Testimony given by Tim Bowser
Background + appeal for testimony sharing

"Daddy" Shaffer Memorial Hall

Dormitory on second floor.
Dining hall, kitchen, snack bar, and storage areas on ground floor.

Friends, those in their senior years will remember a genuine spiritual "spark plug" around Cherry Run Camp a few decades ago. He was known as "Daddy" Shaffer -- an appropriate title since he was indeed a spiritual father and mentor to a lot of people -- it was always a blessing just to be in his presence, as he challenged all within hearing to walk a walk of holiness by the power of the Holy Spirit! One of his many involvements was the "Ring Service" -- people formed a ring some time before the regular service at camp began each evening and shared what God was doing in their lives -- a sort of circular version of the old time class meetings, and "Daddy" Shaffer was a true "exhorter" in these ring services. They were held at about the spot from where the picture was taken of the building that now bears his name. His faithful wife also made her significant contribution to the ongoing ministry of Cherry Run Camp.

So what we are looking for as we build this area are testimonies from those who have experienced God's grace in special ways while attending Cherry Run Camp Meeting. We are upgrading the old Cherry Run "Ring Service" so that people from all over the world can be exposed to the miraculous working of God's grace in the lives of persons from Cherry Run Camp. There are many, many persons over the years that have been touched by the power of the Holy Spirit and their lives were never the same after that. Are you willing to share your testimony and have it placed in this area? It doesn't have to be long -- just a paragraph or two. You don't have to give your full name if you choose not to -- or first name and initial of your last name, or whatever you want to do on that. Possibilities are these:

• testimony in receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and your life was forever changed because of that decision to repent of sin and follow Him

• testimony in making a total surrender of your life to Jesus Christ as Lord of all of your life and trusting Him to baptize and empower you with His Holy Spirit to live a life in pursuit of holiness

• testimony from those who felt the call of God to the ministry or to mission service while attending Cherry Run Camp

• testimony from those who may have experienced healing in various ways -- spiritual, emotional, or physical

• testimony from those who received the benefits of God's sufficient grace with problems over which they were struggling -- details are not necessary in this

• testimony from those who have been long term attenders and supporters of Cherry Run Camp -- there are those who have attended for decades -- we would like to hear from you

• Please send your testimony either by Email to cdharriger@hotmail.com or by snail mail to:
  Clayton D. Harriger
  Box 32
  Belsano PA 15922
  

Timothy E. Bowser ---

When I was two years old I was in the Clarion Hospital with pneumonia. One day the nurse came in and gave me medicine, as she shot it down my throat it blocked off my wind pipe and I went into immediate respiratory arrest. I was then rushed to DuBois Hospital, and put on a respirator. On my way to DuBois I was revived and brought back to life. I was dead long enough to have brain damage and be mentally challenged.

My mother gave her heart to the Lord on the way to the hospital.

One day when my mom was holding my hand, while I was still in the respirator, I pulled the breathing tube out of my throat and put my arms around her neck and I said, "I want to go home now, Mommy." The doctors and nurses couldn't believe it I had no physical or mental problems that they could see.

While we were driving down the road I looked out the windshield and saw the sun beams coming down from the sky, and I told my dad that those were the stairways to Heaven. I also my parents how I was on the stairs to Heaven surrounded by angels and saints. Also I saw Jesus walk on the water, when I told my dad this he knew that God had saved my life and he too gave his life to the Lord. You see I never heard that story of Jesus on the water, really the only time I ever heard His name was when my dad used it in vain.

But I vividly remember seeing Jesus beside me holding my hand while I was in the hospital, telling me everything was going to be allright.

Later in my life my family and I got involved with Cherry Run Camp, and how it has changed our lives. When I was 12 years old I gave my life to the Lord and rededicated my life back to God when I was 16. I got my call to be a pastor at Cherry Run, also when I was 16. And when I was 18 I was sanctified. Oh how special is our God and this little camp called Cherry Run.

I am now 21 and still following God's call to be a pastor in the United Methodist Church. I still have no mental or physical problems, just asthma and some allergies, but nothing like the doctors thought would be wrong with me when I was two years old. It was only by the grace of God that He saved my life to save the souls of my parents and mine as well. May God Bless you richly.

In Him,
Timothy E. Bowser

Thanks for sharing!