EVANGELIST BENJAMIN BAUMGARDT
“YOUR WORK IS NOT IN VAIN”
I would like to share with you a little about myself. I was born March 22, 1971 in Jessup Georgia . I was born with Cerebral Palsy which affects people in different ways. As for me, I was only affected by it in my muscles. I have lived a very good life, which is not to say I haven't had problems.
At the age of four, surgery was done on both of my feet because there were no ankle bones in my feet. So there were bones taken from my legs and hips to make ankle bones for my feet. I am very glad for this. Even though I may not walk now, at least I can stand up by holding on to something.
At the age of four I also started living with my Great Grandparents who seemed like my own parents. I will never forget all of the love that they show me. They taught me about the things of God and how to live right. Then at the age of eight, I gave my life to Christ, but even before I was born again I had a love for God.
Going to school was sometimes not so nice; because there were other children who did not understand that just because someone doesn't speak plain or is in a wheelchair doesn't means that their mind is not right. It just means that they have a disability. So they would make fun of me and say that I was retarded.
Back then that bothered me, but now I realize that people that do that don’t understand what they are doing. Some people think that if someone is in a wheelchair they can't do anything for themselves but, that just is not true. I can do a lot for myself. Things like taking a bath, getting dress, undress, eating, drinking, and many other things I can do for myself. I'm not handicapped I just have a disability. I believe what the Bible said in Philippians 4 verse 13: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"
Then when I was eight years old I was Born Again at Harmony Baptist Church in Baxley Georgia . The service was already over that night and people was outside talking to each other. when I went back inside and told the ministers that I wanted to be save. They took me into the fellowship hall and prayed with me to receive Christ into my heart and life as my Savior and Lord.
It's kind of odd but, even before I was saved I loved the Lord, and I know it is because my Grandmother who brought me up that way. She and my Grandfather used to played the radio and records of gospel music and I fell in love with the music. I have always love gospel music, even before I was saved and maybe that is what drew me to church.
At the age of 11, I started staying at home with my parents again, but I still went to my grandparents in the daytime. It took me some time to realize that Mom and Dad really did care about me a lot because of some of the things that I had been taught. Since I have been back home with my parents I have really come to know that I missed out on a lot by not living at home with them.
At the age of 15, I started attending Oak Grove Full Gospel Church . It was a different kind of church than what I was use to. These people seemed more in love with the Lord than I have seen in churches before and it was in this church that I begin to grow more in the Lord. One reason for the difference is that it was Pentecostal and although I had seen people speak in tongs before, I did not know what it was about. I was use to the Baptist and Methodist church. It did not take long for me to understand that there was more to the Holy Spirit than what I had been taught.
This is where God began to show me that there was more to living for him than what I had already learned. I thank God for what I had learned in the past, but there was so much more that I had never been told. It was in this church that I preached my first sermon. While I was going to Oak Grove I met a preacher named David Hutcheson who became a wonderful friend to me. We talked to each other a lot about the Lord and sometimes the Spirit of the Lord would be so wonderful as we talked. Brother David passed away in December of 1996, but I will never forget him.
One night, I went to a meeting in some of my friends’ home. On the way to their house I was praying for the service that God would move in our mist and before we even got to the meeting I could feel God’s spirit all inside of me. After the preacher got through preaching we begin praying for people. That’s when the Lord showed one of my friend that it was my time to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. As they laid their hands on me and begin to pray, I began to speak in tongues.
This experience totally changes my life and although some people do not believe in this, I know without a doubt it is real and is from the Lord. Being baptized in the Holy Spirit has brought me closer to God in a way that I don’t think I would be if I did not have the Holy Spirit
The year of 1987 is one I shall never forget. One night in February my family and I lost our home due to a fire. I have heard of people loosing their home but I had no ideal the emotion that people went through in this situation. For many weeks I had a fear that it would happen again. Each time that I would hear a loud sound, the first thing I would think of is something catching on fire. I would even lay in the bed at night afraid to go to sleep. I guess the hardest thing was seeing my Mother go through a time of grieving over loosing so many things that could not be replaced. But one night in church she begin to laugh uncontrollably and that was her breakthrough.
One night in 1988, I had a wonderful experience. I was awakened and as I lay on the bed I felt my spirit man come out of my body. Then my spirit flew to the window and look outside, and then my spirit came back into my body. As I lay there I said “Lord whatever you want to do, do it!” Then I came back out of my body, flew to and out the window and around the yard. Then I came down to the ground and landed on my feet and I was leaping, jumping, and speaking in tongues. When I came to myself, I was laying on the bed wide-awake.
