I was raised in a home with five other siblings (three boys in one bed) by unbelieving parents, and I do not recall ever hearing a biblical presentation of the gospel of grace. Our mother took all of us to many types of churches. She believed herself to be a Christian since having walked down an aisle to “accept Jesus” at a revival service at age 12. My father was an excommunicated Roman Catholic, as a result of marrying my mother who had had her previous marriage annulled. He made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus just prior to major heart surgery. Both he and my mother have since died, and I have no peace that either is present with the Lord in glory.

At age 15, I heard for the first time that my soul was in peril outside of a covenantal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I heard this news from a man and his wife who were members of a Pilgrim Holiness church. They held Bible studies for children in the neighboring housing projects on Sunday afternoons. I attended the Bible studies essentially to be near their 15-year-old daughter, with whom I was infatuated. But during that time I did hear the gospel, and that seed would be watered over the years by Christians with whom I worked.

In 1980, I lost two co-workers my age who died while running, something I did daily. While attending the funeral, a Roman Catholic mass for one of the men, the Lord brought to mind the gospel I had heard 20 years earlier. A short time later, I began to accompany my wife, who had been converted months earlier, to a local Southern Baptist Church.

Within about six months of sitting under the preaching of the gospel, the Lord was pleased to convict me of my life of sin and draw me to Himself and change my life forever.

Upon my conversion to Christ and acceptance into His church at age 35, 1 was introduced to many new teachings, such as the congregational form of church government, the sacrament of baptism by immersion, the Lord’s table, as well as many other doctrines. I remained in that church for approximately 23 years and was quite active in the ministry of deacon.

Our church was a part of the Southern Baptist Convention. But due to numerous unbiblical practices in the denomination at that time, we separated from the Convention and became an independent Baptist church. About this time, I was introduced to Reformed theology by a new pastor, who preached and taught through the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, which is based almost entirely on the Westminster Confession of Faith, and did an in-depth study of Romans 9. I will always be grateful to that man for his faithfulness to the Scriptures, because his teaching laid the groundwork for many years of study that made me realize just how great a sinner I am and how great and holy a God I serve. That study, which continues to this day, showed me that my conversion was entirely God’s prerogative, that He is absolutely sovereign, and that He was completely responsible for my new position in Christ.

I also was introduced to many books written by the Puritans, which at first glance I was certain I would never read. But as the Lord gave perseverance, I did begin to read them. He gave me a thirst for more good theological books, which became the foundation of a modest library as the years passed.

A couple years ago, after enduring months of change in worship style and doctrine in my church (patterned after the “seeker sensitive” model), I began to search for a new church family with whom to worship biblically.

Numerous families of the church left at about the same time. One man told me how he had located a “truly Reformed” church in Lisbon, N.Y. He also told me that he had located that RPCNA church via the internet and that he had seen a listing for a similar assembly in Fulton, N.Y., approximately an hour’s drive from my home. Checking the web site and noting that, among other listed “beliefs and practices,” I saw that the church, and the entire Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, worships the Lord guided by the “regulative principle.” I could hardly believe my eyes, discovering that such a church, and particularly an entire denomination, actually followed this biblical principle. It was something I had been searching for in a church for many months.

I contacted the pastor, Nick Iamaio, and discussed some of the problems that I was facing in my current church home, as well as matters of worship in the Fulton RP Church. That conversation led me to attend the worship service with the Fulton assembly the next Lord’s Day.

After the worship hour and Sabbath School that day, I knew I had found that for which I had been searching many months. Praise God! I didn’t realize that preaching and teaching of this caliber was still available in today’s church. I felt as though I had stepped back in time to the 16th Century and was in the presence of my Puritan brothers and sisters.

Pastor Iamaio demonstrates a humble, sincere love for Christ and His Church, and strives to bring the brethren to a more intimate relationship with their Savior by way of his preaching and teaching. He is surely, like King David, a man after God’s own heart.

The people of the Fulton church have welcomed me in a manner I was not accustomed to. There is no strife, no parading of the self, no pride—just sincere, humble, reverent worship, conversation, and fellowship. On June 13, 2004, I was received into the membership of the Fulton RPC.

I must admit that I have often wondered what my walk with the Lord would be like had I discovered the Fulton church many years before. But I am here now, and, by God’s merciful grace, will remain here until He calls me to be with Him.