When I was younger, my mom didn’t know Christ so neither did I. My life wasn’t the best because she made some bad choices because she didn’t know Jesus yet. My dad wasn’t around and my mom got arrested because of something that happened between them, but that is the day my mom met Jesus and our lives started to turn around. She got baptized the next year and we started going to church.

A few years later, I started to tell lies a lot. I’m not sure why I started doing this but it was causing a lot of problems. Mom and I started praying about it and I prayed about it a lot on my own, too. Talking to Jesus about this problem and watching him help me overcome it is was what really made me come to know Jesus. I decided to surrender my life to him because I want to be with him forever because he loves me so much.  

Since then, my life seems a lot better. I’m happier than before and, even though I still lie sometimes, I’m much better about confessing these lies to whoever I told them to before they even realize I lied to them.

As a child, I occasionally heard about God but not enough to foster a consistent relationship with Him. As an adult, I rarely thought about Him and felt I was in charge of my own life when, really, it was out of control. I was lost and just going through the motions.  

But my friend, Chelon, never gave up on me. Her constant (sometimes annoying) invitations to Christ Community changed my life. I finally gave in and, one Sunday, it felt as if the Worship Team was singing specifically to me because it described exactly how I felt. In that moment, I let go of all of my doubt and fear, and surrendered my life to Christ.

Since then, I let go of control and am guided by His plan. I have a sense of peace and hope I had never felt before. I joined a Community Group and they are helping me grow in my relationship with Jesus. I have two young daughters, Haley and  Abigail, and a supportive husband, Ben, who I want to be an example for. Because of Jesus, I finally feel I can be the mother they need and provide a strong foundation for their faith to thrive.

My journey to faith begins at a young age. I was raised in a Christian home and, as a child, I remember praying with my mom and accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Even though I was young, I knew I was a sinner. I was selfish, and wanted everything my way always, but when Christ saved me, he changed me. He gives me strength to overcome my selfish temptations and grows me every day. He’s there in my marriage, my family, my job, my finances; he’s there through my happy days and my sad ones. I’ve witnessed God do some incredible things throughout my life. Whether it’s been times of doubt, fear, stress or uncertainty, I can recall many examples of His love and faithfulness in my life.

I am ready to take that next step and follow what he commanded us do as followers of him. I want to put aside my fear and be all in, because as my favorite verse, Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.“

I was baptized as an infant, but it wasn’t until I was thirteen and went to nondenominational summer camp for a week that I realized what it would be like to be saved. During my college years, I attended Crave and I was learning more at Crave than anything I was taught at Sunday School growing up. Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Since surrendering my life to Jesus, I enjoy church more than I ever have. This past May, my husband and I have been regularly attending Christ Community, and since then, I’ve a new sense of being in a community at church. I’ve observed in KidsWorld and want to begin serving in the infant toddler room. My husband and I are starting a community group. I know this is the right time to put all my trust in God. By being involved with Christ Community, I’ve found a new meaning in the word “church”.

When I began a relationship with Jesus, I was really little. My family had always been a great example of what it means to follow Jesus. My parents told me when I was ready, they would help me pray and accept Jesus as my Savior. They are really good at helping me understand the Bible and I've learned a lot from all the teachers and pastors at church.

I've learned how important it is to do devotions with my family, go to church regularly, and pray. I do all those things because I love God and this is what he tells us we should do to become more like him. God has really helped me in my life by helping me have a good attitude, even when its hard. If I'm ever feeling sad, mad, or sad-mad, he always helps me feel happy.

I am going to follow Jesus for the rest of my life. When I grow up and have kids, I'm going to teach them about Jesus. I am going to read the bible and pray, even when I'm old. I hope I am a good example to my siblings so when they get old enough, they will want to get baptized too.

Before I gave my life to Christ, I felt incomplete like I was missing something. My Mom and Dad introduced me to Christ when I was very young. When I was in about fifth grade, I realized I needed Christ. I saw my parents have a relationship with Christ and I wanted my own relationship with him too. I gave my life to Christ in my room and, since then, I feel complete and close to God. I can tell him about my worries or just talk about my day.

I have been working on trusting God with my worries more and more everyday. A verse that helps me when I worry is found in 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” My Mom and I have started a Bible study group with the girls in my class called Girls Night. We started this group so that my friends could learn about God.

Without God, I don't know what I would do with myself. I have gone to church for literally my entire life. When I was six years old, I came home from church and said,"I want to be in God's family." I then prayed with my mom and surrendered my life to Jesus. Since then, I still struggle with fighting with my sister Lucy but I can pray to God and ask for help. Whenever I feel very angry or sad, I can lean on him and he takes care of me.

I want to follow Jesus because he is the only way. Pastor Karl says sin is like carrying rocks in a backpack, and if you trust in Jesus, he will carry the backpack for you. Why wouldn't you want to trust in Jesus and let him carry your backpack? I know I can depend on Jesus to help me follow him for the rest of my life.

I’ve always gone to church. My parents, Epic teachers, and church family taught me what it means to have a relationship with God and helped me with my decision to accept Jesus as my Savior.

My parents are a big part of my relationship with God. They help me understand why God is important and why we need him. My older sister is a good role model of what it looks like to follow Christ as a teenager navigating their way through middle school. Together, my family prays with me about hard decisions and show me that it's good to ask God for forgiveness and help.

My Epic teacher, Sandy, played a role in my faith, too. She prayed for me and helped me understand the Scriptures I read. She taught me to be intentional with my prayers for others and helped me feel comfortable with God. One day, Pastor Karl spoke on salvation and I was ready to ask God for forgiveness and declare that Jesus was my Savior. After service that day, my mom and I prayed the salvation prayer together.

I’m excited to grow in my faith as I continue to learn from the Bible. My prayer is that I’ll let my actions and words be a reflection of Christ both in school and daily activities.

