Baptism Testimonies

February 20, 2021

Erin Howard

I was born and raised in a lovingChristian home. As early aspossible, my parents grew me inthe knowledge of Jesus and Hislove for me. I’ve attendedchurch my whole life, andaccepted Jesus into my heartaround the age of six. As I grew,I didn’t really have a faith of myown. In middle school I wasn’treally focused on God oractively pursuing a relationshipwith Him.

However, in high school, Istarted learning more aboutfaith, what living for Jesuslooked like and startedpracticing daily devotionalhabits.But I struggled withtrusting God. I am an obsessiveplanner and if I don’t have a todo list, I feel out of control. I amalso a worrier. In high school, alot of my time was dedicated toplanning and worrying about myfuture and doing everything Icould to try and secure it.

This desire led me away fromGod and towards many

emotional breakdowns. Overthe past several years, God hasbeen teaching me trust. As Igrew distant from God, my lifestarted to fall apart. I would endup on my knees in prayer,crying out to God because Ididn’t know what else to do.God repeatedly drew me backto Him. God showed me that Icannot do this life on my own,nor am I made to. He hastaught me to surrendereverything to Him. He holds myentire life in His hands, and Iam so encouraged andreassured by that.

I know that God’s plans arewhat’s best for me, especiallywith my future and my career,and since letting that go, I havebeen at such peace. I can livein freedom knowing thatwherever God leads me in mylife, His plans are good.God ledme to baptism as the next stepin my faith journey. Beingbaptized is my outwardprofession to follow Jesus andput my trust in Him.

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JeneneKilian

I was raised in a wonderfulChristian home and acceptedJesus into my heart at an earlyage. Come high school itseemed every summer camp Iwould rededicate my life andthen live for myself the rest ofthe year.

Then fast forward a few yearsto marriage and being blessedwith 3 wonderful girls. Life wasgood. However, 2 years agoour youngest daughter, at 21,was in a tragic car accident.

Through this time, I learned totrust and put my all into Jesus. Prayer for her survival broughtme to my knees countlesstimes during the day and night. I would even have to pray hardfor strength just to enter into ourdaily meetings with the multiplespecialists as we would alwayslearn about more risks andcomplications and how hersurvival was unlikely. It took twomonths of continuous prayerfrom--not only us ut a huge

bcommunity of prayer warriors--for the doctors to call her stableand she was finally able tomove out of the ICU.

Through this hard time myrelationship with the Lordstrengthened considerablywhich leads me to where I amtoday. I thank him daily foranswering our prayers as she isdoing well and is a walkingtestimony of his grace.

God commands us to bebaptized. It is not an option. I’m not sure why it’s taken methis long to get here but afterstaring at my daughter’sbaptism picture over and overagain on her hospital room wall,I knew as life returns to whatwe call our new normal this wasa step I needed to do.

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JustinLangdon

I was raised christian, myparents took me to churchevery weekend in hopes toteach me wrong from right.

From a very young age Ilearned about Jesus, but I didnot have a healthy relationshipwith Christ nor did I know himpersonally.

As I grew older religion nolonger played an active role inmy life and the lines betweenwhat was wrong and what wasright became blurred.

I fell deep into sin andtemptation. I got lost in theways of the world, my life wasfull of strife and misery.

It took me so long to figure out,the way I was living was not inline with what was good inGod's eyes. turned away from

I sinful relationships and lookedtowards God to better my lifeand found so much more.

Now, I am blessed to knowJesus, he saved me from myown destruction. I am alsoblessed with a good house, agreat job and peace of mind. Ihope to continue to do what isgood in God's eyes and furthermy relationship with Jesus.

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AydenO'Connor

Before I made my decision tobelieve in and follow Jesus, Ialways felt lost and missing apart of who I am. God worked inmy life to bring me to him. Hedrew me to him by our familybeing friends with other familiesin different religions and bycomparing them to Christianity.

He drew me to him throughapologetics books like Who isGod and Can I really knowHim? by John Hay and DavidWebb. The story aboutbrownies and evolutionespecially spoke to me. ThatGod truly existed and that Ishould follow him; just likebrownies need to be made bysomeone, so did the wholeworld and universe.

I chose to believe thatChristianity is true and Jesus isthe one I wanted to pickbecause God made the mostsense. I wanted a God thatwould love me and never forgetme; not one that would neverhear me or love me. Other

beliefs, like the big bang, do notmake sense to me becausebangs make destruction andnot creation.

