Man Gives Credit to Gideons for
Saving his Life

By Allison Canter

This is the second installment of a two-part series that features the testimony of Elliott Osowitt and the im-pact of Bibles placed by Gideons.

Elliott Osowitt had been through so much. By his own admission, he was living a life of sin. After reading some of a Gideon-placed Bible in a local motel room, Osowitt went to church with his wife.

Osowitt said he was sobbing when the pastor finished. "I went forward at his invitation, actually lifted out of the pew, not knowing why or how, and told him I needed help. He asked me if I was ready to accept Jesus into my life and I said yes. 'Was I doing this for Polly,' he asked. I said no. I was doing this for me, because if I didn't, I was going to die."

The pastor told Osowitt to get down on his knees, but Osowitt said his legs gave out and he fell down on his knees and face. The pastor asked several questions which Osowitt couldn't remember except that he an-swered yes and then felt many hands all over him. "I felt such a presence that I had never felt before," he said. "When the moment passed, I was helped up and sat down on the pew to get myself collected. I realized that almost every person in that church had come down to lay hands on me. That was the fourth sign of Christ's love. But most wonderful was that Polly was one of the many people kneeling next to me and touch-ing me as I sobbed."

Just after that event at church, Osowitt had to travel to San Francisco. "I had promised my mother I would fly out and be with her as she lie dying of leukemia," said Osowitt. "It wasn't until I was on the plane and talking to a Christian man that I learned I had just been 'saved.' My time spent with my mother was shock-ing.

"I learned that even on her deathbed, my mother, who encouraged and pushed me to fulfill the traditions of Judaism as a young man, did not believe in God," he continued. "What a shock. I had to tell her what had occurred that morning in the church. I was afraid to tell her because most Jewish mothers have a strong negative reaction to this kind of news. But Mom was actually happy for me."

Osowitt said his mother knew his life had been difficult and she was happy that he had found peace in life. "But she was not interested in knowing who Jesus was or surrendering herself to him," he said. "I stayed with her for six weeks and, during that time, she got a little better. I spent a lot of that time going to churches and studying with local clergy.

Osowitt shares his testimony with Gideons at their Pastor's Banquets several times a year and at many churches.

Osowitt was ordained as a minister on April 14, 2002, and served as pastor of Phoenix Baptist Church in Lansing for 15 months. In July of 2003, he and others planted a new church in Ashe County called Faith Fel-lowship and Harvest Ministries.

Osowitt said his oldest daughter "came to know the Lord and invited Jesus into her life. Our youngest daughter and I were baptized together on Easter Sunday morning, 1997."

Osowitt says that although God is still doing a work in his family and him, they are now a recovered, recon-ciled and restored family. "God has been so good to us. I submit this testimony to you in the name of Jesus, for his service, giving him the glory and honor," said Osowitt.

Locally, anyone interested in getting involved with Gideons can contact Ralph Davis of Warrensville. He cur-rently serves as the president of the Gideons of North Carolina. His number is (336) 384-3673.

Osowitt said he would like to publicly thank the Gideons for that Bible in that motel room for that night. "If it wasn't for their dedication, generosity and love for Christ, I would be dead today," he said. "My grandchil-dren would only have known me as the grandfather who was not a good man and he killed himself. Now, because of the work of the Gideons, I am their pastor."

Osowitt said he owes a great deal of thanks to his wife, Polly. "Polly and Barbara Rash prayed and prayed and prayed for me for years before I was saved," he said. "I want everyone to know that prayer works. Never, never, never give up on a loved one. Just love them and pray for them no matter what."

Faith Fellowship is located at 513 East Main Street in Jefferson. They offer many activities for kids on Wednesdays beginning at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays beginning at 9:45 a.m. They are also planning to begin a Christian Afterschool Program. Osowitt said that they are hopeful that by next fall, they will have a full day Christian school.

For more information on Faith Fellowship, call (336) 846-3346.