Our church is in the midst of planning our first overseas missions trip to Costa Rica. In preparation, each person going must write their testimony of how they came to know Jesus as their personal Savior. So I thought, why not write it on my blog for all the world to see? So here it goes.....
From the time I was a very small child, I attended church. My family was faithful and we were at church every time the doors were open. Around the age of 8 (I think), after my parents put me to bed one night, I remember telling my mom that I didn't want to die and not go to heaven. I remember her calling my dad into the room and I vaguely remember praying with them. Sometime right after that night, I was baptized and became a member of the church.
As I grew, our family continued to faithfully attend church but I really don't remember being taught that Christianity it is about a daily relationship. It was probably being taught but I didn't get it. I really believed that you got saved and that's it. You're safe, done deal. I lived my life, grew to be a teenager with no real change in my life at all. I wasn't a bad kid but I wasn't living a life for the Lord.
Around my second year in college, (I was attending a jr. college and still living at home)our church called a new pastor, Donald Pope. He was and still is best friends with Johnny Hunt. Pastor Donald's preaching was nothing like I had ever heard before. He talked about things like spiritual gifts, quiet times and living every day for Jesus. I began to question, was I really saved? Did I really surrender my life or did I just get a "fire insurance" policy? I began trying to prove that I was saved. I made a public rededication, I went to college Bible studies and I was even a part of our church's Christian Witness training program. During one of our CWT classes, I remember Bro. Donald stopping the class and saying, "I think we need to stop and pray because there may be some in here who don't know the Lord." I knew at that very instant, IT WAS ME. I prayed the sinner's prayer and surrendered my life to Christ. Before Bro. Donald told us to open our eyes, he challenged us to be bold and stand to show our decision. "Wait!", I thought. My mom is sitting right next to me, my dad is across from me. My sister is here, all my friends, church members I've known my whole life! If I stand, they'll know I've been faking it for so long! But in that moment, I said to myself, "It doesn't matter." At the end of the prayer, I boldly stood and opened my eyes. I was crying when I made eye contact with my pastor and then I turned and standing with me was my precious sister!
From the time I was a very small child, I attended church. My family was faithful and we were at church every time the doors were open. Around the age of 8 (I think), after my parents put me to bed one night, I remember telling my mom that I didn't want to die and not go to heaven. I remember her calling my dad into the room and I vaguely remember praying with them. Sometime right after that night, I was baptized and became a member of the church.
As I grew, our family continued to faithfully attend church but I really don't remember being taught that Christianity it is about a daily relationship. It was probably being taught but I didn't get it. I really believed that you got saved and that's it. You're safe, done deal. I lived my life, grew to be a teenager with no real change in my life at all. I wasn't a bad kid but I wasn't living a life for the Lord.
Around my second year in college, (I was attending a jr. college and still living at home)our church called a new pastor, Donald Pope. He was and still is best friends with Johnny Hunt. Pastor Donald's preaching was nothing like I had ever heard before. He talked about things like spiritual gifts, quiet times and living every day for Jesus. I began to question, was I really saved? Did I really surrender my life or did I just get a "fire insurance" policy? I began trying to prove that I was saved. I made a public rededication, I went to college Bible studies and I was even a part of our church's Christian Witness training program. During one of our CWT classes, I remember Bro. Donald stopping the class and saying, "I think we need to stop and pray because there may be some in here who don't know the Lord." I knew at that very instant, IT WAS ME. I prayed the sinner's prayer and surrendered my life to Christ. Before Bro. Donald told us to open our eyes, he challenged us to be bold and stand to show our decision. "Wait!", I thought. My mom is sitting right next to me, my dad is across from me. My sister is here, all my friends, church members I've known my whole life! If I stand, they'll know I've been faking it for so long! But in that moment, I said to myself, "It doesn't matter." At the end of the prayer, I boldly stood and opened my eyes. I was crying when I made eye contact with my pastor and then I turned and standing with me was my precious sister!
Of course this only part of my testimony. A testimony, by definition, is an open acknowledgement; a public expression of religious experience. And in every area, every season of my life, I can give testimony to how God has worked for me and through me. Maybe someday, I will share more but not today.
If you have never meet my friend Jesus and would like to know more, please go here. I am going moderate the comments for this post, so if you want to contact me privately, you can do so!
4 thoughts from Y*O*U:
Great post! We LOVE Johnny Hunt! Used to love it when he came to preach at Bellevue in Mphs!
Girl, thanks for sharing. I grew up in a Christian home as well, but never knew the joy of a daily personal relationship with HIM until much later in life. God is so good. You are going to be blessed by serving on the mission field.
We love Johnny Hunt too! Great post and putting it down in writing just makes you feel good!
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