A Life Changed at Summer Camp

It was 1989. I was just 8 years old but I knew I was a bad kid from lying to stealing and just being plain difficult. Just that spring, I had enjoyed Easter eggs and jelly beans in my second grade classroom while watching Peter Rabbit. I liked the fun and games of Easter time, not to mention the Easter rabbit. On Easter Sunday that year, my Sunday School teacher asked that unforgettable question: "Can someone tell me what Easter is about?" I waved my arm frantically in the air; I couldn't wait to answer. She picked me and I blurted out "It's when the Easter bunny goes around and gives people Easter eggs!" The whole class burst out laughing at me. She called on someone else who answered "Easter is when Jesus died." I remember thinking to myself 'Somebody DIED?!?!' I couldn't imagine how such a fun-filled holiday could have something to do with someone dying.

Later that Spring, I got caught stealing again. It was nothing new to my parents to get a call from the Principal's office. Once again, I came home for my punishment. But somehow, my punishment this time was different. I thought I’d get the spanking of my life but this time, my parents had mercy on me. They spared me from punishment that I knew I deserved. Crying by myself in a dark room, I remember feeling so sorry, so remorseful for what I had done. I was so truly repentant. I actually cried out to God and told Him how sorry I was and that I would never do it again. At that moment, I felt the presence of God surround me. I knew God was real.

Summer came and off we went for a week of summer camp. It was a Christian camp called River Valley Ranch in Maryland. We were so excited to be going to camp but unlike the other kids, our parents didn't arrange for all the activities that we could have participated in. So while all the other kids were out for a hay ride, I was in the cabin stealing again from my cabin mates. Everyone returned and were in dismay as one by one little girls realized they were missing things. Guilt overtook me. I even had a stolen bean bag in my hand. I remember dropping it along the wall near the door and slipping out. Some girls saw me but no one put the blame on me.

On the Thursday of camp, we gathered in the chapel like we had each night. A puppet show commenced and the performers proceeded to share the way of salvation. They explained that Jesus died for every bad thing we had ever done. I thought to myself 'I've done some bad things.' They explained that I could accept Jesus into my heart and that He would forgive me. So while every head was bowed and every eye closed, I got up to see a counselor who led me to Christ. Almost instantly the story of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis that we had watched over and over again as kids lighted my imagination and I understood! I went to my cabin and cried myself to sleep. I woke up the next day to a new life in Christ.

Taiwo "tia"
(accepted Christ 1989)

No One Else But Him

Growing up, I was raised by strict Catholic parents. I was forced to attend classes and went through the whole process of Confirmation. But even after all that, Jesus still didn't seem real to me. In fact, I really only went to those classes to make my parents happy. It was never my choice. I lived my life strictly to please others. I felt I lived a pretty good life. I succeeded in all I pursued, I had lots of friends, I was popular, I was happy.

But in 1998, the end of my junior year of high school, my life seemed to get complicated. I started dating my future husband, Jason, who was a born-again believer type of Christian. My parents would warn me about him and make comments like, "Oh, he's only going to try to convert you". So of course, I did everything I possibly could to prevent that to make them happy.

Jason first shared with me the story of Nicodemus, the Pharisee and how Jesus told him, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3) Jason asked me if I believed in Heaven and Hell and if I knew where I'd go after I died. At that point, I stopped him and ended the conversation right away. I was a bit annoyed that he even asked. Who wants to think about death? I thought, 'Here he goes trying to convert me just like my parents said.'

As we continued to date, Jason never gave up on me and my salvation. When he invited me to his church, I would say to him, "If you go to my church first, then I'll go to yours." So one day he did. When I finally attended my first service at his church, I felt nervous, anxious, worried, guilty, and even a little excited. I didn't know what to expect. But God knew. His presence was everywhere, during the praise and worship, the message, and even the people. I had never experienced God that way before. He was starting to change my heart.

I didn't accept Jesus right away, but through curiosity, I started to seek Him more on my own. Growing up, I was never encouraged to read the Bible, but at Jason's church, I was told that I needed to read it if I wanted to know more about Jesus. So I secretly started reading the Bible and continued to attend Jason's church.

In October 1999, I finally accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I didn't care what my parents thought anymore. I did it for myself. I was convinced that life without Jesus was no life at all. I wanted to please no one else but Him. I realized that God really does love me just for me; that no matter how good we are, or how popular we are, or how pretty we are, or how proud our parents are of us, we ALL still fall short of the Glory of God, because of sin. God definitely made a way for me to want to know Him despite my stubbornness.

Carmela
(accepted Christ 1999)

A Search For Peace

I was raised Catholic and went to church every Sunday. At some point, we stopped going every Sunday and only went during Christmas Eve and Easter. By the time I was in my late twenties, I stopped going to church and had little interest in “my religion.” I then made some bad choices in my life (mainly with relationships), and thought that this is what I deserved. After ending the worst relationship of my life, I decided to leave Dallas, TX (which is where I had lived the past 10 years), and decided to start a new life in Arizona. I moved to Phoenix in 1999 where my sister resided.

I wanted “peace” in my life and wanted to “find myself.” I was in desperate need of wanting some kind of spirituality. I visited Buddhist temples, Japanese Healing Homes, Unity Church, and other mediation places. I was never satisfied and jealous of my sister who was finding peace at most of these places. We would often go to these places together, and for some reason, people would welcome and accept her instead of me (now I know that I was being protected or maybe these people sensed that I was not satisfied with their beliefs). At times, I even experienced migraines after meditations. To me, this was not “peace.”

During my search, I was working at the Make A Wish Foundation and met a co-worker who seemed to always be at peace with his life. He told me he was Christian, but I did not fully know what that meant. I had known Christians in the past, and unfortunately, they were always judgmental of others. But, this guy laid it all out for me. He answered all my questions and even gave me my first Bible.

I prayed for God to reveal himself to me. It was a long battle because I refused to have someone else be in control of my life. I also started to have feelings for the person who was witnessing to me, BUT, I knew he was already a Christian, and I wasn’t. I prayed to God all the time and asked him “why did you bring this person in my life”? He was so different from others that I had dated in the past. I now know that God meant to bring us together, not only to have us be united as one (in marriage) but also to have him witness to me! 

I came to Christ in April of 2001. I feel closer to God than ever and desire to have Jesus be my main focus in life. I want to continue an intimate relationship with Him and continue to grow. I thank God for Johnny who I not only fell in love with, but who told me truth. God protected me during my “search” and for that I am extremely grateful!

Christina 
(accepted Christ in 2001)

What Are You Waiting For?

It's kind of weird how I came about accepting Christ. So here's my completely honest story. When Brandon (my husband) and I started dating, he didn't tell me he was a born again Christian. I actually found out when I was snooping around his email. I found an email from Brandon's mom telling him how disappointed she was in him that he would go back to a Catholic Church after learning the Truth and that if he really cared for me why would he not witness to me and be concerned about my salvation. That's when i found out he was a born again Christian.

In winter of 1998, Brandon invited me to spend a few weeks in California with him to meet his family. They witnessed to me and as ashamed as I am to admit it, I "agreed" with them because 1) i wanted to be liked by them and 2) i also wanted them to stop "lecturing" me about the Bible. So for a while i was this "fake" believer. I would go to Church with his family but not whole-heartedly. After I had my first son, I really started to worry about his salvation and what would happen to me if i died. I slowly went from worrying about my salvation, wondering whether or not i was really even saved to really accepting Jesus as my savior. But then, even then, I would be embarrassed to admit it to my family because they were hard core Catholics.

Finally in February 2006, while we were visiting in CA, one of the services really hit home with me. It was about fully and truly trusting God and His Word and being obedient to Him. Pastor Pollack said, "Those who call themselves believers and who are not ashamed, but have not been baptized, what are you waiting for?" That evening, I was baptized. I publicly and outwardly acknowledged my acceptance of Christ as my savior. So there you have it. :)

Jeremie
(accepted Christ in 2006)

You're Enough

Hi, I'm Michelle. Basically, all my life I've been a pretty good person. A goody-two-shoes is what some classmates would say. I get good grades, I'm in a lot of activities--the tennis team, the National Honor society, the Kitty Air Hawk Honor Society, the Science & Technology program, and the JROTC drill team. Some people are really impressed with my involvement and grades. But not my parents. One time I got straight A's and my mom said "That's nice. Next time, just do better." I said, "Mom, I got straight A's! You can't do better!"

I like being active and all but when I stop and think about it, I'm active in school because when I go home at night, there's no one there. My parents are both working and my sister's out with her friends. I grew up going to church every Sunday with my family but to me, going to church was stressful because I could never find anything nice to wear. I mean I know NOW that church is about learning about Jesus but back then, I just didn't get it. The story of Jesus just seemed like one of those fairy tales, like the tooth fairy or Santa Claus. Something to give you hope as a child only to disappoint you as you grew older. As the years went by, my dad stopped going to church then my mom did so she could work and then my sister did. And then, going to church went from being stressful to lonely. So one day at church, I said to God "This whole story about Jesus dying for me sounds very sweet but it doesn't mean anything to me. Please make it mean something and I'll come back." That was my last day there.

Three months later, my friend started talking to me about his church and invited me to go. I was curious so I went. People were lifting their hands up and singing songs as if they were serenading the sky. The story of Jesus meant something to them and I wanted that, whatever it was that they had. When the pastor said that all our works are like filthy rags--even our best accomplishments don't mean much, I started crying. Not because all my hard work meant nothing but because I was relieved. I had been tired of trying, trying to be a good daughter, a good sister, a good student. It was a relief that Jesus wanted to take on my burdens because even at 16, my heart felt so heavy. And I heard a voice in my head saying "You're enough, Michelle. You're enough."

I mean I still do my best but now, I don't do it just to make everyone else happy. I do it to make the Lord happy and whether I'm getting straight A's or failing, I know God sees that I'm doing my best!

Michelle
(accepted Christ in 1996)