Ever since I was little, I’ve been going to church and heard about Jesus from my parents. I was born with Sturge-Weber syndrome and doctors didn’t know if I’d walk or speak, but I’ve amazed them. My parents say I’m a miracle. They’ve told me God loves me. I believed them, but it took awhile to find out what that meant.

I was eight when I became a believer. I attended Awana and learned more about God's love for me. I learned I’m a sinner, but because of Christ’s sacrifice and because I put my faith in him, I’m forgiven. My name reminds me of God's love for me. My parents said it’s special and now I know why.

Since then, life hasn’t been easy but I know God is always there for me and he’s powerful. Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” I’ve had hard times, but, with hard work and prayer, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. God is my strength.

I enjoy going to Genesis on Wednesdays and church service with my mom and dad and learning more about God's word. I’m excited to continue to see God's plan for me. God is good!

I’ve been going to church since I was really little and going to a private school in third grade also helped my relationship with God. I saw all of my sins and I wanted to get rid of them and have God as a big part of my life. Around third grade, I started to see that life could be better with Jesus, and if I put my trust in him, I could go to heaven. I decided, I prayed, I apologized for all my sins, and I asked God to just take all of it away so I can be with him in heaven.

Since I’ve done that, I’ve wanted to be much closer to God. I even joined a church youth group. My Genesis group leader, Erica, has helped a lot in growing my relationship with God. Just because I’m closer to God doesn’t mean life will be perfect, but I will have God to talk to and be comforted by.

A verse I have known for a long time that has helped me is 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” It lets you know that whenever you’re feeling down, talk to God.

Being raised in a different faith, I never felt a close relationship with Jesus. I checked off my Christian to-do list but kept living for myself; Jesus was on the back burner. I felt empty, wondering, “Is this all there is to life?” Nothing satisfied the God-shaped hole in my heart.

After a friend and I started discussing Jesus, I searched for him in everything. I studied my Bible and found a church to start exploring a relationship with Jesus. I prayed for forgiveness and that he would use me as his tool for his will to be done and he has! Realizing my sin equals death and he died for me, I surrendered my life to him.

Now, he’s using Christ Community to show me his will, using my spiritual gifts to serve the church. He's softened my heart. I've grown deeper in faith and in community than I thought was possible. I’m grateful "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20).

I grew up in church but, as I grew older, my family fell away. I continued to come, as God has always held a place in my heart, however, I followed my will over God’s will.

I am standing here today to say, that on July 21, 2018, I submitted my whole heart to Christ and committed to following God’s will over my own. My favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

For as long as I can remember, I’ve known about Jesus. I attended a Christian preschool, participated in AWANA and Epic, attended church regularly, and have a family who teaches me about Jesus almost every day. I surrendered my life to Jesus a few years ago because I believe he died on the cross for my sins. I also wanted to be like my family and others in my life who are believers.

As I got older, I realized I wasn't really living out my faith. I struggled with being honest with my parents and I wasn’t sharing my faith. This summer at SBR, our church camp, I learned I should be putting Jesus first and I recommitted my life to him. I came home with a new desire to share Jesus with my friends so I have been inviting them to Genesis, church services, and events. One friend has been coming and I have been praying that others will, too.

I now understand the importance of getting baptized. Jesus told us, after we believe, we should be baptized and go tell others. I hope, by declaring my faith in Jesus today, other people will come to know him and be saved.

When I was young, my family never went to church, but, in high school, friends invited me to HouseGroup. That led to me attending church here, but, while I was happy, I never truly grasped the information. I tried praying and studying my Bible. Then I heard about SBR and decided to go. I met new friends and started to understand more about myself and God. I talked with my leader, Carrie, about my relationship with God and she asked why I hadn’t devoted my life to Christ. The honest answer was, I didn’t know but I wanted to. We prayed together and I devoted my life to Christ.

Since then, I’ve been happy but started questioning my faith, especially when I started suffering with anxiety and depression. This past year, I’ve tried to work past this and look for comfort in Scriptures. I’ve found some comfort there, but it was time to take my faith further. God has shown me who I want to become and who my friends are. I’ve met people through church who have impacted and encouraged me. God is the one I can always rely on. I’m so happy to be making this decision with my life.

I was baptized as an infant.  I grew up in the church and, thankfully, had many Christ-loving adults in my life, but I never understood what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus.  I would have easily described myself as a believer, but not a follower. For much of my life, I was living for myself and what made me happy.

I am thankful that Jesus placed conviction on my heart for changing my selfish ways soon after the birth of my first daughter and I surrendered my life to him. God sure has a way of making His presence known by placing the right people in my life and introducing me to this church, which have all contributed to my journey.

I am here this morning confessing my many failures. Romans 10:11 states “As scripture says, anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  It is with a joyful heart that I can stand here today unashamed of my past mistakes. I am so grateful that Jesus loves me so much that he rescued me from myself!

Before knowing Jesus, I had no clue what I wanted,  who I wanted to be, or what standards to follow. Why should I do what’s right if others won’t? Jesus answers the hard questions I had. Acts 14:22 says, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” 

My aunt and uncle introduced my sister and me to Genesis two years ago. I love the people, place, and teachings. I went to SBR and committed my life to Jesus. I’m now very involved in the church and see God working in me and in others. I went to SBR this summer with an open heart and God showed me I needed let go of everything holding me back. I understand I have to trust God to take care of me because I don’t know his plans for me. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” 

Christ has blessed me with friends and we encourage one another’s faith. Hebrews 10:24 motivates me: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Through Christ, I am kinder, more compassionate, less judgemental, and more comfortable with who I am through what God has taught me. 

Growing up, I knew of God but never had a relationship with him. Before I put my faith in Jesus, I loved my life because I believed I was in control. I was serving myself. Why should I serve God now when I could do it later in life? 

I was introduced to Christ Community by my aunt and uncle two years ago. We began to attend regularly. I started to see the glorious love of Jesus. I knew I wanted to start a relationship with Jesus, but I didn’t want to give up control. That year at SBR, I committed my life to Christ. Once I’d taken that step, I expected my life to change. When I read my Bible more and my relationship with Christ grew, I became a more loving, generous, and happier person. Even though it took time to give up control, it’s worth it.

