Barry Winslow Testimony

Barry Winslow Testimony

Even though I came to the Lord late in life, I had the “usual” childhood exposure. My Grandmother made sure when I was around her that my brother and I were in Sunday school and Church without fail.
Thank you Granny Taylor.

Unfortunately, as with most kids, I didn’t fully understand the depth of what Jesus was all about then…….but that would change.

In 1966 at the ripe old age of 17, my love for music was realized (so I thought) as part of a rock band “The Royal Guardsmen”. With “Snoopy vs The Red Baron”, “Snoopy’s Christmas”, and several
other songs that became hits, I was thrust into an unbelievable world of
temptation. With a serious taste for booze and other things, I eventually became
very disillusioned and bored.

I know now that only by the grace of God, and His plan for me, did I survive those years chasing records, playing night clubs, and life in general. I sustained several motor vehicle accidents, a near
death experience with appendicitis at age 10, and probably more “unknown”
situations than I could imagine where He kept me safe.

Thank you Lord.

Around 1978 I truly burned out of music all together and went looking for something I felt would occupy that empty space.

I always loved airplanes and helicopters…..soooooo…..after a few years OJT, I earned my A&P license and for many years worked on, and flew, all kinds of aircraft.

Still something was sadly missing in my life.

Around 1985, a close friend of mine invited me to come to his church he had just started. I balked at first because I was still drinking some and not very “comfortable” with the idea of being
around Christians….even if it was only 19 of them. But finally he talked me into
it.

Little did I know that God was about to reveal “Stage One” of His destiny for me.

After a few Sundays, Mike asked me if I would learn a song and play it for the invitational. I thought oh no, I don’t have a clue what to learn…..or anything to play it on!

As only God could do it, I got a guitar and a Ray Boltz album given to me. Lo and behold a song called the “Altar” just blew me away. I had no idea this was Christian music. I couldn’t wait to get it
down and play it for the church. I never dreamed I’d ever be involved in music
again, but this time was different. This music reached deep down in my soul and
ministered to me as well as others. I was hooked.

As that year went on, I came to “Stage Two”. God opened up my eyes and heart to His Word. Now the Bible became very much alive to me. The more I was exposed to it… the hungrier I got.

“Stage Three” was now at hand. I was still a bit apprehensive about some areas of my life and not sure of what to do about certain feelings I was having. My pastor was helping, but I wasn’t really sure
if I could “make the grade.”

In the fall of 1987, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. And on that cold rainy night, my life changed forever.

My spirit was so impressed as if He had spoken out loud to me saying, “I am not finished with you yet. You are loved and forgiven”! “Know this…..I have seen you from your birth to this point in you
life, with everything you’ve done right and wrong, and from this point in your
life to your grave with everything you will do right and wrong, still I have
called you”!

Over whelmed is an understatement! Man, I must have cried for an hour. I felt an incredible warmth, a huge weight lifted off me, and realized that I didn’t have to “wait to be perfect” to become a
Christian. Now I understood what He wanted me to do.

Later that year He started putting songs in my head that eventually became my first Contemporary Christian album “Transition”.

Thank you again Jesus.

Looking back….the only regret I have is that I didn’t come to Him sooner. But as I’m always learning something new about His ways….it’s all about His timing, not mine.

I know I have a long way to go, but I pray that I can do my best for Him, that His will be done in my life, and that He receives all the praise and glory.