| I always thought that being good and attending church was the way to ensure I would go to heaven. A friend shared with me that it was a relationship with Jesus that would enable me to go to heaven, not my own good works. I began studying the Bible, praying and spending time with other believers. I was welcomed into a nuturing and loving family of God. I made a decision to trust in Jesus, who died for my sins. Good works are now a natural outpouring in my life, as I put God first and seek to please Him in all that I do. --Karen B.
As a boy, I was fortunate to have an older brother who became a Christian and, at age 14, believed God was calling him to preach the gospel. He was a great example of living a life for Christ. He still is. I came to realize that Christ desired a personal relationship with me just as He had with my brother. As I excitedly embarked on a relationship with Christ, I began to understand that my life's purpose was not about me. We were made by God and for God. Life only makes sense when you understand that. --Royce W.
For years life revolved around me, what I could do, what I could build, what I could be, what I could have. I had everything that life could offer and still there was something missing. It wasn’t until a friend asked me if knew where I would spend eternity that things began to change. I had been a member of the church since childhood. I believed who Jesus was, but had never really trusted him with my life, present or future! As I began to trust him he has proved himself faithful every step of the way. --Larry M.
As a preacher’s kid, specific behaviors and attending church were always expected. Although I asked Jesus into my heart at a young age, I didn’t have a relationship with Him. After rebelling against expectations, guilt and emptiness followed me for not being a “good Christian”. After experiencing praise and worship for the first time as an adult, God began to open my heart to a real relationship with Him and He changed my life forever. He has shown me love, grace and forgiveness that I want to share with others. --Debbie S.
My life was plagued by shame - shame of a dysfunctional family, unrealized dreams, bitterness, and wrong choices. I thought that I didn't deserve to be loved, yet I desperately wanted love anyway. I met God and He took that shame away. I discovered that Jesus died to take my shame away and replace it with honor. Today, God continues to turn my focus to Him and Him alone. No longer is the shame the center of my life. Each day, God loves me unconditionally, and I get the opportunity to love Him back. --Sheryl T.
Rebellious is how I would describe my life before I came to know Christ. My family and I moved around a lot and therefore I was always the "new girl" doing whatever it took to fit in. Through a series of difficult circumstances at a pivotal time in my life I was forced to examine who I really was. I didn't like it. God began to work on me through His Word and through significant people in my life. I realized that if I believed in who He was and what He had done for me I would become a new creation. I am proud to say that I chose to believe and my life has been forever changed! --Lauren T.
My life before Christ was all about 'me'. I tried telling God what I needed and what direction my life should take. I was sure I knew best. All along there was an empty feeling inside. My plan wasn't working. I finally realized I needed the One who created me - the One who knows me better than I know myself - to guide me. My life radically changed when I asked Christ to be the leader of my life -the Lord of my life. Today there is nothing in this world that compares to my relationship with Christ. I am complete. --Debbie W.
I felt I could do nothing to earn forgiveness for my sins. I felt unworthy, ashamed and constantly worried that my world would fall apart if others found out about my sins. Through the teachings of my pastor and Bible Study Teacher on Hebrews, I discovered that God loves me so much that he sent his son as complete payment for my sins. I repented and accepted Jesus as my savior. I no longer worry over things I cannot control, I love life and all the people God has surrounded me with and I thank him constantly for opening my eyes. --Dennis S.
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I grew up going to church all my life. As a child I went through years of thinking that being a Christian was about tradition and symbolism and not about having a relationship with Christ. When I was 16 years old I realized that I was a sinner and that I needed Christ to save me and that relationship with Him would change my life. That day a man walked me through the Bible that showed me that I needed to ask for forgiveness for my sin, and that I wanted Christ to be the center of my life. --Josh C.
Before learning about Christ I was selfish. I was concerned with always having fun and obtaining career aspirations. Helping others and meeting their needs was not in my vocabulary. God brought acquitanences and my future wife into my life and lead me to a church. I learned that God had a plan for me and that everything happens for a reason. I choose to believe in Christ and and have a personal relationship with him. My desire now is use my career to obtain resources so I can help others and not just focus on myself. --Tom V.
The loss of my daddy when I was seven sent my family spinning out of control. No matter how hard I tried, I could not fix what was wrong in our lives. So I tried desperately to make all that was wrong in my life right. Being right became my goal. It didn’t take me long to realize that my best shot at “right” was, without God, terribly wrong. Meeting Jesus, I found that He took all that was left of me and made me right before Him. Telling others is now more than my right; it’s my privilege. -- Nancy S.
I like maps. I always have. There’s something about being able to plan my life, which gives me security and joy. But then I realized that my map for my life had many blank spaces, that things moved, and it wasn’t very reliable. I wondered if God had a better map. A friend explained that He did, and it was the Bible. While reading the Bible, I realized that in order to follow God’s map, I needed to trust Jesus, and live according to his plans. Since trusting Jesus, I now have genuine security and joy knowing Him personally. --Dan T.
My life was completely self-absorbed. My desires were for this world and all it offers. Money, success, and popularity ruled my decisions. My life had become out of control through drug and alcohol abuse but most of all I was addicted to pleasing myself and others instead of God. When I turned to God he was waiting for me. He never left me, in fact, he was chasing after me. Jesus set me free not only from substance abuse, but from myself. I started to renew my mind by flushing out all that I knew and replacing it with the truth in God's Word. I now deny my own desires by serving others whenever I can. This helps me to grow by giving back what God gave me through his Son. --Frank B.
My life was about being the best before I met Christ. I was convinced I could only be loved if I was perfect, a winner. When I first encountered Jesus I realized I did not need to be perfect for him to love me. He loved me with ALL my faults and shortcomings! He offered me love apart from performance; he offered freedom! All I had to do was claim that freedom. Everyday I must still remind myself of the freedom Christ has given me and his unconditional love. He just loves me for me, no perfection necessary! --Lisa E.
When I was younger I was very selfish and thought the world revolved around me. At eight years old God shook up my life and showed me how wrong I was. He used people like my parents and Grandfather to demonstrate what a true believer acts like. Up until that point I thought being a Christian was just a ticket to heaven. Still eight years old, I asked Jesus to be Lord of my life and teach me to live unselfishly for Him without expectations of rewards. Now my joy is found in him rather than in people or things. I'm no longer a slave to sin, but to righteousness. He is all I need! --Stephanie T.
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