Bob Ryan
Salvation Experience
Bob had been raised in the Southern Baptist Church. He said that he was going with a group of teenagers out to rob a school house. Previously, they had broken into a bakery, and stole some pies. At the time, it was considered a small town back then. Bob was 17 years old, and lived in Lubbock, Texas with his family. This one night, his mom wanted him to go to a tent Revival meeting at church. He was planning on going, and then leaving. His step-father watched him go into the tent meeting. (His step-father had a foot injury, so he was on crutches.) Bob said that he was going to run away, and meet his friends, but his step-father was standing there on his crutches, watching him that he stayed at the tent meeting. That night, Bob heard the gospel message and he went forward and accepted the Lord! His life was completely changed!
One other boy, one of his friends, was caught that night, trying to break into the school house! The judge gave him the choice to go into the Korean War, on the front lines, or go to jail. He later also got saved in the Army. He died a hero's death on the front lines, guarding the other soldiers, and he wiped out a whole squadron of Korean soldiers!! He died with the machine gun in his arms. Some of the others that broke into the school house went to jail.
Bob went on to go to college, and he was ordained in the Southern Baptist Convention as a pastor. He was then drafted into the U.S. Navy, and served in the Korean war as well. He visited the Neighborhood Church's Port O'Call in Oakland. He met his wife, Diane there, who was a Port O' Call hostess. They were married at the Oakland Neighborhood Church by Dr. Jacob Bellig.
Bob went on to teach Sunday school for several years, sang in the church choir, and he enjoyed being a church greeter at the Castro Valley Neighborhood Church.
If you are a senior and would like to submit your testimony, we invite you to contact us for details on how you can participate. We would love to include your story!
