What was life like before you met Jesus?

I learned about and loved Jesus at an early age. As I got older, I strayed away from him to see what the world had to offer me. Even though many parts of my life are blessed. I was always searching for something that was missing.

How did you meet Jesus?

It was a normal day at work when many thoughts of Christ overcame me. I've always loved Jesus, but I guess you could call it a lukewarm love, so these thoughts were very loud and clear. “Pick me and get baptized.” I tried shaking it off for a while, but it just got louder and louder. I experienced a lot of emotions but mainly excitement that He never gave up on me. I want to get baptized because Jesus simply but directly asked me to do it. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

I googled “baptism, Cedar Rapids” and I wanted to get baptized that day. It is humbling. I thought the way that I was living was fine, but clearly, it wasn’t - God called me to follow him, and I need to take that seriously. I ended up on the Veritas Church website and filled out the form to get connected for baptism. The first time I walked into Veritas, I was meeting with one of the pastors about baptism. He affirmed my desire to be obedient to God, and that I should get baptized, but I had some more immediate steps to take - primarily, I should start attending Sunday worship at Veritas with my family. He invited me to begin meeting weekly to read through the gospel of John.

Initially, I was disappointed that I couldn’t get baptized that day. I was frustrated, but I understood, and I was willing to submit to the leadership and authority of a local church. Now that I look back, I can see how God has grown me in these past three months, and I am thankful for all that he is teaching me, and I am excited to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I didn’t do anything to earn or deserve this outrageous gift of grace - God has been so good and faithful to me.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:8-10

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

Christ has always protected me. He has blessed me with a great life. I have a wife, kids, and a wonderful family. John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” I now have a desire to learn more about God through his Word, and he is slowly but surely making more of my life about living for his glory!