
I grew up in a mildly religious home and learned to hate church. It was stuffy, boring, and had little to do with my life. When I was twelve I discovered that the Bible talked about a relationship with God instead of religion. I learned that I was sinful and guilty before a holy God (Rom. 3:23; 6:23), but that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die in my place to pay the penalty for my sin. I discovered that the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead proved that He was the Son of God (Rom. 1:4) and that the penalty for my sin was paid in full. At that time I confessed my sins to God, turned from them (repentance), and put my trust in Jesus alone (not religion or my good works) to be forgiven, receive His righteousness and have eternal life. Jesus has steadily changed my life ever since and has given me a burden to serve in a church that would know Him and make Him known.