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Rev. Gary Richardson
Hello, My name is Gary. I am writing a Memorial today about an old man. The old man that was in my life had big dreams of being a great Guitarist. At the age of ten a man named Martin Collins (Pa), taught me a few cords and got me started. Many different people helped me along the way such as Kenneth Stewart, Bob Currie, and my Uncle Fred Hayes.
When I was fifteen I started playing in bars and dance halls. I played in a few bands such as, Showtime, Talk of the Town, and started Southbound Band with Dean Martin, Scott Lewis, Bruce Holden, Rodney Ingle, Donnie the Drummer. Later the drummer quit and Dean Caulder came aboard. We played many places including Music Row and Opryland Hotel in Nashville Tenn. We had a few offers but never took them. Then one day the Band started drifting apart, some lost interest, some became very close, and it was like a close family breaking apart. I left; they changed name to Timberline Band. When I left it broke my heart, because playing was my heart. I tried to fulfill the gap by playing with other groups; it just wasn’t the same. I had about quit playing all together except for filling in where needed with different bands. I had a family, a good wife Donna and three beautiful children, Amanda, Bobby, and William. My time then was spent doing a lot of drinking and gambling. Some of those friends were on the drug scene. When you hang out with the crowd you become like the crowd, and then my life went down hill fast. Drugs, drinking, gambling, and a bad attitude is what I became. I took a lot of anger out on my family, my friends, and myself. I felt I was nothing, had no hope, had no peace, and lost my joy of living. I was no good, I felt worthless. I was a disgrace to many, and very much ashamed of my condition. I went through rehab, It did no good When I got out the results were the same. I just could not get off drugs, they had such control over my life, and I could not break the chains that were so heavily holding me down. I promised Donna many times I would stop, but I could not stop. I had promised many times, but this time I couldn’t go home and face her again knowing she was hurting I was looking for the right curve. I figured the only way I could quit was for me to end my life. While out riding in my car early one Friday morning I had been doing drugs for a day and a half, they ran me off from the drug house. I had spent my paycheck for the last time; I was wanting out of this bondage. While riding, little did I know what God had in store for me. I was looking for a curve to wreck my car; I wanted it to look like an accident. Then I felt the sweetest presence I had ever felt in my life. There was no preacher preaching, no choir singing, but I knew who it was. I knew Jesus was calling for me, and it was time for me to make a choice. I always heard what Jesus could do and was doing for people that accepted Him into their hearts. That day his presence let me know there was more to it than just believing, I had to accept Him and ask Him to forgive me of my sins and to take the drugs and alcohol out of my life by asking him into my heart. I felt a change take place at that moment I had surrendered to Jesus Christ and I felt like living again. I felt like things were going to be different, not being just someone that everyone looked down on, but becoming what God wanted me to be. The drugs, the drinking, the gambling, and even cigarettes were taken away by His love. I went from disgrace to his amazing grace. Now it feels good to be made whole. My family has pulled together and things are getting better everyday. It’s not all easy but his grace is sufficient for me. My name is Gary Richardson and if you don’t know me then you have lost nothing, but if you do not know Christ Jesus then you have lost everything. On January 10th 1999 I gave my life to Jesus and then the Old Man died with his deeds, and the new man was born again, of His Spirit and His truth. I am proudly serving the Lord at East Rockingham Congregational Holiness Church, where I am sitting under Pastor Jerry Goins. I am still thanking God everyday for saving my life that day. There is hope for peace, love, and the Joy of living with Christ in your heart if you will only believe, and accept him, because you hold the key to your hearts door. THANK YOU LORD FOR GIVING YOUR LIFE FOR A SINNER LIKE ME THAT I MAY HAVE LIFE. Rev. Gary Richardson This is a Testimony from Chip Andrews
On Tuesday, August 8, 2000 at my uncle Bobby Stewart's house, I suffered an
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