Our first testimony in the series we’ve entitled Encountering God’s Grace is shared by a dear sister and long-time member of Peachtree Baptist Church. Donna Tumlin has been a faithful example for many decades to scores of young Christians. Donna was a teacher at the Christian school out of our church, mother to Dana Mercer and Joel Tumlin, and wife to our precious Wayne Tumlin who has gone on to be with the Lord. We hope you can worship the Lord with us through her testimony.
I was raised in a home that never went to church, except for a brief two year period when I was very young. My Dad could never overcome his drinking, and that eventually let to physical abuse of my mom. After some years she finally had to divorce him. Even though it was a relief from the tension, I still struggled with the divorce. I began dating at fourteen (much too early) and after a while I met Wayne. We were married in 1964. I was a Senior in High School and a wife.
When we had been married for about six months we were asked to go to his nephew’s Bible School Commencement. At the end of the program, the Pastor stood and preached a simple gospel message. Our family went on with their lives, but Wayne and I were immediately under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. I know now that is what it was, but then we only new that we needed something more in our lives. What, we had no idea, but later learned it wasn’t a “what” but rather a “who” that would change our lives forever.
The next week the Pastor and an elderly deacon came to our apartment and showed Wayne that the need of his heart was to trust in the sacrifice the Lord Jesus had made at Calvary for him. Wayne so eagerly accepted this free gift of salvation. It didn’t take many days for me to realize that I was living with a very “different” man. I began to see plainly that the “going to the altar” experience I had as a child wasn’t true salvation.
We started attending church and could not get enough of the Word of God. I saw that I needed to be washed by the precious blood of my Savior. So, after teaching Sunday School, Training Union and doing all I could to be “Christian,” I went to the altar and begged for mercy; and I found the sweet truth of John 6:37.
All the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:37
I am so grateful for the mercy of God that truly transformed our lives. And though I now walk the path without Wayne, the Lord’s grace has never been more real. Isaiah 1:18 is my life verse.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isaiah 1:18
I wish I could say that I always pleased the Lord these last 60 years; but sadly, many of my most grievous sins have been since I became a Christian. When I feel the crushing wight of all my failures I eventually remember that the truth of Isaiah 1:18 is always the same. John Piper wrote this very good advice:
Occasionally weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have.
John piper
One Comment
Brother Rick
Donna, I was delighted to have read your testimony! It’s encouraging to have at least some idea in how you came to real saving faith. The point is, it’s always encouraging to hear of another saint’s story in how the Lord God drew them…
Thank you so much for sharing, and I know that the Lord Jesus Christ is being honored and glorified!
The older that we get as we grow in our Lord, the more we then realize how totally depraved that we each of us are – without exception, and how infinitely Holy that HE is! How blessed we really ARE, we shall praise, worship, love, and serve the risen Lord Jesus in pure perfection soon enough and forever!
Come Lord Jesus Christ!
Brother Rick 🥸