My name is Kendall Boutwell. I was born on March 7, 1964 in Brookhaven, MS. I was raised in the country most of my life in a very small town with my two sisters. From a very early age I can remember my parents taking me to church. I have attended church all my life, but haven’t been born again all my life. The memories of growing up that stand out in my mind are playing with my sisters, hunting and fishing. When I was in my early teens, deer hunting was most important to me. I was never really that good at sports, but I did like to box. My grandfather had been a boxer and I became interested in the sport myself. I remember once believing that I would be the heavyweight champion of the world. I started training in Jackson, MS which was about 60 miles away from my hometown. My parents faithfully took me several days a week to Jackson, and I trained the other days at home. I can remember getting up in the morning and running approximately 5 miles with a rain suit on to really sweat and get in shape. I was very dedicated to this more so than anything else. I fought in the Jr. Olympics, Golden Gloves, and even the World Tough man when I was older. But as time passed my interest began to change. When I turned about 15 a cousin of mine came to live with us. His family had gone through a divorce and he wasn't doing very well. I really looked up to him and wanted to do everything he did, even the bad. This was the start of a life serving Satan.

It began by riding to school with my cousin. He smoked cigarettes, pot, and listened to rock music, so I thought if it was good for him it would be good for me. How I passed school only God knows. I began to loose interest in the things that had always interested me like hunting and boxing. Over time my life became more and more self centered and further from God (notice I didn't say Jesus because I did not really know him). After some time I began to drink alcohol which only made things worse in my life. I began to hurt the people who loved me most. The scripture says as "as a man thinketh in his heart so is he" (Prov 23:7 (KJV). That was my life and that was what I thought about most during those days.

There is one thing I have learned about people. People, will do what they love to do, no matter what it is. By the age of 18, I was married and had a child on the way. At this time in my life I didn't even think, or consider God, nor his Word. For the next 10 years my life was given to serving sin and self. I became worse and worse until I didn't even like myself.

Looking back I can say as the Apostle Paul did in 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV), "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. I say this to my shame, were it not for Christ and his Grace". Through this 10 year marriage I can honestly say I was married to a patient woman. How she stayed with me those ten years only she and God knows because I did many ungodly things. Even during those 10 years when she would leave, I would run to God for his help only to return to my sin later. Proverbs 26:11 (KJV), "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly." Once, toward the latter part of this marriage, after my wife had left me, I cried out to God to bring her back. I went to Natchez, MS to stay with some family because I was depressed. While there I went to my Aunt Ginger who knew the Lord Jesus and she told me what my problem was. In my despair I cried out to the Lord for him to forgive and save me. For about a year things were different in my life, but over time I began to go back to my old ways. I had promised God I would never do this again. Galatians 6:7 (KJV), "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." By this time in my life (1992) I had two children. Because of sin my marriage ended in divorce, with two children 9 and 11 years old. As I sit here today and write this testimony I'm reflecting on the day I thought I was really saved at my Aunt's house. But there was only one problem; I hadn't truly repented of my sins. "Repent and turn to God, and do works (deeds) which give evidence of repentance" Acts 26:20 (KJV)

The word of God says Matthew 6:24 (KJV), "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." My God was myself and I lived to please the flesh. Oh what pain has come from those bad choices. I once wondered who could deliver me, and then I said as Paul Romans 7:24 (KJV), "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

At the age of 31, after trying most everything the world had to offer me, I still wasn't satisfied with life. But I was still going to church. Now I wonder why I even went. Because my life didn't show evidence of Christ. It was a disaster. My oldest sister invited me to take a course at the Church called Experiencing God and I did. One night sitting at my kitchen table studying, I remember the scripture when the Holy Ghost showed me I was a wretched man on my way to Hell! Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV), "19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

That day sitting at my kitchen table shortly after reading that verse something supernatural took place in my life. I was born again and have never been the same since. John 3:3 (KJV), "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

I realized at that moment that I had been my own god all my life and had lived to please myself, I was an idolater. I called upon the Lord, confessing my sins one by one all that I could remember, and asked Jesus to come in to my heart. Then I tried to make right ever wrong that was possible. This was a very hard task because my life looked like a train wreck. I thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who can save the worst sinner. Today without a doubt I can say God has been gracious and merciful to me, he has given me a new wife and two more children in addition to my older two. I also have two grandsons whom I love dearly. I didn't deserve them, but God did it anyway. Psalms 84:11 (KJV), "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV), "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Immediately after my conversion I began to preach the gospel in prisons, jails, churches, anywhere possible. I began to teach Sunday school, all I could think about was getting this good news out that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV), "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

Today, I do the work of an evangelist mainly in the open air. I know there are many who would say that I am not eligible to preach or to be used by God. But I believe the word of God that when you truly repent and are born again that God forgives and forgets your sins. Hebrews 10:16-17 (KJV), "16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." I also believe that I am a new creation; 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV), "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The old Kendall got a divorce, not the new man. If the old man is not crucified with Christ then there is no new man. Galatians 2:20 (KJV), "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." I am not down-playing divorce because God hates divorce. Malachi 2:16 (KJV), "For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away."

I say these things to my shame were it not for Christ. But I choose to believe the word of God that says Philippians 4:13 (KJV), "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." I know when I got my divorce I didn't even consider what God thought. But I know today that I never plan to do it again. Thanks be to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who can save the worst sinner. Remember what it says in Mark 9:23 (KJV), "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." and Mark 16:15-18 (KJV), "15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV), "18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

THIS IS MY TESTIMONY, ONCE I WAS BORN AGAIN (my problem was I had never died to my way of life, being in control, or being boss) If you are not surrendered to Christ then you are not saved by Christ. Read this passage of scripture carefully listening to your conscience.

Romans 6:1-23 (KJV), "1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Today, my friend, where would you spend eternity should you die. No one is promised tomorrow. Have you lied, stolen, committed adultery (lust is the same as adultery) taken God's name in vain. If so you to are in need of God's forgiveness. Would you be guilty or innocent if God judged you by the ten commandments at this moment? Where would you go, heaven or hell? Does this concern you? If so what are you going to do about it?

Acts 17:30 (KJV), "30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent"

Proverbs 28:13 (KJV) "13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

1 John 1:8-9 (KJV), "8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Acts 2:38-39 (KJV), "38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

Romans 10:9-11 (KJV), "9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

Romans 10:13 (KJV), "13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

For His Glory

Kendall