He made sense to me becauseI read a bible story about all theprophets and how God made afire in seconds and all it tookwas a prayer, but the falseprophets did everything theycould think of, and still noresponse from their false “god”,even when they cut themselvesno response from their “god”.

He has been teaching me abouthim and how to follow himthrough Bible classes, home,and church. He is also trying tolead other friends to him. Now Ino longer feel lost, I feel foundbecause I found a God whowould die for me to live foreverand ever in heaven.

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MckenziePoirierI was born in a Christian homeand attended church when Iwas young. However, when Iwas 8 my parents split andchurch was not made a priority. I attended a Christian schoolfrom kindergarten to grade 12,so I still had a Christiancommunity around me but Ididn’t know exactly how orwhere I fit in at church. I neverhad a home church, I wentwherever my friends went orjust didn’t go because it wasn’ta priority at home.

In grade 12, I was attendingyouth and church regularly anddecided to join my youthgroup’s mission trip to Mexico.It was a turning point for myfaith. I had never felt so close toGod. I rode that high for awhile, then I graduated andwent to college. I attended avery intense RMT program andfound myself making excusesthat I was too busy to focus onanything but schoolwork. I alsofound myself in a veryunhealthy and ungodlyrelationship. I attended church

and was surrounded by friendsbut I felt so alone anddisconnected. This was anextremely low and lonely time. I still believed God, but I wasnot living a godly life nor was Iconfident in my faith.

Now, two years into my careeras an RMT, God has placed mein a great workplace and hassurrounded me with amazingfriends and family who build meup and encourage me. I’vejoined a community group. I’min a healthy, God-centredrelationship and I feel moreconfident in my love for Christthan ever. I’m not perfect, I stillhave my ups and downs but myfocus is on God and servinghim. I believe that Christ diedfor me and has forgiven my sinsand I’m ready to take this stepin publicly declaring my faith.

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JohnSchulz

I was born and raised in achristian family. I went tochurch every Sunday andprayed with the family everymorning and evening. At theage of five my parents gotdivorced; my mom ran awayfrom the country, my dad ranaway too but it was somewhereelse. I started to have a hardtime in different areas of my lifesuch as finance, education, thelist goes on. These situationsled me to believe that I couldn'tthink about God any more. Iwent away from God. I starteddoing what I wanted, my ownwill and doing bad things withbad friends. I didn't have anyparents or anyone responsibleto educate or guide me, and Ihad no idea about God.

One day God spoke to methrough a lady who came andstarted to tell me about God/She told me about what Christhas done for me on the cross ofcavalry. She told me that God

loves me and He has a plan forme. After that, I gave my life toGod. I started going to churchagain, I couldn't live for myselfanymore. I started living forHim, I started serving. Iunderstood that all I am is forGod. I received Jesus as myLord and Saviour.

I decided to follow Jesus for therest of my life, I realized thateverything I can look for on thisearth is in Jesus. Joy, peace,freedom, wisdom, feelingsaved, hope, courage, the joyto live all these emotions cameback into my life. It's importantfor me to get baptized, to takethis step in my faith toconsolidate my faith and mypersonal relationship with God.

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BrianSeebaran Jr.

On May 11th, 2020 I woke up in the morning feeling really goodafter dreaming that I was baptized. I had been thinking aboutbaptism for a few days before that and I knew that Jesuscommands his followers to get baptized. I know in my heart thatJesus is Lord and saviour and died for all my sins on the crossand rose again on the third day. My life is now His. Without JesusI am nothing. Since May 11th, I have wanted to be baptized andthe Holy Spirit even helped me to learn all the books of the bible!

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MarisaSmit

Growing up, I was not exposedto Christianity very much, as myfamily did not attend churchservices. My exposure toChristianity came fromattending a few youth soccercamps over the summers. Thisis where I was taught about thebig picture of Christianity andhow Jesus died on the cross forthe sins of his people.

For many years I lived my lifenot knowing what my purposewas in it and feeling quitelonely. Until one day my sisterand her fiancé asked me if Iwanted to attend a churchservice at Northview with them.

Going to that service was sucha beautiful and eye openingexperience in my life. One ofmy favourite things was howamazing it feels to worship theLord together. It was after thatservice I knew that God waswhat I had been missing in mylife all these years. Since

deciding to follow God I haverealized that he will remainfaithful in my life. The Lord hasgiven me someone to turn to,someone who I know will neverleave me.