Some people may think it was a dream, but I do not. I believe that I had a vision from the Lord. Some people may wonder why would this happen to me, maybe God was letting me know what it would be like if i could walk or I may never know why this happen until go home to be with the Lord.
Around the age 20 and 21, I went through a very deep dark valley, because of something that I have done in my past. I actually thought that My Lord had walked away from me at times. It seemed that I just could not reach God. During this time I read the Bible all the way through in four months time, I did this twice. When I did come out of this I realized that God was with me all the time. God never leaves his children. Some times he allows us to go through times of trials so that we may become stronger in him but he is still with us.
At the end of 1992 I begin a ministry called “Jesus is The Answer for Mankind Ministry." in which I am still involve with today I would preach on tape and copy them to give out to people. the ministry lasted for about a year. Then the Lord showed me in 2001 how to restart the ministry not on cassette but on video. I really enjoy doing this. I just want to do all that I could for Jesus Christ. In 1993 something very great and wonderful happened to me. One day as I was down on my knees talking to the Lord, I felt as if a bright shinning light shone down on me and all around me. I could not see this light with my eyes but in my spiritual man this light was very real. It's in times like this that God becomes so real to a person. I believe that this experience will always cause me to put more of my trust in God.
In 1994 my great Grandfather passe away. Things were different without him. Sometimes even now tears still come to my eyes when I began to tell someone about him. He was a good man in many ways but the thing that I remember most about him is that he was kind to every one and he didn't talk bad about anyone. I loved him a lot.
My Grandfather and I were very close. So it didn’t seem strange when I dreamed about him after he went home to be with the Lord, but I never thought that I would have such a vivid dream like I had a few months after he died. It was on a cool fall morning I had a dream. In this dream I was in the living room. I was sitting on the floor, leaning up against the wall, with my legs stretched out in front of me. The television was playing, but I don’t remember what was on. Then I notice that my Grandfather was standing by me. In real life, I always remember him as being old I never saw him as a young man. In this dream, he looked like he was in his forties. He had black hair, a blue pin stripe suit, with a white shirt, and pair of black shoes. He asks me “how are you holding up” and I said “All right.” He then walked outside and after he stepped off the porch he bent back around in a way I have never seen anyone move before.
Then he walked over to a tree and begins looking at the leaves on the tree. Then he begun to look up towards the sky with a look in his eye as if he was asking God “can I tell him?” Then he walks away and disappeared. What is the meaning of this dream? I am not sure about some things. I do know that we as Christians have much to look forward to after death. Perhaps God was showing me that my Grandpa was no longer old any more. He is young again. When he was looking at the leaves on the trees I am reminded that of what the Holy Bible says in Mark 13:28: "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and Putted forth leaves, ye know that summer is near." Maybe my Grandfather may have known something that was going to happen in my life and wanted to warn me about. I just do not know.
Also in 1994 I entered a six-week program called independent living at "Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation" in Warm Springs Georgia , which teaches people with disabilities that they can live independently. I received a certificate and an achievement award at the end of the program. In 1997 I went back to "Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation” to work on my G.E.D.
While I was in Warm Springs Georgia I started going to a church called " Abundant Life Worship Center " in Manchester Georgia . It was there that I met a Lady named Linda Perroni. Linda became one of the best friends I ever had. She took a lot of time with me and I began to get very close to her.
When I graduated April 24th, 1997 I said goodbye to Linda and came back home that day when I left, Linda was really crying. I cannot tell you what that did to me because, the last memory I have of Linda, she was crying because I was leaving.
I care about Linda and I would not hurt her if I could help it. After I came home I went through a time of loneliness. It seemed just like a part of me had died. Linda wasn't around anymore and it was so hard to let go of her. I really wanted to be with Linda. I even prayed about us getting married but God let me know that it was not his will. I had a hard time accepting this and it took a long time but I'm thankful that I chose to obey God in this situation. As for Linda I have not seen her since April 24, 1997.
When I was very young I would think about preaching a lot. I wanted so much to be a preacher. I did not know that at the time how serious it would become until later on in my life. Although I have known that God has called me for a long time, that calling was made real to me in 1997.
One night the Lord got my attention, as I went to bed I had nothing on my mind, but Linda. Sometime early the next morning before daybreak as I begun to awaken God spoke to me in a loud voice, he said “MY CHILD I HAVE CALLED YOU TO PREACH MY GOSPEL!” His voice sounded like somebody who was upset, but very loving. I knew without a doubt that I had to obey the Lord and do what he had called me for.
One Monday night at Brewton Parker College after my New Testament class I could sense God confirming the calling on my life. I told people before that there are some people in my shoes that if God called them to preach they would probably make excuses why they could not do it because of their handicap, and they would have a good reason. But when I think about what Jesus has done for me, how can I say no? I will gladly give it all I have.
