M

y name is Christy and I didn’t grow up in the church.  I had been living only for myself and even though I thought of others, it was only during my convenience.  I rejected God for almost all my life and was heading down the wrong path.  I came to youth group uninterested at times with a hardened heart.  I was closed-off and didn’t know what to expect.  God used the messages, worship, and the encouragement of other believers to help me take that step of faith in believing that Jesus died to save me.  I took that step of faith two years ago after hearing the testimonies shared at the campfire at CBM.  That same night I asked my counselor to accompany me in prayerfully asking Jesus to be Lord and Savior of my life.

Since coming to know Christ, I have seen how undeserving I am to have such a loving and forgiving God.  I still struggle with sin; I fail to love Jesus; I doubt, and there are times when I let my pride, stubbornness and selfishness get the best of me.  But even in my shortcomings, Jesus, who knows all my faults, still went on bearing the punishment I deserve.  He took the cross for me so that I may be saved from the wrath of God and look to the joy that is to come in heaven.  Until then, I want to strive to love Jesus more and more, to put off my old self so that I may strive to live a selfless life in Him. Through Him, I want to love my family, friends and peers with a love that only He can provide.  So I ask for your prayers in my walk, for I still struggle day to day.

I am taking this step of baptism as a public profession to identify myself with Christ, and to be accountable to both God and the church.  To end, I would like to share a few verses that have been helpful in my walk that I hope would be encouraging to you: Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked cut for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”