I’ve become active in growing and serving in the church. 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NLT) says, “God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”  I’ll grow my relationship with Jesus daily because he died for me and I’ll strive to become a person who glorifies a perfect God.

I began a relationship with Jesus at Camp Timber-Lee when I was just 9 years old. Since then, there have been some tough battles that I have had to get through in my life and times where I thought I was undeserving of God's love. I looked to other things besides Jesus to fulfill me and make me happy. Yes, those things made me happy temporarily, but were deceitful, and sent me down a hole that I felt I couldn't get out of.

Realizing that Jesus is the only one that can make me feel whole and feel worthy of His unconditional love, I have found a home in Christ Community and look forward to growing in my faith and continuing my journey.

I grew up going to church and I didn’t feel that I got very much out of it. I was baptized as an infant, took communion, and was confirmed as well. Maybe it was my age or the time of my life but, as I grew older in to my late 20’s, I began to question things: things such as life, happiness, and where to go from here.

I have been attending Christ Community with my wife for almost seven years now. Two years ago, God grabbed a hold of me so tight that I couldn’t resist or let it go. When I experienced a medical illness that forced me to change career paths, I realized how much I needed God and decided to put my faith in Jesus.

Through serving with this church, reading the Bible daily with this church, and growing with this church, I knew I needed to be baptized with this church.

I was baptized as a baby and only went to church a handful of times and had no relationship with Jesus growing up. As I got older I felt like something was missing in my life, there was a void. I ended up getting married at 22 to the love of my life. When my mother in law was in town she went to a Sunday service at Christ Community Church and came back telling us how much she thinks we would enjoy the church. We ended up attending a service and immediately I felt joy. I then knew Jesus was what I was missing in my life. Since then I have done Bible studies with my mother in law and have really began an amazing relationship with Christ. I surrendered my life to Christ during a Sunday church service. When Pastor Jim asked if anyone wanted to give their life over to Christ, I did. I sat there and prayed and I asked God to forgive me for my sins and thanked him for being my savior and continue to help me grow with him. I wanted my children to grow up knowing God's love and to be able to see them grow in their relationship with God. Christ Community has been life changing for me and I am forever grateful and blessed. ‘If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.' {Romans 10:9}

Ever since I can remember I have known about Jesus. I have always enjoyed Sunday school class. I can’t pinpoint when exactly God opened my eyes to the greatest gift, Jesus. As it says in Ephesians 2:8, my gift from God.

I have waited over two years to get baptized as my mom and dad wanted me to wait until I would completely understand. Two weeks ago I shared my desired with Andy, my Genesis leader about getting baptized and after talking with my parents, today I am excited to finally take this step.

Jesus is my Lord and Savior.  My sins gave me death (Romans 6:23) but Jesus gave me eternal life and put in me a new clean spirit... His spirit. I know my life would never be the same without God. I can not see myself not following Him. I can’t wait to grow older and be able to do mission work as that is my heart’s desire. I want to tell people about Jesus.

Years ago, I would have said that I was “born a Christian”.  I knew God from a young age because my family was involved in many church activities and participated in the sacraments. I felt that my good works and religious behaviors were confirmation that I was a Christian.  Little did I know then that I was empty.

It wasn’t until my college friends introduced me to their Bible studies and Christian music that I became truly aware of the love of God.  Additionally, my husband showed me how to have a relationship with Jesus through prayer and to trust in the Bible.

I personally committed my life to Christ in 2001 while confessing my sins and singing on the top of my voice the words to the song “I Want to Know You More” by Sonic Flood.  Since then, I have gained a more positive attitude and am filled with peace through whatever life brings my way. I’m constantly tuned into Christian music and pray in all circumstances. 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.”

This summer, I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to recommit my life as an adult believer and become baptized.  I felt Jesus fighting for me and breaking down the barriers that conflicted with my Christian walk. Now, I fully trust in the Lord as my Savior and King.

I grew up in a Christian family and always believed that there was a God. I asked God to enter my life at a really young age and since then I have prayed for salvation many other times. When the church my family attended started going through growing pains, and the youth group fell apart, my faith was stunted and I never cultivated my relationship with God. My brother told me that he knew God was real because when my mom was battling cancer, he prayed harder than he ever had before and God spoke to him and answered his prayers. At that point I realized, although I had never had that sort of connection with our Lord and Savior, it was something that I would like to experience.

It wasn’t until my middle twenties that I really started to build a foundation for my life with Jesus and the Word. Having this base was a gracious gift from God, as some tough trials were ahead of me. I have grown stronger in my faith, God has always answered my prayers, and I have felt his presence carrying me through when I would not have been able to do it on my own. Now that I am 31 and starting a family, I am being baptized to proclaim to heaven and earth that I am a Christ follower and while I am a sinner, I vow to look to him for answers and try to be more like him daily.

I was raised in a Catholic family who attended church every Sunday and raised me to believe in God and his Son Jesus Christ.  During my university years, I started to question my religious views and would use my science education against creationism and the Bible.  I didn’t see how both could exist. I married in the Catholic faith and started my family. I began to raise my children in the Catholic church. I attended church on holidays only but sent my children weekly.   

In 2013, I started suffering from a series of anxiety/panic attacks. Fast forward to Christmas 2014.  My family could not make the Catholic church service time for Christmas Eve and I said we had to go to church.  So we walked into Christ Community. After the service, my kids exclaimed “Mom, we need to come to this church!”   I felt a sense of calm after that service. I decided that I needed to come back and surrender my anxieties to Jesus Christ.  At another service, I stood up and surrendered my life to Jesus and put all my faith into him. I knew he would love and comfort me every day and I could go to him daily in good times and bad and he would be with me.  

