This is the true story of how Fred Williams came to know Christ as his Savior. Written in his own words.
I was born in Corner Brook, NL, Canada. I was raised an Anglican. I was led to believe, if my good works outweighed my bad I'd go to Heaven, but if not I'd go to Hell. I was taught to believe there was a God who created all things, a devil and Heaven and Hell.
I was fairly good living, met my wife in 1960, we married in 1961, and had our first baby a little girl, in less than a year. Then two other little girls followed a year apart. We moved to Toronto for work and my life changed. I started to lead a sinful life: drinking, late nights, and all that goes with it. I cared little about others, even my wife and children. God would come into my mind and I would say "I don't think God will condemn me for this," not knowing I was condemned already, "The wicked shall be turned into Hell." I forgot God and after being in Toronto for a year I returned to Newfoundland and Labrador. I got a new job in a steel shop, building steam boilers. I bought a house in Brownsdale, Trinity Bay and travelled to work. God began dealing with me about my sin. I went to work on the mill in Stephenville and I was injured on the job. I fell inside a large oil tank and shattered my heal and I was laid up for 2 or 3 years.
I was troubled about my sin. If I got killed, I'd be in hell. My wife and I went to find the JW's (Jehovah's Witness). Thank God I didn't find them. One night I prayed that God would show me someone that was going to Heaven which I doubted would happen.
One morning I was in the garden and I saw a man standing in front of his car looking in my direction. I told my wife it was the JW's. He drove down to my door and gave me some Gospel tracts. I asked him what religion he was. He said, "I am a Born Again Christian, just as sure of heaven as if I were there." I asked him where his church was. He said "I go to the Gospel Hall" and he said "We have a meeting Sunday night at 7 pm." He told me I was welcome to come.
That night I went to the meeting early. In the building, there was a tract rack. I took a tract entitled, "God's simple plan of Salvation." I put it in my pocket. The first preacher, a fisherman, Mr. Stephenson and the second preacher passed me a Bible.
That night in bed, I opened the tract "God's simple plan of salvation." It told me I was a sinner, I knew that. The worst kind of sinner. The tract said, "Are you saved, are you sure you'll go to Heaven." The answer was no. When I died, I would be in Hell. John 3:7 said I must be born again. The Bible tells us that "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23; "The wages of sin is death (eternal death)" Romans 6:23. The Bible tells us "It is appointed unto men once to die and after death the judgement" Hebrews 9:27. The Philippian jailer in Acts 16 asked "What must I do to be saved?" They said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." The Bible told me to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. I realized that Jesus died for me. I just went down on my knees and thanked God for saving me. (50 years ago as of September 2023).