As far back as she can remember,
Gail Alford's mother took her and her sister to church. But,
because nurseries and children's church were not in vogue at
that time, they only attended the Sunday School. She grew up
learning Bible stories and scriptures. When she was fifteen years
old, her father was transferred to Hawaii with the Navy where
Mrs. Alford became actively involved in an independent Baptist
church. She made a profession of faith at age sixteen and went
off to Bible College after graduation from High School. She met
Mr. Alford in college and they were married in 1972. After graduation,
they worked in several churches.
She had had some doubts off and on about her salvation and while
working as the church and school secretary in one particular
church, the Holy Spirit began convicting her heart during a morning
church service. She realized then that when she had made a "profession
of faith" as a teenager, she had merely listened to the
words of the altar worker. She had never personally asked Jesus
to forgive her of her sin and save her. Mrs. Alford went to their
pastor after the service and he led her through the same scriptures
she had used so many times with others. Then, she bowed her head
and truly repented, asking Jesus to forgive her and to come into
her heart and save her. She walked away on June 24, 1979 with
full assurance of salvation.
The years came and went and then in 1996, the Lord laid-what
she considered a frightening burden-on her heart....Missions!
The Alfords had been to Europe to visit and thoroughly loved
it, but Mrs. Alford was not prepared to be a missionary there.
She tried to dismiss the thoughts, but for three years, God kept
these thoughts ever before her and gave her a burden like she
had never experienced before.
For several years she carried this burden in her heart but did
not mention it to her husband. She knew that if God was truly
calling her, then He would do so by calling and working through
her husband. In the meantime, they bought a brand new house,
but in her heart, she was relinquishing it for the opportunity
to be back in Europe, serving the Lord. When her husband announced
that he believed God was calling him to Holland, Mrs. Alford
was only surprised at which country it was. God had already given
her peace about the European continent. He had worked in her
heart to prepare her for this day so that she would not be reluctant
to "give up what she could not keep and keep what she could
not lose." |