I have such a sense of calm now, no panic attacks and know my Lord is with me in all things.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”  1 Peter 5:7

Before I trusted in Jesus, I was focused on what people thought of me and why people are disrespectful and mean. I decided to surrender my life when kids world was about to end for fifth grades for that year. That night I thought over what I had learned that day and I knew it was the right time. I knew that surrendering your life is when you stop following your own sinful indications to seek God. God will fulfill our heart and be our savior. Since then, my relationship with God has grown and my life has changed my life. I’ve started getting more involved in the church and in the bible. In Matthew 6:33, “But seek first in his kingdom and his righteousness and all  these things will be given to you as well.” Now throughout every day, I know that the holy spirit is always in me giving me guidance.

I went to church as a child and was baptized, but soon after that, I was taken out of church due to family circumstances. As I got to be an adult I noticed something was missing in my life, and I tried to fill it with people and work.

It wasn’t until I turned 30 years old that I went back to church. That first Sunday I attended an adult study on the Bible timeline and was so excited about it that I kept going back. I didn’t know all this information was in the Bible! It was so interesting! God was showing me where to look to find the void in my life.

After a couple of years, God touched me in such a way that I remember going home from church and getting up in the middle of my bed jumping up and down and singing praises to Jesus. I felt forgiven and so joyful. I felt whole again.

God has used me in many capacities since then. I served in many ministries and have helped people in various ways. Even after 39 years of serving, I still have not made a public proclamation by baptism through submersion. I want to be baptized at Christ Community Church to show God how thankful I am that he has been in my heart, mind, and soul and has brought me to this place and time, still in love with him and ready to serve him 39 more years. Amen.

I’ve been told that I’m stubborn.  In this case it’s true. Over the past twenty years, I have had an on again off again relationship with Christ. I’m would attend church but not consistently. I would listen but never hear. God kept chasing me down letting me know he had never left me.

After a real rough spot in my life, I began to attend church again. I have always believed God has had a plan for my life and truly believe nothing just happens.  After attending a few services, I start seeing signs that I had made the right choice. The first sign was I went to purchase a Bible at the store and found out another person had already prepaid for it. Then after posting about that experience people were commenting how excited they were to see me at church again.  

Seeing friends I knew and enjoying going to the services made church heartwarming. After one of the services, it was mentioned that once you’ve made the decision to surrender to Christ, that you should be baptized. Since I have made this decision to put my faith in God, my life has truly changed.

I really cannot remember the day that I started to believe that Jesus was my Lord and Savior. I don’t remember the exact time that I turn my life over to Him as my Savior and having my heart changed forever.  It seemed to me to be my entire life. Therefore, my story is not one of being broken and what my life was before putting my faith in Jesus but of one of what happened to me after my faith in Jesus Christ. It is a story of thanksgiving and being blessed beyond words. Sure I had some difficult and sad times in my life but I never felt that I was alone.

I take this step of baptism as one out of obedience to my Lord Jesus. As my faith has matured I realized how awesome God is and how grateful I am that Jesus took the step to die for my sins on the cross and allow me a path to become closer to him. I still have a long way to go in my journey to understand his ways in life but I continue to work on it and I plan to until the day he takes me home. So after 68 years I take this step to now publicly display my faith and thanksgiving to him the giver of everything.

Before I trusted in Jesus, I was focused on what people thought of me and why people are disrespectful and mean. I decided to surrender my life when kids world was about to end for fifth grades for that year. That night I thought over what I had learned that day and I knew it was the right time. I knew that surrendering your life is when you stop following your own sinful indications to seek God. God will fulfill our heart and be our savior. Since then, my relationship with God has grown and my life has changed my life. I’ve started getting more involved in the church and in the bible. In Matthew 6:33, “But seek first in his kingdom and his righteousness and all  these things will be given to you as well.” Now throughout every day, I know that the holy spirit is always in me giving me guidance.

My name is Jacob Flolo and I am 12 years old. The reason I want to get baptized is that I want to show that I believe in Christ in public. I have learned about Jesus and God all my life.  My parents have brought me to church since I was very little. I have learned about Jesus at home, at KidsWorld and Genesis which is a lot of fun. I made my decision to be baptized during a church service when a story about a woman's decision to follow Christ amazed me and got me thinking. I want to continue making God a part of my life.

My name is Cheyenne and I am 9 years old. I chose to put my faith in Jesus when I was about 5 years old. My mom and my dad helped me take these steps. The Lord has helped me put 110 percent in every sport that I commit to, especially ice skating. I want to be BAPTIZED because I know God wants me to. Being baptized means that I have chosen to follow God and that God will always be there for me.

From a very early age, I’ve always felt something touching my heart. I didn’t know exactly what it was but it always made me feel loved, warm, and comfortable. As I began learning about who God is by reading the Bible, attending church, and through other Christians in my life like my parents, family, and friends, I realized that feeling was God. 

There were many moments in my life that I felt close to God but the one that stands out the most is when my family and I went on a mission trip to Honduras. I saw people living in houses made of boards and metal and when we visited them, they didn’t seem to care about the food we brought them but instead asked that we praise God for all he had given them. We also got to attend their church where their worship was so amazing because they sing, jump, and dance for the Lord. I love to worship and sing! We also got to pray over a woman who had a gunshot wound. When we prayed for her, I knew God was there protecting all of us.

I want to be baptized to show everyone that I believe in Jesus as my Savior and King and I am going to follow him not just today but every day. I also want to be baptized because I know God is telling me to share his story with others. My love for others has grown since I’ve gotten to know God. I feel good when I can encourage people who are down and I know he wants me to tell others that they can do anything with him. He does miracles. He made the world.  He made you and me.

I know it won’t be easy to follow Jesus because the world is doing things that don’t match to what the Bible teaches. I know I will be tempted just like Jesus was but I know he understands and I can lean on him. I know God is always with me and he will give me the strength and courage to get through the hard and scary times. God knows what’s best for me.

I know what the right path is and I want to show others there is a different and better way to live their lives.

