When I asked for questions, Kayte (who attends my church) asked, “I have seen your passion for the Lord, but I wanna know where you’ve come from. What’s your Salvation story?” The thought hadn’t even occurred to me that I’ve never shared my testimony on my blog! Now’s as good as time as any.

I grew up in a Christian home, attending Baptist churches. I learned a lot about God and the Bible from an early age. I never really bought into the whole Santa Claus/Easter Bunny/witches/ghosts/etc. thing, but I don’t ever remember a time when I didn’t believe that God existed. I went through a phase when I was about 6 or 7 where I would lay in bed and pray the “sinner’s prayer” every night. I wanted to be saved. I knew that I didn’t want to go to hell. But I think that was the extent of that.

I never really was a bad kid. For the most part, I obeyed my parents. I didn’t steal. I didn’t lie too often. But I knew I was a sinner. I was able to obey most of the time outwardly, but inside it was all for me. I took pride in my goodness. I thought mean things about others. I would covet the possessions of my friends. I would do everything in my power to get my brother in trouble.

God really brought this home to me the summer I was 10. I was at VBS when the gospel “clicked.” Knowing what I know now, it was the Holy Spirit who brought conviction of the sin in my life and led me to repent. I prayed with one of the ladies in my church, telling God I was sorry, thanking Him for giving His sinless Son to die in my place (though death couldn’t hold Him), and giving my life to Him.

I noticed things changing in my life immediately, but it wasn’t a shazaam thing. I starting having a hunger for reading the Bible and for prayer that I never had before. I enjoyed going to church and wanted to go more. It didn’t feel so good to sin anymore, though that didn’t mean I didn’t.

When I went to college, I knew that I wanted to be involved in a church, but it wasn’t a huge pressing desire. My very first friends were the ones that invited me to the Baptist Student Union (I talked a little about my first days at college yesterday). That is where I grew the most spiritually. I had a hunger to learn more and more. It was there that I realized that I wanted to go to seminary.

Now as I finish up seminary, I’m glad to be where I am. I’m getting more than book learnin’ here. I’m learning how to walk with the Lord and serve Him, primarily through my daily encounters with people and through my service and fellowship with my church. May each day draw me closer to Him.