New Believer #1 

Tell me about your journey to faith in Christ? 

            I had a hard time growing up. I always felt alone, my family was all messed up, and I just really wished things would be better. I never really let people see how depressed I really was though – I used to pretend to be this really perfect person, but on the inside, I felt so empty and angry and desperate for happiness. I started thinking about suicide and how much better the world would be without me. I spent six months like this. I met a girl who invited me to this concert at a church. i decided to go and that was my first introduction to what God could give me.

ß  What helped you the most to step over the line and make the commitment? 

            When I went to the concert, it was a little weird – but the people there seemed really kind. The main thing I remember feeling was peace… and I wanted that peace because I didn’t have any peace at all in my life.

ß  What has been the best part of becoming a Christ follower for you? 

            Being accepted into this family – my church members have surrounded me, loved me, and encourage me. I feel as though I am a part of this huge family that I never knew I had.

ß  What has been the most challenging part of  following Christ? 

            Giving up my old way of thinking, feeling, talking, relating to people. Every day, I catch myself going down that road, and I have to stop myself and ask God for help. He has been so present – like in Psalm 46 – God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. How true that is in my life!

ß  What do you think is helping you grow the most in your faith? 

            Knowing that people care. I feel like a baby in “the faith” but people at my church and in my friends from church constantly let me know they care about me and think about me. It has also helped talking to God on my own and for myself…learning to pray and learning when God is speaking to me. I really do feel like a baby learning to crawl or walk.

ß  What advice do you have f or me in helping others like you to grow in their f aith? 

            Give God a chance, just one chance to prove Himself to you! Also, find good friends – ones that care about you growing. Find a supportive church that will teach you the Bible and what you need to know to be strong in God.  

I loved reading her answers! This person is a friend of a friend, so it was really cool to see what she went through and where she is now. For her, one of the biggest things that affect her new relationship with God are the relationships that she has formed with her Christian friends, her church members, and her pastor. She is involved in a new believers class and a small group. The church that she attends really shows love to her.

I think that the relationship side of things was huge to her because all her life, she never had that love that she wanted. Now, for her, learning about Christ and the unconditional love He has for her is so alluring! This makes me so happy – it is as if someone who was starved now has a feast before him or her.

I am amazed at the way God takes someone who had no hope and restores life back into her. She now wants to work with teenagers that don’t know Jesus and tell her story back to the younger generation, especially girls. She has been a Christian now for about 20 months, and she continues to learn and grow and keep going after Him!