I was in 4th grade Sunday school when I first made the decision to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

I’ve attended church and said my prayers all my life since then. There were times when I felt closer to God and other times when I was more distant. It wasn’t until having kids that I realized I need to be more intentional with my pursuit of God. I can’t pass on the qualities and values I want my kids to have unless I possess them myself. So I joined a community group, began the Bible Savvy program and have been reading diligently for the last 2 years.  I started serving in KidsWorld and EPIC, and now this next step: baptism.

I have loved God for a long time, but now I want to show others, specifically my kids, that I love him. If I want my kids to make their relationship with God a top priority then I have to model how. "Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." Proverbs 22:6

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4

I was raised with a strong foundation of high morals, high integrity, and high honesty.  Not being a church attender, I thought that was what Christianity was about and would have called myself a Christian.

My then girlfriend, now wife, Holly invited me to church with her.  The church, Park Community Church in Chicago, we went to focused on teaching the Bible. With that education, coupled with an Alpha class, I learned it was so much more than what I thought it was.  After this, I chose to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior which brings me to my decision of baptism.

I’ve accepted Jesus as my Savior several years ago and have been regularly attending church since.  However, consistent with biblical teachings, I want this to serve as my public declaration. I want to be a light whose conduct, faith, and character stands out and continues to grow in Jesus. I want to be an example to my kids so this is a foundation element in their lives.

I wasn’t  brought up in a family that went to church.  I went to Sunday school with neighbors but no one who shaped my beliefs in God.  I didn’t feel a need for God until last August when my husband started dying and I didn’t know where to turn.  I was lost.

My Decision:

After my husband passed my friends Lisa and Bob Garon invited me to church and took me to Care Night.  I immediately felt a warmth pass over me and I knew I found a place that I felt I belonged. Learning about how Jesus loved me and died for my sins just made me want to learn more.  I went to a Saturday service and a woman introduced herself to me. Her name is Katherine Thielk and she said you are the first person in my zone today and you get a text message from God.  Deuteronomy 31:8: “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” It was that message that lead me to bow my head, ask God to forgive me and accept me into his life.

After Christ:

Since then, I have joined Katherine’s Bible study group. I volunteer at the 50+ singles events.  I have a whole new support team now and my life is moving forward. I can’t wait to lay back in that water and come up brand new.

Before I trusted in Jesus, I felt like something in my life was missing, like an empty hole I didn't know how to fill. Around that time, I started to question God and was eager to learn more about him. That’s when an old boyfriend introduced me to house group about three years ago. I became close with my small group leader instantly, and my heart began to open up. She helped me with all my questions and difficulties when I was trying to become closer to God. I began to understand who Christ is and see what good things he has done in other people's lives. I then decided to go to Silver Birch Ranch in the summer of 2017. That experience was life changing. On June 28th 2017 I gave my life to Christ. I asked him to forgive me for my sins and to take control of my life. Now I can confidently say that hole that I was feeling before Christ was in my life has been filled. Currently, I strive every day to be more like him. Knowing that my life is in his hands, and knowing he's good calms a lot of my daily anxieties. I know I'll still have struggles and low points but Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall."

I’ve grown up in a Christian family all my life. My parents were divorced when I was 8 and I didn’t know what to expect. For the past 4 years I’ve been going to Silver Birch Ranch during the summer. Just this year one of my cabin leaders, Steven Gallaher, said that Jesus Christ had paid his life so that we may live cleansed of sin forever, and he had gotten us to think about how deep that really means. After doing this it was really eye opening as to how much our God really loves us and how much he did and still does for us; just to add on to that John 3:16 “For God so loved the world he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” After really looking at what this is saying, it shows you that God sacrificed his Son so that we may live and prosper the life that he has set out for us, and that is to pray and worship his name. The way I interpret now and will interpret the Word of God has changed entirely and while I was at Silver Birch Ranch I surrendered my life to Christ. Every day I get up and pray every morning for those in need, everyone’s safety, and to find more ways to connect with the Lord and I do find more ways which then draws me closer to him. My faith in the Lord will continue until the day I die.

Before I surrendered my life to Christ and dedicated my life to following his path, I didn’t understand much about him and the love he has for me. I knew about God, I just never fully understood the concept on him. Whenever I was in times of trouble, I felt like I was completely alone and had nobody to talk to. On December 23, 2017, my sister had invited my family and I to come to the Christmas service. That night I really grasped the truth that Jesus died for my sins and did so because he loved me. It really opened my eyes because I realized that I needed to surrender to him and that I need to follow his path throughout life because he is good, and he is my Savior. Ever since I surrendered, I have felt more peace over my life knowing that there is a God who loves me and will never leave my side. I joined a Genesis group, made new friends in that group, and became closer with people at Genesis as well. I now know that I am never alone and continue to learn about God every day and how he helps me.

I always been told that I’m a good person. I have been living a life of sin for many years. I turned to drugs and alcohol and dealt with depression. I wanted and needed to stop using but couldn’t. the people that I thought were my friends weren’t.

My family was used to the devilistic behavior that I demonstrated off of drugs and alcohol. My grandchildren and I used to do Bible studies together and go to church together, but I would leave church and drink and get high.

I came to Wayside Cross Ministries and two days after being there I got on my knees beside my bed when the Holy Spirit hit me and I repented of my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Pastor Paul Giersz from Christ Community Church came to do a service at Wayside Cross, I surrendered my life to Christ that night and today the old man is gone the new has come. Thank you, Jesus!

When I return to my home town in Cincinnati, Ohio, the old Tommy will be washed away and the new Tommy will be covered in the robe of Christ.

My family has suffered multiple tragedies.  Tragedies you never imagine could ever happen to you.  During these difficult times, I found myself asking “why us?”  I wanted answers. We decided to attend Christ Community Church because we had friends and family who attended there regularly.  We immediately fell in love with the church. Since then, we hit the ground running. As a family, we joined and completed an Alpha course and the Beginning to Belong class. I serve in KidsWorld in the nursery with my daughters. We are all involved in small groups.  I currently volunteer for EPIC and Alpha as a table helper.

