
If you don't have a clue as to what I'm talking about, Please
visit our
Salvation Page, where I Pray the Spirit of the Living God
will speak directly to your heart. He really does love you, you know.
God Bless you all!
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth,
Paula Sue Donovan Barnes
and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD,
my Strength, and my Redeemer.
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