My Christian Testimony: I was 11 years old, living near Charleston, South Carolina, when I visited a girl in my fifth grade class. Her mother, Mrs. Midget, was a very kind person and told me that if I ever wanted to marry her daughter, I would have to "get saved" first. I knew she was joking about marriage but not about how I could spend eternity in heaven. I showed interest in what she was saying. She began to tell me from the Bible how I needed to ask God to forgive me of my sins and then trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior. Shortly after our talk, I began climbing one of the oak trees in their back yard, and I found myself looking up into the sky. Once I reached the highest point I could climb, it was there that I realized this was as close as I could get to heaven by myself. I decided to "get saved" right there in the tree. I then climbed down and later told Mrs. Midget that I asked God to forgive me of my sins and trusted in Christ as my Savior. She sat down with me and opened her Bible so she could show me more Bible verses to explain "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ" (Romans 6:23). 

Now I am passing the message on to you. You need to "get saved" if you have not already done so. Right where you are is fine—no need to look for a tree. The most important thing is that you ask God to forgive you of your sins and ask Jesus Christ to become your personal Savior. Do it right now, and then let me know. I would love to show you more Bible verses about what happens. 

My favorite Bible verse: Philippians 1:6: "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." 

Pastor Flesher served as Senior Pastor from June 1978 until June 2016. On July 1, 2016, he was elected Pastor Emeritus. As Emeritus, Pastor Flesher represents the congregation in pastoral, evangelistic, and missionary ministry in this country and throughout the world. Pastor and his wife Kathy look forward to God's leading in many avenues of service. Pastor Flesher serves on the Board of the Associated Gospel Churches, an ecclesiastical endorsing agency, endorsing men to military, prison, and hospital ministries.

My Christian Testimony: I was born into a family of 10 children with German immigrant parents and grandparents who were Bible believers. They loved God and took me to church from the time I was a baby. Although I was raised in a Christian home, by the time I was seven years old, I realized that I was just as sinful as anyone and deserved God's punishment. I believed the Bible when it told me that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life." However, I didn't understand God's love until my second grade Sunday School teacher showed me how to personalize John 3:16 by putting my name in place of "the world." When I read, "For God so loved (John) that He gave His only begotten son, that if (John) believes in Him, he shall not perish, but have everlasting life," then I saw that God loved me and sent Jesus to die for my sins. I gladly accepted His gift and promise of eternal life. 

I grew in my relationship with Jesus Christ from an initial fear of being damned to hell to having a love for Him and what He did for me and wanting to serve Him. As I grew up, I did not feel called to preach or enter vocational Christian ministry, but I wanted my life to please Him. I believe He enabled me and led me to study science and enter the field of physical therapy, which gives me a vocation that is very oriented toward service. Along the way, I have always been involved in music, for which I also felt God had given me a talent and love. I gained much experience in sacred music while in my studies at Bob Jones University where I met my wife, Karen, who was also very musical. We both enjoy singing and playing musical instruments together, and we feel that our talents should be used as a gift to God, as He says in Hebrews 13:15, "Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." Therefore, I find great joy in being the choir director here at Greencastle Bible Church, helping others to also offer such sacrifices of praise to God. 

My favorite Christian song or hymn: I love the old hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" by Thomas Chisholm. It is based on Lamentation 3:22-23 which describes God's faithfulness even when we are unfaithful. I especially like the chorus, "Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!" The last two words make His love and promises very personal.