In my summer Alpha course, we talked and learned about “The Light of the World” painting.  The painting represents Jesus about to knock on an overgrown and long unopened door. The door in the painting has no handle and can only be opened from the inside.  “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”(Revelation 3:20). This painting was my turning point and opened my heart as I accepted and put faith in Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

I am proud and excited to be doing baptism alongside of my husband and daughters.  In the time of tragedy instead of turning from God, went looking for him. I’ve seen God work through my family and fill us with faith, love, and healing.

For a long time now I have been a strong admirer of Christ. Even a non-believer cannot deny the impact his life and teachings have had on the world. Christ is the best person to ever walk the earth and ever since I had learned that I had wanted to be more like him.  My feelings on religion and my faith has come and gone and changed over the years and I had never really accepted Jesus as my Savior until recently.

Our family has suffered the tragedy of losing my daughter Kayla by abduction from her birth mother soon after it was decided in court that Kayla should live with me. We haven’t seen my daughter since July 1st of 2017. I know what it is like to be missing a relationship between father and child and it has helped me to understand why Jesus is my Lord & Savior.

Before Christ, I felt a deep sense of longing in my life; like I was 'asleep' as time would pass me by. Every day was some sort of depressive grind that was isolating me from myself and the people who love me.Then a miracle happened.

One day, in my daily routine, a 'Precious Promises Bible' came to my workplace. Though others mocked & were ready to throw it in the garbage, I asked for it. I fell so in love with the words of Jesus Christ- April 11th, 2018, I gratefully signed my name in it on the dotted line, to the Lord.

Now that I'm walking with Christ, I feel so awake! I gratefully listen to Moody Radio, who also provided me with my first Bible! As someone who grew up not liking to read & rejecting history for science, I can say now, the Bible is my favorite book. Jesus Christ took my fears and depression and molded them into a quest to be humble & courageous. I experienced more miracles than I can say now, but if you open your heart, I'd be honored to share them with you! And to the person who courageously came to my work- "Thank you...So much."

I went on a mission trip sometime in middle school. During the trip many if not all students were baptized.  I remember saying to myself, "Well, if everyone else is doing it, I should too." I didn't know what it meant and or why it was important. My life was full of self rule & pride and I knew very little about surrendering my life to Christ.  Years later, I surrendered my life to Christ. I learned that Jesus offers salvation to all who have surrendered to him and I have felt transformation. I no longer get angry with life's speed bumps. I am able to offer forgiveness. I have willpower. Christ Community Church has taught me so much, even what Baptism symbolizes. I now want to be baptized and let everyone know about my association with Jesus.

Since childhood, when I stopped attending regularly, I have greatly missed the teachings and stability of the church. Since then I had slipped further and further from Christ and in some ways, blamed him for allowing me to be distracted. The shame and guilt over my running away was overwhelming and prevented me from coming back.

I have always felt him in the background, calling me back. A few years ago, my Godmother, Faye Blakeley began talking to me about my faith, telling me that he has a plan for me, and guiding me back with love and support. But I wasn’t ready to accept what I had done. A year ago my fiancé Jennifer Theodorou and I began talking in great detail about my life. She lovingly and carefully discussed all of my issues and concerns about my relationship with Christ. Jennifer reminded me of John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.

I am ready to come back now. I need God in my life and have asked his forgiveness. Since then, he has changed everything, lifted all the longing, grief, guilt, and pain from me. I know he has “left the 99“ to chase me down and bring me back. I feel reborn in Christ and would like to be baptized again to show my love and dedication to God.

Growing up in a Christian family, I was taught from a young age that my sin would eternally separate me from God if I did not repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:18 says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

When I was about eight, I prayed with my parents to accept Christ as my Savior. At the time, I understood the believe and repent part of salvation, but it was not until I was fifteen that I realized I needed to let go of control on my life and surrender to God. I was attending a summer camp at Pensacola Christian College where the guest speaker, Pastor Matt Teis, preached a sermon on total surrender to God. That night, I prayed with Gretchen, my camp leader, and surrendered my whole life to Christ.

Since then, I have had a greater desire to grow closer to God and to advance his kingdom. I am striving to put God first in all I do and to bring my requests and worries before him. Psalm 119:2 says, “Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.” I am getting baptized to publicly declare that I am his, and he is mine!

When I was 9 years old, my step sister Kayla went missing. This made me really sad but I hid my feelings from other people. I started to pray to God, but didn’t know who he was or how to really pray because I didn’t really grow up with religion in my home.  My family started to go to church with my aunt, grandma and cousin at Yellow Box in Naperville . But that church was too far away so we started to go to Christ Community Church and I started going to KidsWorld. In KidsWorld I learned about Jesus by watching videos and learned how to pray to the right way.  My mom signed me up for Camp Commotion during the summer. I met a lot of nice staff and leaders. Amaria was one of my favorite leaders because every time I went to her, she was happy and always smiling. She made me feel really happy. After my 10th birthday in June, my dad was in a really bad work accident.  He almost died. I prayed to God to heal him. I feel like God heard me and answered my prayers because my dad is alive and getting better.  I just started to go to EPIC and I really liked it and my mom is working in fifth grade with me. I want to get baptized because I want to show other people at I’m a Christian and a follower of Jesus.

When I was six my parents got divorced. My uncle Ryan thought it would help me if I  went to church so he took me to Harvest Bible Chapel. I spent service in the kids section. As a child I hadn’t grown up with religion as part of my family so I never knew the importance of having a relationship with Jesus. I continued to go to Harvest but then my uncle moved out and I going to church.

About 9 years later my aunt and cousin had invited us to their baptism and that service it totally opened my eyes and I finally understood the importance of having a relationship with Jesus.