On Thanksgiving Day of 1998 Linda did come to see me but I was not at home. When I did find out, I was totally shocked because I never thought she would come to see me. I am so glad that God did not let me see her at that time. God wanted to heal the brokenness in my heart before I saw Linda again. I am thankful he made me wait. Linda Perroni was a good Christian friend that I needed at the time and I will never forget her. God has healed the broken heart to the point that when I remember Linda it only brings a smile to my face to know that I obeyed God and now the hurt that I felt is gone. Maybe if the Lord wills, I will meet that special someone that I can spend the rest of my life with but, if not I will be happy just serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
I want to say more about Mom and Dad. After my grandparents pass away, their homestead was left to me so Dad begun to fix the old house. It took a lot of work because the old house needed of a lot of repairing. Plus, because of my disability Dad built a special bathroom just for me so that things would be easier for me. Around two year ago Dad built another room for me to put all of my electronics equipment in because I record CD’s and videos for my ministry. So I guess you could say that I have a small studio. But besides all these things I love my father not because of what he has done but because God has given him to me and he is the only Dad that I need.
Mom also is a great Lady to me. Although she cannot see very well, she is always there for me. You could say we help each other. Many women, if they had a child like me, couldn’t cope with it and probably would put me in a home for people with disabilities. But not Mom. She took care of me and let me know how much she cares for me. I know God has a special place for my parents when they go to be with Him someday.
There is a little story that I love to tell. On A Sunday night in 1998 I went to the Oak Park Church of God in Oak Park Georgia to preach that night. That day I was having problems with allergies. As I got in front of the church to minister I sung one song as the pastor helped me. After I got through singing I knew I was in trouble because my voice was going out and I knew that if I started to preach loud like I do most of the time I would have no voice to preach with. So I kept my voice low. When church was over my Dad who has problem understanding my speech at times (because of a hearing problem) said that he could understand almost everything that I said. I know that the Lord had been there that night.
In October of 1998 I moved to Augusta where I was going through a program call "Augusta Transitional Independent Living Program” which prepares people with disabilities to live on their own, but it didn't workout for me. I returned home Feb. 12, 1999 I moved back home. In 2000 God made Him self very real to me in a way that I have never known in my life. I was struggling with a problem that I have had for a long time. I hate to admit it, but because of the problem I even had doubts about God’s love for me. One Wednesday as we were going to church I was really down about this problem. When we got to church I went to the youth service and without a doubt the Lord was in that place. The moment I got my chair parked I knew that God was tugging at my heart and that’s when I got down on my knees to pray. I begin weeping so strong that I could not stop and I did not want to because it seems that my tears were saying more than I could put in words. At one point in the service the youth pastor ask all the people to come to the front of the Church for prayer. It was a week before school begins and he wanted to pray for everyone before school started back. I did not get back in my chair; I just crawl over to the circle and join hands with the other people. As we started praying I glance up to the top of the ceiling and God let me see past the top of that church and beyond the sky, right into the presence of God himself. I can hardly put into words what I saw. All that I know is that God was showing me that his love has no end. In other words he was letting me know that I could do nothing too bad that would make Him not love me. This totally change my way of thinking because I had trouble excepting God’s love for me. I thought I had to walk a holy life, I know that we need to walk upright the best we can, but now I know that God loves us no mater what we are going through.
Then I begin trying to get in a bible college. It took some time getting in because I'm in a wheelchair and most bible colleges are not setup for people that are in wheelchairs. But after searching for a while I chose Oral Roberts University in Tulsa Oklahoma , but later on I change my mind. Before I could go there I had to go to a junior college. So in January 2001 I begin going to South Georgia College in Douglas Georgia. There God bless me with a lot of new friends and for the first time in my life I felt like I was where people treated me like a normal person other than my friends and family. The Lord even put a Christian young man we all called done who became a great friend. I didn't have to worry about getting help when I needed it, because the students there help me very much. I will always be grateful to South Georgia College ; they made my stay there a delightful one. I even became a chaplain and held chapel service in the dorm once a week. I remember this one particular night no body came to chapel as was the case most of the time. I went back to my room and was getting ready to go to a revival. The Lord spoke to my heart and said to me “your work is not in vain. God also gave me two friends that I had known a long time Brother CT & Debbie Haynes to help me and take me to a wonderful Church while I was in Douglas called "Harvest Time Church of God". I shall never forget the kindness and love that I found at Harvest Time. On April 25 2001 I was able to give my life testimony there.
