Testimonies of God’s Grace

Greg Gayheart, with his family

wife – Tammy
children – Richard, Erin and Isaiah
(pictured left – right)

My name is Greg Gayheart and I am from Ohio. I would like to share with you what has happened in my life since I came to Bethel Colony of Mercy in September, 2007. At that time, I was a truly broken man – mentally, spiritually and physically. I was a mess.

I had been in a relationship with a woman on and off for about 17 years. We have children together and the day my youngest, a daughter, was born, I was locked up in a nut house. The Court decided it would be better if I was not around our children so I was only allowed to see them 15 hours per week under supervision.

On October 17, 2007, I was saved in the Worship Center at Bethel Colony of Mercy. That’s the day I surrendered to God and invited Him into my life. At that point, God started His mighty work in me and my life. I completed the 65-day program at Bethel and extended for a longer stay. Since I’ve been at Bethel, the protective order for my children has been dismissed and my children are now living with Tammy and me. We got married in August, 2008. I moved my family to Lenoir and we are now renting a house from Bethel. My oldest son, Isaiah, was saved in the Worship Center at Bethel Colony exactly 1 year from the day I surrendered to God and has since been baptized here as well. He loves the Lord and is getting A’s and B’s in school and enjoys playing sports.

Richard, our youngest son, is doing so much better since we’ve moved to Lenoir. He loves to travel with Bethel to churches to sing praises to God with the men in the program.

Erin is our little girl. She is 2 and is truly a blessing! Seems that she just knows when I am having a bad day and will kiss and hug on me until I forget my problems. Seems they weren’t really that big anyway!

I have recently been put on the staff at Bethel and now have the privilege of seeing God work in other men’s lives the way He has worked in mine.

All of this is made possible by God through your prayers, support and donations. I pray God will bless you and your family the way He has mine. My family and I thank you for all you do for Bethel. You don’t know how many lives you have helped God touch as a result of your prayers and gifts. I am so grateful for all you do. Thank you.

Greg

I have seen such a change in Greg since coming to Bethel and trusting Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for the privilege of being at Bethel and seeing the difference it is making in our lives and in our children’s lives. Thank you.

Tammy

Bill Howington

1953 graduate of Bethel, shares a testimony of God’s grace in his life. Bill has been faithful to the LORD and to Bethel since his graduation. What a testimony to the power of God!

Delbert “Pete” Austrew

I came to Bethel colony of Mercy in November, 1998. At this time in my life I found myself at a loss of family, friends and everything else I loved or cared about. I had been drinking and drugging very heavily just to deal with the emotional pain I was feeling.

On arriving at Bethel, I had a desire to turn my life around simply because I knew it was a miracle of God that I made it there. You see, I knew “about” God but had no relationship with Him. Everything I had attempted in life had become a failure. Relationships, employment and then my health! In 1987, I was involved in an industrial accident that resulted in six major surgeries in seven years! Two major back surgeries that left me relying on a wheel-chair, a total left hip replacement, and two shoulder replacements. A tumor was found in my neck resulting in surgery that has left one side of my face numb. On my back in Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, I cried out to Jesus Christ. Soon after that a nurse came into my room and asked; “Where are the roses? I smell roses.” No one had brought roses to my room.

I continued in my difficulties for some years as I was in and out of physical rehabs. At one point I was prescribed over ten different pain medicines and had become addicted to them all. I was also addicted to street drugs and alcohol. This continued to the point I lost my family and all that mattered to me. Then, a family member told me about Bethel Colony. I came to Bethel as soon as I could get in. My experience at Bethel was one that I will walk with for the rest of my life. I wish I could say that when I left Bethel everything went well for me. Sadly, my life continued to spiral downward. But, at the most precious time in my life, what was instilled in me while at Bethel came forth! I had “NOT” surrendered everything to Jesus! I had held on to anger, resentment, and deep emotional pains. My most precious time was the point of surrender of everything to Jesus!

Feeding on the Word, I began to discover how much He loves me. John 3:16 says; “For God so loved the world (me), that He gave His only Son.” I discovered His identity within the Bible and began to see my own identity through His eyes. This experience changed my life forever! You see, as I discovered these truths through the Holy Spirit, I discovered who was the author of my failures…Satan! I learned I have authority over my enemy in the name of Jesus! Because of this discovery, my life has purpose and meaning today. Yes, I lost everything, but God has restored my health, both mental and physical. Today I am as healthy as I have ever been in my life. God is blessing me in so many ways.

On June 8, 2007, I graduated from Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in Hendersonville, NC. I am a licensed Baptist minister. I will be attending Florida Baptist College to pursue a Master of Ministry degree. In the meantime, I have traveled from Kentucky to Florida preaching the Word of God and giving my testimony. I feel the Lord has placed a burden on my life to write a book concerning the role of the “Spiritual Priest of the Home”. God is doing things for me that I would not have thought possible! My testimony is simply this; He is still in the business of raising the “dead”! He is no respecter of persons and He will do the same for “whosoever”.

The roses no one could find in my hospital room? One day I read in the Bible that He is the Rose of Sharon! Praise God! The tomb is empty! Revelation 12:11; “And they overcame the evil one by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” Praise God, we win! And as the old song says…”It is well with my soul!”