People talk about "culture shock" when referring to the experience an individual has when he or she moves from country to country or to different regions in the same country. But what about converting from one religion to lead followers of another religion?

Such is the testimony of the Rev. Elliott Osowitt, who will share his story during a four-day revival at Crestview Baptist Church, situated at 3600 Columbia Road, from Sept. 21-24.

Osowitt, a Baptist pastor of the Faith Fellowship and Harvest Ministries in West Jefferson, N.C., grew up Jewish in Los Angeles. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior when on the brink of committing suicide on Christmas Eve 1996. Osowitt says he became a Christian when, in the midst of holding a gun to end his life, he read the gospel of John in a hotel-room Bible.

Osowitt said prior to his conversion, he failed his wife by spending most of his time at work and being unfaithful to her. He said he instilled fear, rather than love, in his two daughters because that was all he had experienced from his father.

A former physician's assistant, Osowitt has been married for more than 30 years to his wife Polly, who grew up as a Christian in Ashe County, N.C. In his printed testimony, Osowitt talks about accepting Jesus Christ after growing up in a Jewish home, where he had "never been told that God loved him." Osowitt's journey continued with God's call to ministry, attending Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in Hendersonville, N.C.

Osowitt will speak at 11 a.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 21-24. Special music will be featured during the services, beginning with Cindy McKeowen on Sunday.

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