During a church service held in August of 2022, Mrs. McClure gave her personal testimony before singing a message in song. Mrs. McClure is the wife of Dr. Michael McClure, Senior Pastor of West Park Baptist Church in Delray Beach, Florida. The song, Redemption Draweth Nigh, is a long-time favorite of Mrs. McClure’s.

Personal Testimony of Mrs. Cathy McClure

Pastor asked me to sing this song. I usually don’t give a testimony before singing, but when he asked me to sing this song it put me on a nostalgia path. I guess I am obeying a prompt. Chris said to go ahead and invite people to the meeting. It reminded me that in 1977 when I was 18, you can do the math. I wasn’t living at home at the time. My mom asked me to come to a youth rally and a revival service as they used to call them back then. So, I came because my mom asked.

My grandma and grandpa had been praying for me for a long time. Some of you may think that I grew up in the church and I didn’t. So, grandmas and grandpas never stopped praying for your grandkids. They never gave up.

But in 1977, I went to the meeting and heard Dr. Estus Pirkle preaching, Dr. Eddie Champion, at Winston Drive Baptist Church, if you’re listening. He preached and I did not ask the Lord to save me then because I’m a person that has a lot of questions. So, I went and headed home. I called him up after that night asking do you this, do you that, all kinds of things, all kinds of questions. He was very patient, and God was very patient and long-suffering.

I am so thankful because when I totally understood, I could not deny the obviousness of God’s love and Jesus’ love for me. And so I accepted His gift of salvation. I have never looked back. It’s been really awesome.

Redemption Draweth Nigh is one of the first songs that I heard after I became a Christian and is one of the first songs I had the privilege of singing in the choir. And with all that introduction, Redemption Draweth Nigh.