Testimony

Weekly Update – February 9th, 2023

This past Sunday, I mentioned that as a means to help God’s people to trust in Him, the scriptures often remind them of their redemption. All throughout the Old Testament, for example, you see the phrase, “I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt” (Josh. 24:5; 1 Sam. 10:18; Ps. 81:10; Jer. 2:6; etc.) In a similar way, we, as New Testament believers, have been redeemed through Christ, who has freed us from the slavery of sin. When we remember our conversion, just like when Israel remembered their rescue from Egypt, we are moved to focus on God’s faithfulness and our hope in Him. That means that as Christians, we should be people who continually focus on the gospel message that explains who we were, what Christ has done, and how he saved us. One of the best ways to do this is to reflect upon your own personal testimony. Therefore, as this week marks the anniversary of my own public profession of faith shown through baptism, I wanted to post my testimony for you today.

“Twenty-five years ago on super bowl Sunday night, I was baptized.  I lived in Orlando, FL. at the time, had recently come back from a youth conference a few weekends before and it was now time to publically profess what Christ had done to save me before the gathered church.  Let me share with you a bit of the story that led to my conversion.

Growing up, I was never really a bad kid.  In fact, the opposite was quite true.  I followed rules, did what I was told and didn’t like to upset anyone.  We moved around a lot when I was young.  Before the age of 15 I had lived in Henderson, KY., Tampa, FL., Owensboro, KY., and then in multiple places in Orlando, FL., respectively.  I attended church, to some degree, in all of these places, but never settled into a one until I was in 7^th grade.  The name of the church was Parkway Baptist Church and at that time and it was about 20 minutes away.  My family decided to try out this church at the invitation of my aunt and uncle who were attending there at the time.

At first we were very minimally involved.  I went to Sunday school and the worship service every week, but that was it.  It wasn’t until I started high school that we began to get more involved.  That year, we moved about 3 miles away from the church making it easier to attend Sunday night and Wednesday night activities.  Even though that was the case, I didn’t really have much desire to be there.  I went because I had to.  Nevertheless I began to build some much needed friendships as I began my freshman year in one of the largest high schools in the country.

It was these few friendships as well as the urging of my mom that led me to go to a youth conference the second weekend of January.  Leading up to this conference I had been thinking a lot about eternity.  I would try to justify my actions, pray in the morning and rationalize to myself about how I was a Christian.  To be honest though, I was afraid.  I didn’t know what would happen if I were to die.  I kept uttering what some might call “the sinners prayer” but it didn’t bring comfort.  I needed something to change, but I didn’t know what.

There wasn’t anything spectacular occurring at this conference.  It was like any other youth trip that I attended.  There was a band, a speaker and a ton of other youth there.  But this time, the Holy Spirit changed my heart.  I heard the gospel, like I had many other times before, but this time I responded in faith and in repentance.  I can remember the feeling that I had traveling the 2 hours it took to come home from this conference.  It was a feeling of peace, security and grace, as I no longer feared, but knew my sins had been forgiven and I was now God’s child because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

As I think back to that time period 25 years ago, let me highlight a few things that stick out to me.  First, there were many people involved that God used to lead me to Christ.  Friends, my mom, youth group, church, etc.  There are often numerous people who have multiple opportunities that God uses to bring someone to himself.  Second, I heard the gospel numerous times before coming to Christ.  Through repetition and months of conviction, the Holy Spirit used the message of Christ to change me.  Third, God used the local church in the process leading up to my salvation and in my discipleship as a Christian.

That short story is a little bit of insight into what happened in my life in the months of January and February of 1998.  I am grateful for all of the means in which the Lord used to bring me to Christ, as He is often working in a million different ways of which we are completely unaware.  This week, consider your own testimony and I am sure you too will be amazed at how God orchestrated your life prior to your conversion and where he has brought you since.  Then, let your own story of God’s redemption drive you to greater hope in Jesus Christ.

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson