When I was eight years old my family was going through a difficult time and I became overly fearful. I had horrible nightmares about Satan and being stuck in hell and had an overactive imagination once the lights went out. I was living in fear! During my third grade year however, a friend of my younger brother’s invited us to go to church. Soon after, Susie and her husband would faithfully stop at our house each Sunday. This was an exciting time! I was thrilled every Sunday while we waited to be picked up.
Susie was my Sunday school teacher that year and taught me the first verse I would remember forever, Acts 16:31,” Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” I asked Jesus into my heart during Sunday school one morning when I was eight years old.
I did not have an example at home to follow so when Susie and her husband moved away due to a job transfer I did not get to go to church anymore except for on the occasional Easter and Christmas. I read my Bible and prayed on my own but when I got into middle school I started to stray away from God and eventually did things that I regretted. When I was 16 I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ and really started to take ownership of my faith. That night I memorized what has become one of my life verses, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation the old has gone and the new has come.” It wasn’t long after that that God allowed me to go on a mission trip and I started to see God at work in all parts of my life.
God changed my life in a mighty way. My mom started going to church with me and I could see God working on her heart. Eventually she rededicated her life to Jesus and was baptized. As I grew spiritually I was able to start teaching kids about Jesus at church and later on I was able to lead Bible studies within my family. He has given me a desire to read the Bible and talk to him through prayer. He has shown me his love and faithfulness over and over again. He has taught me to love people in a way I couldn’t have without his help.
God continues to provide opportunities for me to be in fellowship with other believers and to serve. I always enjoy attending Bible studies, helping out with Vacation Bible School, helping with the special needs ministry, Awana, teaching Sunday school, and volunteering with the middle schoolers. I am so grateful to have these opportunities to serve the almighty God and creator. I praise you Lord for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am so thankful that “God has created me on purpose for a special purpose” and can use me in spite of my mess.