We attended church in Naperville as a family then we agreed to go somewhere closer and decided to attend Christ Community. After attending a few services we knew we had found our new home and have been attending since April.

This year has not been easy. My sister Kayla went missing and my dad got into a work accident. I catch myself blaming God for the wrong in my life but I had to remind myself that  “He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless”(Isaiah 40:29). My relationship with Jesus has grown over the past several months as I have accepted him as my savior. Now I would like to take my relationship with Jesus a step farther by getting baptized along with my family and best friend Rory.

My name is Dane and I am 10 years old. When I learned that I could be baptized at age 10, I wanted to immediately!  I started coming to Christ Community Church on Sundays when I was around 3 years old. We’ve also been coming to EPIC/Awana since I was 4.  When I think of coming to this church, I would describe it as peaceful and kid-friendly. All of the leaders are helpful and have taught me a lot about God and the Bible. With their help, I have learned that sin separates me from God and the only way back to him is by surrendering my life to him.

Since I was little, my family has prayed together at dinner and before bed. I know that God hears us as we thank him for all of our blessings. I know he answers prayers, too – we prayed for years before we got my little brother. I am learning that I can pray to him at any time, for any reason. I can talk to him when I am angry, sad, or frustrated, too.  I want to grow in my relationship with God. I am a little unsure of how that happens, but I know that baptism is a step towards it. I am happy to be part of God’s Kingdom.

It all started with as long as I can remember. I was raised in a church with my mom and dad before they divorced. I remember going to church every Sunday morning and watching Veggie Tales, listening to the gospel, reading my children’s Bible, and going to VBS and Awana. I remember a happy family with God watching over us. In fact, when I was four I told my mom I wanted to surrender my life to Jesus. But then they divorced and I lived with my mom and grandma and we attended church but it didn't feel the same. It felt like something was missing. And it only got worse as I grew up. I started exploring sexuality and thought that God would hate me if I were a part of the LGBTQA+ community so shouldn’t I hate him back for not being accepting? My dad would preach to me over the phone, or so it felt and I was not having religion. I was also in the thick of my depression and anxiety so why would he let me feel like this if he loved me? I had a lot of questions I was too scared to ask so I idled in ignorance. One day I told my parents, though, how I self-harmed and almost attempted suicide. But that night I had stopped myself. Because I felt God with me. I felt his presence and I felt him telling me this isn’t when or how my life ends. That I had a purpose. That he gave me a purpose. And ever since then I’ve been back in church, eager to hear my dad tell me Bible verses, going to [Re]Group, and trying to read my Bible. And ever since then battling my depression has been so much easier. I’ve felt renewed and decided once again I wanted to surrender my life as of recent. And for that, I thank God immensely and eternally.

Back in 2011, when our family began attending Christ Community, I did not feel compelled to be baptized.  After all, I was baptized as an infant, and we had our two boys baptized as infants at the Lutheran church we attended at the time.  I was adamant that I could consider myself baptized and move on.

In the last 7 years, through the ministry here at Christ Community Church, I’ve begun to understand the importance of declaring your commitment through baptism as a believer. God has been working on me in this area. First, he called me to be a member of this church and included baptism as part of that process.  Second, he compelled my 10-year-old son to declare his intent to be baptized and my son asked me to share this moment with him by being baptized on the same day. It became hard to deny that Jesus was calling me to obey his command, and what once felt like a big decision became a simple step forward in my faith journey.  Today, I am declaring to you in thought, word, and action that Christ is my Savior and God is my King, something I couldn’t do as an infant.

Most importantly, God knows my deep desire to grow in my faith.  I’ve served in KidsWorld and EPIC, been part of community groups and Bible studies, and looked for other ways to step towards him.  To surrender completely through baptism is such a joy!

There was never a time in my life where I didn’t know who Jesus was. Both of my parents are Christians and always took me and my siblings to church when we were growing up. As I got older, I started to distance myself from God because I wanted to be in charge of my own life. Going to church with my family every Sunday started to become a chore. For the longest time it just felt like I was going through the motions. During this time, I felt very lost, empty, and alone. It wasn’t until my Grandpa died that I started to take my relationship with God more seriously. I was grieving and desperate to feel close to God again. I then decided to join a community group. I made friends with other Christ followers that really encouraged me to start reading the Bible more. Now I meet with my Bible study group every Saturday morning, and I feel like my relationship with Jesus is stronger than it has ever been. I want to get baptized now because I feel like it’s something that God has been calling me to do for a very long time, but I’ve just kept putting it off. Now I’m ready to show people that I am a follower of Jesus and that I have surrendered my life to him.           

I was raised Catholic and learned about God from a young age and never questioned anything until much older. I was confirmed in 9th grade but it wasn’t a conscious decision. I stopped attending church because I was busy with sports, church was boring, and I thought that I knew it all.

In college, I met Rob and he had a rock solid faith. It wasn’t until we were 24 when I remember truly being impacted by God and the Holy Spirit. We started to go to church with our neighbors. Then one week during communion it just hit me—Jesus died for ME. It was like a physical blow and I started to cry. I remember thinking why on earth would God ever want ME? I find it hard to describe the feeling, however I remember it vividly. I wanted it then, I wanted to be a part of Jesus’ family and I asked God to forgive me and guide me through life.

Eventually, we made church a priority once we started a family. We absolutely loved our church in Pennsylvania but then we moved and it took another year to find Christ Community. This has been the place where I have felt most alive and plugged in. I volunteer in the nursery and serve in EPIC. I am working on building strong friendships within the church community. This feels like home and I look forward to church every Sunday—which is a different experience from my childhood days!

What caused me to see that I need Christ is that I made physical things and thoughts of other people about me really important.  

I have gone to several churches before, but my mother had brought me to Christ Community.  This is where I heard the real truth of why Jesus loves me and wants to help me, and how he had died for my sins.  It had taken me a while to understand everything but when I understood I had decided, with my parents, to confess my sins to Jesus and ask him to forgive me for them.