God helps give me the strengthto heal and persevere throughthe rough patches I face in life.Looking back now it amazesme how often God had his handon me and how unknowing Iwas to him working in my life.

I am so grateful that God hasbrought me closer to Him andthat I can now see him workingin my life in so many ways. I ambeyond excited to outwardlydeclare my love for JesusChrist my saviour.

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Petra(Jailene)SmitI was raised as a CulturalChristian, I was told to believein God but I never understoodthe Gospel. I listened to thesongs and stories at youthsummer camps, but nothingever stuck with me. My lack ofunderstanding made meresentful of God for most of mylife.

However, part of me alwayswent back to Him when Istruggled and I would pray forsupport. Eventually, Godbrought the man of my dreamsto me; who, I think, is verystrong in his faith and love forGod. I look up to hisrelationship he has with God.

It was through this man Iattended church for the firsttime in my life. My heart felt fulland the anger I struggled withtowards God and life started tovanish. Church made me feel athome, the people, the music,the passages, everything finallyfelt right. It took me, what felt

like, a long time to admit that tomyself and others. FollowingGod has allowed me to grow somuch as a person, partner andfriend. He teaches me that I donot need all the answers andthat it is okay to not knoweverything. Unlike before,trusting in Him comes naturally.

It is a relief to know that there isa plan for everything happeningin my life, and that plan is in thehands of God. At times, I feelas if I am not a good enoughChristian because I have notbeen in the faith for long andthat I am not good enough to bebaptized. I remind myself that ifGod did not want me at thispoint in my life I would not betaking this large but amazingstep of bringing my inwardreality into the real world.

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Measha Thompson

Before giving my life to Christ, Iwas critical of those whoclaimed to be His followers asthey were the ones who wouldoften do some of the mostconniving and “peoplebreaking” acts. Their un-Christ-like behaviours turned me awayas I wanted nothing to do withso-called ‘Christians’.

It was not until I finally realizedthat Christ was the example tofollow, not those who said onething and did another, and thatsparked my curiosity to learnmore and delve deeper.

Since accepting Christ as myLord and Saviour, I amconstantly reminded that Ibelong to Him. My identity is inHim and not in myachievements, who I may know,or where I think I am headed.He has been showing Himselfto me and proving that He isalways there for me; even inthose moments when I don’twant to sit still and listen for

His voice because I wouldrather bury myself under somany things to keep me “busy”.He’s always there to meet mewhere I am!

He has also put people aroundme who model what trulyaiming to live Christ-like canlook like. They are the oneswho encourage me, speak lifeinto me, push me to learn more,and point me back in Hisdirection. I am grateful that I amable to know God and get toexperience the love and carethat He has for me. I am readyto continue on this journey withHim and pray that He willcontinue to draw me closer toHim and guide my steps as Ilive with Him at the forefront.

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BrendanVisserI was born and raised in aChristian home and cannotremember a time when I didn’tknow who Jesus was, and howmuch he loves me.

However, as I grew up, I neverfully understood what thatactually meant for my personalfaith in Jesus. It wasn’t until Iwas around 13 when I went tobible camp for the first time thatI finally started to grasp that myfaith was my own. But, asmiddle school and high schoolcame and went, I was extremelycaught up in the life of sportsand doing my own thing that Inever took my faith seriously.

My life was extremely simpleand easy, which led to me beingcompletely focused on myself indoing whatever I wanted,whenever I wanted. It wasn’tuntil a couple months after my18th birthday when my sisterwas diagnosed with leukaemiathat life really hit hard.Up untilthat point, things were easy forme; however, when my sisterand entire family had to go

through this challenging time, Iknew that I couldn’t rely on myown strength and that I neverwill be able to. Through thisexperience, I really felt myselfgrowing up in my overallmaturity and in my relationshipwith Christ.

I realized my need for a saviourbecause I am sinful, and I needGod’s mercy and grace everysingle day. I started taking myfaith seriously, finally making itmy own and growing inunderstanding of how thataffects my life in everything thatI do. This is why I am nowextremely excited about gettingbaptized because I know what Ibelieve in my heart and I wantto commit my life to God andfully surrender with him, startingwith baptism.

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38 Peter replied, “Repentand be baptized, every oneof you, in the name ofJesus Christ for theforgiveness of your sins.And you will receive the giftof the Holy Spirit. 39 Thepromise is for you and yourchildren and for all who arefar off—for all whom theLord our God will call.”

Acts 2:38-39