The Testimony of Pastor Roets
Hello, my name is Joe Roets. I was born in Wichita, Ks. in June of 1955. I was baptized as a baby, although I cannot remember the event. My parents were Catholic and so I too was a Catholic. I grew up somewhat normally by the world’s standards but seemed to be lacking something. We moved four times that I can remember and ended up in Fredonia, Ks. where I graduated from High School. I worked at a couple of different jobs until it looked like I might be drafted into the Vietnam War. It was then that I joined the U.S. Air Force to avoid being drafted planning to make the Air Force my career. Yet I always felt like something was missing in my life. The world offered fulfillment, peace, and satisfaction but it never lasted.
The Air Force sent me to Clark AFB in the Philippines. It seemed as though I would finally find the peace, joy and fulfillment for which I had been looking. After almost a year of “the good life” I still knew that something was missing. I had everything I ever wanted but was still not satisfied. Something was still missing. One day I began to think about where God fit into the scheme of things. I started searching for information about God from some people that I worked with who seemed to be religious. The man I talked to about Christ ended up leading me in a prayer but I did not get saved at that time. I was not ready to repent of all of my sin, only the ones that could have a negative effect upon my career. However I was taught to be responsible for my decisions by my parents so I tried to be the best Christian I could become. I helped to start a church in the Philippines and even served as a deacon. I read my new Bible every day and witnessed to everyone I met. On the surface I looked like a new man but on the inside I was the same old man with a new purpose or direction in life.
My last assignment with the Air Force was at Grand Forks AFB, Grand Forks, ND. I became very active in Bible Baptist Church, (formerly of East Grand Forks, MN) Grand Forks, ND. The church moved to the ND side of the river after the flood of 1997 took their buildings in East Grand Forks. I became very active in my new church. I wore three-piece suits, went on visitation two nights a week, served as director of the church’s nursing home ministry and witnessed to everyone I met. However, at Bible Baptist Church, under the preaching of former Pastor Gordon Silcox, I heard the true gospel of repentance towards God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. It was then that I began to realize that I had made a false profession in the Philippines. After eight months of sitting under the Holy Spirit filled preaching of Pastor Silcox, and many other little things too numerous to mention, I realized that I was lost. On September 7, 1980, after the morning service (in which Pastor Silcox preached a message entitled “Nothing But Leaves”) I repented of my sin, called on the Lord Jesus Christ and was saved!
Since that time the Lord has led me through Northland Baptist Bible Institute (a ministry of BBC, G.F.), given me a wonderful wife and graciously allowed me to serve Him in various capacities in the church. I served in BBC, G.F. as Children’s Church Group Leader, Visitation Director, Nursing Home Chapel Director, and Missions Secretary. In November of 1993 the Lord led my family and I to Wahpeton, ND to begin an Independent, Fundamental, Unaffiliated, New Testament Baptist Church. On November 16, 2001 Bible Baptist Church in Wahpeton, ND organized with twenty members signing the charter. I feel that God has blessed me greatly in allowing me to Pastor a church of people who are serious and diligent about serving the Lord Jesus Christ!
Ruth and I were married on August 8, 1981 and have enjoyed a wonderful marriage all these years. The Lord has blessed my wife and I with three wonderful children. Our Son has been saved and surrendered to preach the gospel. Our two daughters are saved and serving faithfully in the church.
All that has happened in my life and the lives of our family can be summed up in the following phrase.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!!!
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my testimony of God’s wonderful love and care for me and my family. I would also like to ask if you have ever called upon the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Saviour, repenting of your sin and by faith trusting in His shed blood to save you? If not, and you would like to learn more of how you can also be saved and blessed by God, please click on the following link An Important Message