What was life like before you met Jesus?
Before I met Jesus, I searched for belonging in many things, including people, activities, and groups. I tried to gain acceptance, but it never was enough, and I drifted from thing to thing, hoping to find the "perfect" place for me.
How did you meet Jesus?
I accepted Jesus into my life at a young age and attended Stonebridge church with my family for my whole life. Even though I was a Christian, I never really entirely gave my life to him, and for many years, I went through the motions, not understanding why. It wasn't until this summer, when I started going to Salt Co that I realized I wasn't living for Christ. I went through many weeks confused about the message and how people were so into Jesus, then I went to Fall Retreat, and my eyes were opened. After the hard-hitting message, we went into our connection groups and shared the sins controlling our lives, and after I confessed my sins to the group, it was like a weight was lifted off of me, and I felt free from my sin. It was in this moment that I knew I wanted to be baptized to show everyone that I am a new creation. A passage that resonates with me is Romans 4:7-8 which says, "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven. And whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
After being saved by Jesus, what is your life like now?
Life after giving my life entirely to Jesus has been so encouraging because I've felt his presence more and more. Through worshiping him with music or just the alone time spent with Him and His Word, I have so much more amazing because I see things I had never seen or heard in the Bible. Christ has met my needs by showing me to regularly confess my sins to others because through doing that, my sins are no longer in the dark, and now they are in the light with no power. I know I have eternal life through Jesus Christ because of how he has turned my life in a completely new direction, freed me from my sin, and through his Word Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."