Since I had made my decision in following Christ, my life has changed.  I believe I have a closer healthier relationship with my parents; and I have also made healthier friendships.

My life, family, and marriage we all doing well on the surface until my addiction nearly took everything away.  Out of desperation I asked my wife to go Church in hopes that it could save our family. I wanted to surrender my addiction to Christ as I had no strength left.  That was the day Pastor Jim talked about Care Night. I felt God put me exactly where I needed to be. I spoke to Pastor Jim who said Care Night would help me. My first night at the men's group I learned that I was not alone and that there were many people to support me who are willing to be open about their struggles and their faith in God. In my hour of total desperation I surrendered to Christ. I asked Him to come into my life and take control. Since that day His love and care has sustained me, guided me, taught me, and is transforming me.

My wife and I radically changed our lives to be connected to God every day. God saved my life, my marriage and my family. I am now able to love them more than I ever have and be the father and husband that truly makes me and God happy.

I would like to thank everyone at care night and the group leaders and Christ Community Church because in our hard times while going to our first Services there were many people that talked to us, prayed for us and put their hands on me to help me heal.

My name is Cody Sylvester and this is my faith story.

I am 12 years old and live in Batavia with my mom, sister and brother.  

We went to church when I was little and my mom and dad got divorced when I was 2.  My dad was never around but I had my mom, brother and sister and lots of extended family.  Our church was our family too. I went to Awana until I was 8.

I was at a Christian camp called Covenant Harbor when I was 8  and was listening to a lesson about how Jesus died on the cross for my sins.  I prayed at that moment for God to save me. It made me feel happy to know that God saved me.  God’s love for me helps me to love others. I know that I can talk to God about my problems, even when I’m angry.  I can pray and ask for help. I did something bad when I was 10 that made me realize I am still a sinful person and I felt bad.  However, God knows when I sin and I ask him for forgiveness so that I can do better the next time.

I have been blessed to have been brought up in a home that followed Christ and attended a church that was doctrinally correct and adhered to God’s word in every essential Christian practice. We were taught that salvation was by faith alone, and only through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross were we able to be seen sinless in God’s eyes and able to enter in his eternal presence........and I have believed and accepted that as fact since childhood and have been grateful and even sometimes in wonderment that God would love someone as fallen as myself, and see them as sinless because of Christ’s blood............

All good and understood.........except that this church officially recognized infant baptism as our only baptism.........

I have had various preachers and Christian brothers advise me that, as this was the accepted method of baptism in my church, it would also be acceptable in God’s eyes....

Although I don’t have the right to judge another’s faith, God has led me to believe that, for me, an adult public proclamation of my faith was in order, and perhaps even necessary, and that is why I am here before you all this afternoon, publicly stating that I am indeed a Christ follower!

The beginning:

Born into a non-practicing Catholic family. Got married to a protestant guy at the age of 19 who attended his childhood country church but not yet a practicing Christian. Both my husband and I accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior shortly after being married thru my husband’s best friend, John whom was a party guy, joined Navy and got saved. John went on to be a pastor.

The incubation period:

I call this the incubation period because God has placed me in situations in which I was given “time” to absorb the things of God thru Christian radio programs such as Dr David Jeremiah of Turning Point and Tony Evans of The Alternative Radio, reading the Bible, and books. I was a very hungry contented sponge.

The present stirring:

I’ve found that the Christian walk has its ebbs and flow; highs and lows. Sometime God allows hard things to happen in which would squeeze this contented sponge in order to test, display God’s power/grace, and to grow closer with God.

The closer that I get with God, the more I desire to do what he commands, such as baptism. Baptism had never occurred to me before because it wasn’t highly promoted in the last two churches that I attended. Every time that I attended a baptism at Christ Community Church, it would tug and pull at me to go thru with it. I look forward to taking this step and proclamation of my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!

My name is Eden and I’m 10 years old. My mom and dad always brought me and my brother to church since we were babies. I feel like I’ve always known Jesus. But last year in EPIC I made my personal choice to follow God. My EPIC leader Liz prayed over me. I know that God is someone that I can look up to when I am upset. He has helped me through hard times and has answered my prayers. Since I have put my trust in Jesus I will do my best to be more obedient to his commandments doing what Jesus wants me to do so I can please God. I want to be baptized to say that Jesus is my Savior and I want to follow him.

I grew up in a Christian home.  When I was in fourth grade, I realized the story of salvation had become personal to me.  God has forgiven me for who I am and what I had done in my past sins. Even though I will keep sinning, God will never turn his back on me.

I want to follow Jesus because I know that he will lead and guide me on the right path.  Being baptized means that my old sinful self is dying and a new me is being born and will live eternally.

Going forward, my life will be different because I will put my past behind me and get to go to heaven.  My life will be focused on following Jesus - praying, reading the Bible, and worshipping the one and only true God.

I have grown up in a home where my family has believed in Jesus and what he did for us on the cross. I have always gone to church, and I attended Awana for many years. I learned a lot about the Bible and who Jesus is. One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 3:5-6: “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 didn't really pay attention to church and things as much as I should have until we came to Christ Community. I remember seeing a baptism when I was in KidsWorld and I decided to put my trust in Jesus.  Something clicked in my brain, and I have started going to Genesis this year and love it. My relationship with God is growing and I would like to start serving, maybe in the nursery. I am excited to learn more about God and continue to grow.

In the past, the churches I attended did not focus on the Bible.  As a consequence, my belief in Christ was not as strong as I thought it was.

Going through a difficult time in life caused me to take a step back and realize that my own priorities pushed God to the side.  One major change that needed to happen was finding a new church. I started attending Christ Community Church and it has been life changing.  Through the teachings, I have learned more here in 10 years than in all the years before. As a result, I have accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and now truly  understand the importance of placing God first in my life.

Reading the Bible and prayer are now part of my daily life.  Our couples community group is amazing! I am thankful every day for the opportunity to serve and grow in God's Word.