Baptism | Pam Hunter

Baptism | Pam Hunter

May 1, 2022 |


What was life like before you met Jesus?

I believe Jesus has always been right there waiting for me. As a young girl I remember thinking about God and knowing that he was real, so I have always believed in God. But even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). I was baptized as an infant, raised in, and confirmed in the Catholic Church. My parents were Catholic because their parents were Catholic. I did what they asked of me related to church, for the most part. I went to Sunday school, catechism classes, and confirmation classes but I didn't believe the Catholic Church was where God was. I didn't believe he was there because all I felt when going to church was guilt, shame, fear, and embarrassment. When I chose my confirmation name no one told me I couldn't use it because it was inappropriate, no one told me that it was the worst name I could pick for a holy name to be confirmed with. Not my parents, not the nuns, not the leaders of the church, not even my friends who went to Catholic school told me who Jezebel was, I just picked it because it was a name in a song I liked at the time. I guess my parents and the church and my friends thought I was just being rebellious because that’s what I was. I was a rebellious teen. At 13 I started to pursue drinking, partying, and boys, and this continued throughout my high school and college years and into my young adult years as a married woman. I knew I was a bad person, I knew I was sinning and I knew I was lost. I never remember thinking to myself, oh it's OK, I'm not hurting anyone. I remember thinking, I was hurting so many people, including myself and God, but I continued. I remember thinking God could never forgive me because I was too far gone, it was too late. I didn't know the Bible then but if I could have quoted a verse that explained my life back then it would be Romans 1:28 which says "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”

How did you meet Jesus?

I knew I was a sinner but I just didn't know how to repent and turn to God. Now I know that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and that I am no different than any other sinner. But he chose me and he waited and he was patient and he stood right there beside me the whole time. My conversion story wasn't the, "my life changed in an instant”, story. It was a long process of Jesus opening my eyes to who he is and how much I needed him. Oddly enough, one of the things he used to reach me, was a book called Left Behind that I bought for 25 cents at a garage sale. I read this book and was sucked into the world of end times prophecy. I didn't know the revelation story and all the prophecies told by the prophets throughout the Bible. I still hadn't read the Bible, but I read all 12 books of the Left Behind series within the next six months. God was working in my heart. We, my husband Kraig and I, also started going to a Methodist church. We wanted to raise our children in the church so we started going but I believe it was God who guided us there. I wanted a place to help teach my kids about God and it wasn't going to be the Catholic Church. Our pastor, Paul, was a godly man and he spoke of Jesus in a different way than I had ever heard in the Catholic Church. He preached the gospel. I didn't really understand it but I knew that's what I needed. One Sunday, he talked about writing our sins on stones and just throwing them into a field, it was like giving them up because Jesus takes away our sins if we are willing to give them to him. I remember doing this one day. I went for a walk on our country road. So many sins, I threw out into the field, but where was Jesus to take them from me? I still wasn't getting it

After six years of marriage and two children, I was at a very low point in my life. I was lonely, angry, bitter, hateful, and full of wrath. I couldn't live this way anymore. I finally gave my life to Jesus, surrendering to him one morning in the shower as I cried out in distress to him. I didn't know how to do it or what to say but I knew I was finally surrendering everything I was to him. What I also knew was that I needed Jesus and I was saved by his blood, his death on the cross, and he wanted me to live for Him. I did it, finally. Or should I say, He did it, finally!

After being saved by Jesus, what is your life like now?

I can't say my life has been a perfect godly walk because it hasn't. So many years of living in sin, pain, guilt, shame, resentment, hurt, anger and bitterness are hard to come out of, but I can say for sure that Jesus has saved me and changed my life. I do believe if I hadn't come to Him I would be divorced, addicted, in prison, or even dead. Now, I am also almost 50 years old, I was about 30 years old when Jesus saved me. So far this 20-year journey has brought me to many places of growth and repentance. God brought me and my family to Mount Vernon, Iowa where I was surrounded by other Christians who actually read the Bible and study it. We were blessed to be put in this community. God brought us through many struggles within our marriage and saved us from divorce. God is helping us raise our three children and I am learning to trust him with my kids. God continually shows me that I need to trust in him with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding and in all my ways acknowledge him and he will make my path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). He has shown me that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through him (John 14:6). He is continually reminding me, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans‬ ‭12:2‬. I need Him constantly in worship, prayer, in His word and in fellowship with other believers. I know what pleases Him, to love Him and to love others. I want to follow His commands.

I’ve come a long way but have a long way to go. I know that I love God and want to please Him every day and glorify His name. I want to live out Romans 1:16 which says “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the power of God for salvation to those who believe.” God saved me through His son Jesus and I want to finally publicly proclaim His name, Jesus Christ, as my Lord and Savior. I am going into the waters of baptism knowing that it doesn’t save me but it represents what Jesus did to save me: He died, was buried and God our father raised Him from the dead. I have turned to God and I will live for Him, now and forever. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I live now in the flesh I live by faith in Jesus who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). Thank you Jesus!