One day while I was at SGC a lady told me that God hated me But thank God I knew better and I wrote and article entitle “God loves everyone” which was put in the SGC campus paper and read over WBYZ radio. In Baxley Georgia . Then I found out latter that one young man was saved because of the article. Then this same young man‘s brother also got saved. And the last I heard they both was called to preach. Not because of me but God did it through me. “This paper is included in this book in the back. the news paper cut some of this article out but I have given you the whole piece”. Some people may feel that the reason I need the Lord Jesus Christ is because I'm in a wheelchair but that is not true. The reason that I serve the Lord is because just like everyone else I have a soul, and the soul unlike the body lives forever. There are just two places our soul can live after death and that's heaven or hell. We have to make this choice ourselves, and we will live with this choice for the rest of eternity. I thank God that I made my choice to be with the Lord Jesus Christ forever through all eternity.
My motto in life is this. You see my hands how that I have trouble doing certain things. You see my feet that I cannot walk, you hear my speech, it is not very plain, but do not feel sorry for me. The one that you should feel sorry for is the man or women who although they may be able to walk well, talk plain, and have two good hands so that they can do anything they want to, yet if they do not know God and his Son Jesus Christ they have nothing. As for me I have the Lord yes I have everything. One day as me and a friend of mine, Scott Blake was together I made a statement like this. If God were to tell me, Benny I am giving you a choice I will heal you or let you remain as you are it is up to you. If you choose to be healed you will be able to lead people to Christ and do a lot that you can’t do now. But I can use you more like you are, you will be able to help so many people that you could not help if you are up walking. But if you do choose to walk you will still be right with me and haven is still your home but, souls are at steak. I would gratefully say Lord yes I will be happy to remain like I am in order to help someone else. I just want souls to be saved and to be ready to meet the Lord when he comes back for his children.
In the fall of 2003 I transfer to Brewton Parker in Mont Vernon Georgia for one semester. It was there that I met Dr. Larry Toll who helped me tremendously in my walk with the Lord. He taught me some things that I did not understand. My walk with God is stronger because of what I learn back then. I also met a guy name Randy Lattimer who became a great friend. He and his family came quiet often to see me in my dorm room. He is the one who told me I should subtitle this story “Your work is not in vein.
Then In January of 2004 I went to Lee University in Cleveland Tennessee But things did not work out for me there so I returned home in May of that same year. While there I met a Brother in Christ name Mike Jones. Mike and me calls each other quiet often and share with each other of what God is doing in our lives. I did try to return back to college in the fall of 2005 at South Georgia College but my health begin to go down. So now I am living at home with my parents trying to minister to people over the internet.
THE FOLLOWING WAS WRITTEN FOR “THE SOUTH GEORGIAN”
A news paper put out by
South Georgia College
God Loves everyone
It was on a Friday morning as I was coming from class. As I pass Powell Hall a lady was sitting on the bench who, as I pass by her, would not take her eyes off of me. When I look at her she seem very unhappy maybe even sad. Then to my amazement she said unto me “God hates you” needless to say that she got my attention. I would like to address this situation.
I have been a born again Christian since I was eight years old and I begin preaching when I was fifteen. I have known God to be my dearest and best friend. In my opinion God, not only loves Christians, but he loves each and every person in the world. As a matter of fact love is what God is all about and if we will only alowed Him, He can make our whole life worth living. If God hated people why would He make us in his on image? Or why, after Adam and Eve failed from what God had intended them to be in the garden, would God send His only Son to redeem man back to Himself. The Holy Bible answer these questions
1 John 4:10
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
If I ever had doubt about God’s love for me or for other people, that doubt was over one Wednesday night in 2000. I was in a youth service, and it was an service where God was truly ministering in his own way. During the service the Youth pastor ask all the people to form a circle at the front of the church. As the preacher was praying for people, I glance up at the ceiling and for just a brief moment God let me see, in my spirit, beyond the sky. What I saw I can’t hardly put in words, I saw God’s love, and all I know is that God was showing me that his love has no end. In other words you can’t do anything to bad that would make God hate you.
I know that not everyone believes in the Christian God and everybody has their ow+++n personal belief. However, although I may not agree with a deferent religion I should not strike out at another person just because of his/her belief. Don’t get me wrong in my opinion, there is only one true God but, the only way that I can be a true witness for Christ is to show my love and kindness toward people even when the other person totally disagree with me.
This lady, who ever she may be. I do not hate her and believe it or not I am not even upset with her. It just saddens me that she would even think that God would hate anyone and believe it or not God doesn’t even hate her.
I will close by saying that I am so glade to know that God not only loves me but he will care for me the rest of my life. When it comes my time to say goodbye to this life I will be able to spend eternity in heaven with this wonderful God Who I know as Father and that, my friend, is something that I wouldn’t trade for the whole world
A Solder for Jesus Christ
Evangelist Benjamin Baumgardt
