Dear friends and followers, today marks a beautiful, special occasion—my 75th birthday! As I celebrate 75 years of life, my heart is full of gratitude. I have faced difficult years, but the good years have outweighed the bad. This birthday testimony proclaims one enduring truth: through it all, God has stayed with me.
When I say God has stayed with me through it all, I mean He has made His presence known throughout my life. I have sensed Him since childhood. I remember much of my journey; time has blurred some moments, and I choose to leave some memories behind. Yet God has remained faithful in every chapter.
Today, I have so much to be thankful for—and I would like to share a little of that journey with you.
God’s Faithfulness Through Life
My story of survival began early. As an infant, I survived Bell’s palsy, which left the left side of my face drooping and my mouth twisted.
Over the years, I have also witnessed many historic eras and profound changes in our country.
A Birthday Testimony of Faith Through Difficult Times
I experienced the Jim Crow era firsthand. That was a time when I was not even allowed to drink from a water fountain marked “Whites Only.” Those experiences were painful, but by God’s grace, I have learned to forgive. Through it all, God has been with me.
I was in junior high school during the Cold War, when tension between the United States and the Soviet Union touched everyday life.
The Civil Rights Movement was more than a chapter in a history book to me; it was part of my lived experience. I remember when city buses had separate sections marked “White” and “Colored.” Even in those difficult days, through it all, God was with me.
How God Carried Me Through Life’s Hardest Seasons
God also carried me through challenges I once wondered whether I would survive:
- A thirteen-year addiction to crack cocaine
- A traumatic divorce
- My youngest son’s death
- Hurricane Katrina, when my hometown of New Orleans was inundated; I did not evacuate, yet I survived
- Three heart attacks, each three years apart
Encouragement for Your Journey
I could share many more stories of what God has brought me through. But, dear friends, I want to leave you with this encouragement:
Whatever season you are facing, you do not have to face it alone. Your story may include pain, setbacks, or moments when hope feels far away, but those moments do not have to be the end of your story. Keep trusting, keep moving forward, and keep looking for God’s presence along the way. On my 75th birthday, my testimony is still the same: through it all, God has been with me—and I believe He will be with you, too.
Thank you for celebrating this milestone with me. I would love to hear what you are thankful for or how God has carried you through a difficult season. Be encouraged, my friends—and may God bless you.
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Happy birthday, Pastor Dunbar. You have a very powerful testimony of God’s sustaining grace. He has kept you throughout those difficult times and now at 75 years you are still strong and in your right mind. That is more than enough reasons to give God thanks. Thank you God! Lord, I pray that you will continue to strengthen my brother. Continue to pour out revelations in His heart to minister to his heart and to others. Lord, I pray that you will continue to surround him with your love, In Jesus name, Amen.
Thank you for the thoughtful birthday wishes and heartfelt prayer, Beverly. Your words truly mean a great deal to me. I do want to clarify, though, that I am not a pastor—just a man who is deeply grateful for all that the Lord has done for me.
Through every season of my life, including the difficult times, God has sustained me, shown me mercy, and consistently surrounded me with His faithful love. Because I have experienced His goodness so personally, I feel compelled to share the good news of the gospel with every ear that is willing to listen.
My desire is simply to encourage others, point them toward Christ, and testify that His grace is real, His love is unfailing, and His faithfulness endures through every circumstance.
Thank you again for remembering me, celebrating this milestone with me, and lifting me up in prayer. May the Lord continue to bless you richly.
Happy 75th Birthday Brother … What a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness through so many difficult seasons. I know life can bring more than we feel we can handle, and I’m thankful that God doesn’t abandon us in our struggles.
May He continue to Bless you and give you many more years to share your testimony and give Him the Glory. 🙏
Thank you, Willie. Your warm encouraging reply means a lot.to me. I receive the longevity.
Thank you, my brother, for your heartfelt birthday wishes and encouraging words. You are right—life can sometimes bring burdens that feel greater than we can bear, but God has remained faithful through every trial.
He has never abandoned me, and His grace has carried me through seasons when I did not know how I would make it. At 75, I am deeply grateful for every lesson, every blessing, and every opportunity to testify of His goodness.
I pray that the years ahead will allow me to continue sharing the gospel, encouraging others, and giving God all the glory. May the Lord richly bless you for remembering me and celebrating this milestone with me.
You are very welcome… I hope you had a wonderful special day…