|
Charles Klock - Personal Profile
Born in Beaumont
TX
Early years spent in Washington
LA
(1957-60)
Longtime resident of Southeast Texas
Graduate of French
High School,
Beaumont
TX (1973)
Lamar
University, Beaumont
& Orange
TX (1974, 1994)
Eleventh Street Baptist Church (1974-1978)
Baptist Bible Translators Institute -
Bowie TX
(1978-1980)
Baptist Bible Translator's Institute (Staff) - Duncan OK (1980-1984)
Bible
Baptist Church
- (Staff) Duncan,
OK (1982-1984)
Charity
Baptist Church
- Beaumont
TX (1984-1994)
Grace Bible Fellowship - Vidor-Mauriceville
TX (1994-Present)
Hobbies: Travel, Yard work, saltwater fishing, computing & technology
Family: Married, two married daughters, two grandchildren
My Conversion
My father was a minister yet I did not understand
the grace of God. Nor did I understand who Jesus was or what He did at
Calvary. Sincerely religious, yet lost, I sought assurance of
salvation in ever-changing feelings. My father preached in a small
non-denominational church in
Washington
Louisiana. I was raised attending
church. My life revolved around church. From others point of view, my attendance
at church, my discipline to observe Christian values must have meant that I was
a Christian. But while exposed to Christian values and experiences, and while I
sometimes acted the part I had no idea what Christianity was. I was simply the
son of a man who was a Christian.
It was not until I was almost twenty years old that I begin to question my
relationship with the God of the Bible. I was attending
Eleventh
Street
Baptist
Church
in Beaumont
TX.. The minister's (Lester Hutson)
logic and preaching was compelling and for the first time in my life, clear. The
minister argued convincingly, and clearly from scripture. He built his
assertions from scripture alone. In time God's Spirit began to convince me of my
personal guilt and my need of Christ. I became aware of sin and sin's penalty,
and was certain that my death would mean my immediate and eternal separation
from God. I rightly deserved sin's penalty eternal death. Unsettling
fear gripped my heart and I could not rest nor find any peace. I needed certain
answers to assure my anxious heart. Many months went by as I struggled. I had no
assurance that I was right with God. My conscience condemned me, and the
tormenting accusations of a guilty heart smothered me every moment of every day.
I could not escape the fearful thoughts of eternal separation from God in hell.
I prayed. I
talked to people who I hoped could help me. I read books. I found no relief. I
simply did not understand how God could remove the guilt of my sinful soul and
release me from the condemnation I rightly deserved. No man could open my eyes
to the truth.
The concept of Grace was something I knew nothing of. I thought, I must surely
do something to appease and please God. One day I bought
a book entitled "GRACE". It was written by a man named Lewis Sperry
Chafer. I read and by God's grace came to understand that grace is not given to
men because of something they do, nor will God withhold it because of something
they fail to do. Grace is a gift that is given freely. I
saw with clarity that Christ death on the cross was God's gift to me. He freely
gave himself in death so that I and all men might have life. He has offered this
gift to the world (unto all) and it is given to those who received
(upon all) it by faith alone. When
I finally understood and believed that God's Son died for my sin I stopped
trying to save myself. Jesus death was enough to satisfy God. It was finished,
my salvation was accomplished 2000 years ago at the cross, the handwriting of
ordinances that were against me had been nailed to the cross.
The day I believed in Christ I was born again.
Hope in my heart soared, faith was certain, love abounded, joy overflowed, I was
a new creature. A new hatred for my personal sin and a love for Christ
righteousness grew in my heart. A desire to understand and know God unfolded. I
felt like a dry sponge soaking up the water of divine life.
Following this life changing conversion to Christ at age twenty one, I began to
be fed by the Word of God by various men the Lord brought into my life. God used
simple, sinful men who had walked the walk of faith longer than I, to give me
direction. Lester Hutson, Edgar McNeely, Bob Ganote, Ted Rice, Milton Hatton,
George Anderson, Wayne Hill, Paul Henderson, Bill Jackson, and many others all
contributed in their time to my growth in grace.
God placed within my heart a strong desire to attend
Bible
College. So in August of 1978 I quit my job
at the Post Office in Beaumont
Texas and moved my young family moved to
Bowie Texas
to attend Baptist Bible Translator's Institute. After six years serving
the Lord in North Texas and Oklahoma we returned in 1984 to the church (Charity
Baptist Church) which had sent us out, and sought to serve Christ among them. I
continued to grow under the ministry of my pastor Gary Sprinkle. His personal
example and commitment to expository preaching provided direction for my life.
Gary was a positive example of Christ likeness that I had
needed to see. We served together for many years and enjoyed each others
company. Gary
was my closest friend.
In 2000 after serving our church
for 22 years Pastor Gary Sprinkle resigned and moved to
Dallas TX. The
transition from lay leader to pastor was a bumpy one. Although I was very
inexperienced at pastoral ministry the members of the church stood with me,
prayed for me, encouraged me as I served as their minister. In time the work of
the ministry has become my greatest joy. My desire is to provide the church with
the biblical teaching, and personal example to see each member serving Christ to
their fullest potential. |
 |
