Elder

Ryan Ringnald
[email protected]

I was saved around the fall of 2006. Before that time, I had been among the most religious of persons I knew: I had unwaveringly assented to the fundamental doctrines of the faith; I had been persecuted for standing on my Christian convictions numerous times; I had been baptized, led Bible studies, and participated in accountability groups; I had oft lifted up my hands in emotional worship to God with tears; I had learned more than most of my peers about Scripture “from a child;” I had, in pretense, "committed" my life to Christ ofttimes since I was four; I had even shared the orthodox American “gospel” with others for years. Notwithstanding, it was in the spring of 2005 as a freshman in a professed Christian university, when the Lord chose to begin a work in me that would conclude in my reconciliation to the God I had never truly known. He started by showing me the reality of the doctrine of Total Depravity, which I had comprehended in my head but not in my heart. I was crushed at this time under an unbearable sense of my own wretchedness for many months. This lead me to the fall of 2005 when, in utter desperation, I broke before the striving of the Lord, begging him in a prayer of unadulterated brokenness, to have mercy upon my pathetic soul and the life I had ruined by taking it into my own sinful hands. From that prayer forward, I sought the Lord with all that in me was, through untold and various miseries thrust upon me - vowing to follow the Lord for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, till death, asking God to lead me into truth no matter the cost. I attempted to devour the Word near six times a day, prayed with others sometimes until late at night, gave up many idolatrous addictions, and attempted to turn from all known sin. In the providence of God, at this time I was led to John Wesley and Charles Spurgeon; these men were to become (I believe, under the Holy Ghost) my fathers in the faith. After reading twelve John Wesley sermons and his testimony of conversion wherein he says his “heart was strangely warmed,” I then begged God for a New Birth, even coming to the point where I couldn't go to sleep at night, thinking I might wake up in hell. Bless the Lord, out of darkness came light - near the fall of 2006 God lit an everlasting flame in my soul that is still burning today - granting unto me His Holy Spirit, saving faith in the blood of His Son, and a singular desire to 'fight a good fight, finish my course, keep the faith' and hear the Lord say unto me, “well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.”

For the cause of righteousness, Ryan Ringnald

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Note: Elder Ryan Ringnald recorded this video testimony of his salvation to share with old friends at his 10-year high school reunion. This video testimony also contains much powerful preaching of the Biblical Gospel, and what it is.