Resources - Testimonies

TESTIMONY
Gale W. TeSelle
February 2011

• Born 1943 and raised on a farm in Nebraska, two older sisters.
• Single … married in 1965 to Joan and divorced in 2000.   
• Two sons and one daughter, Greg, Darrin, and Cynthia, all married; eight grandchildren.
• Masters degree in Geography from the University of Nebraska in 1968.  
• Worked for 31 years with the Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, most of which was in National Headquarters office in Washington DC serving as the Director of the Cartography and Geographic Information Systems Division.   
• Retired from USDA in 1999 and began to volunteer more in Christian ministry.
• In 2004, formed a lighthouse ministry of prayer-care-share called Turn ON the Light-Bowie and became the Executive Director of the organization.  
• Became a realtor in 2006, a broker in 2009, and formed a company called TeSelle Realty.
• Formed a non-profit organization called Light of the World Foundation in 2007 and acts as President of the organization.
• Member of Mt. Oak United Methodist Church since 1981.
• Became a born-again believer October 10, 1988. 

My testimony is not one of a life of rebellion, of lawlessness, of drugs or alcohol, of hitting bottom and then looking to God for help.  I was raised in a Christian home, in a small farming community in Nebraska.  We went to church three times on Sunday, on Wednesday night we went to prayer meeting, and on Saturday morning we went to Bible classes, and on Saturday evening, we went to choir.  I attended confirmation class and joined the church by public profession of faith at age 14.  Unfortunately, it didn’t mean that much to me.  I was just a pretend Christian.  As a young married man and member of my church, I taught Sunday school and regularly sang in the choir and in a gospel quartet.  But, I didn’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

After having children and moving to Bowie, Maryland in 1971, I started drifting further away from church.  Satan had me convinced I was a pretty good guy.  I thought my job was good, my family was doing fine … What did I need Jesus for?  But nonetheless, there was a hollow spot inside, a nagging feeling of having no anchor in my life, no real purpose. 

In 1979 our family moved to a new home and my wife and I started checking out nearby churches.  We thought the kids should be involved in a Sunday school or youth program. We joined Mt. Oak United Methodist in 1981.  Everyone was warm and friendly to us.  The pastor was preaching a clear message about how we offend God through our selfishness and how surrendering our life to Jesus Christ can change us from pleasing ourselves to pleasing God, bringing joy and peace and purpose.  Men of the church were sharing their testimonies about how they received a new and transformed life in Jesus.

For six years, I wrestled with making a commitment to Jesus Christ.  I was afraid of giving up control but I knew pretending was painful.  I knew there were only two places to go after death and I was not on the path to heaven.  I was convicted by a passage in the Bible that talked about pretenders, how Jesus said … not everyone who says Lord, Lord and preaches and teaches in my name will get into heaven.  A voice inside of me, which I now know as the Holy Spirit, kept pulling me closer to God and encouraging me to fall on my knees and surrender control.  Someone from my church pulled me aside and said … Gale you seem to have a nice family and a nice job, but I’m not sure where you are spiritually.  Somehow he knew I was pretending. 

Finally, on Monday, October 10, 1988 at 1:00 a.m. in the morning, praise-be-to-God, I got down on my knees and prayed this pray.  “Father forgive me.  I am a sinner, you know my sins, please forgive me.  I surrender my will to yours.  Jesus, be the center and focus of my life”.  At that moment, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said ... You are forgiven.  Go downstairs and get your Bible and read John chapter 3.  So I did.  A great weight of anxiety was lifted from my shoulders, as I clearly knew I was forgiven and now a child of God.

I confessed specific sins to God and to my family and to those I sinned against and asked their forgiveness.  I didn’t have to hide anything in my life anymore and I didn’t have to pretend anymore.  I no longer looked for ways to please myself but ways to please God.  I prayed and heard God speaking to me more clearly through his Word and his quiet voice.  My priority at work changed from the managing programs to leading and caring for people.   At home my wife and children could see the change, spending less time at work and more time with them. 

Since becoming a believer, I have gone through many difficult trials … at work and in my personal and church family.  Only by the grace of God and drawing on His strength have I been able to persevere and grow stronger in my spiritual walk.  Shortly after retiring from federal service, I accepted God’s call on my life to encourage churches to work together to better love their neighbor and formed a non-profit Christian ministry called the Light of the World Foundation.  I continue to lead that ministry as well as being active in my local church.

The pain of pretending is over.   I now have the joy of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and assurance of being with God my Creator for eternity.