What was life like before you met Jesus?
I have always known about Jesus from youth groups, summer camps, and church on Sundays. However, before putting my full trust in Jesus, I lived a life that represented the ways of the world, without a firm foundation in Christ. When I controlled my life, it ended in failure time and time again. Always seeking validation through academic success, athletics, and people-pleasing left me exhausted, unfulfilled, and without purpose. I knew about Jesus and what he could do but it seemed like a distant story that did not apply to my life.
How did you meet Jesus?
It was not until this summer when I took Gospel 101 at Veritas, that I began to realize how present God was in my life. I realized that He was not just a distant character in a story, but the savior of my life who sent His one and only son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, to die on the cross for his accusers to put death to our sins. After dwelling on our first memory verse in the class, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23), I became overwhelmed with a sense of urgency to spread the good news and dedicate my life to Him.
After being saved by Jesus, what is your life like now?
Having faith in Jesus has given me peace, joy, and fulfillment that can only be explained by His love and mercy. Because my identity is in Christ, I no longer am a slave to the world. I have the desire to live a life that represents Jesus and to spread His Word to everyone. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).