Baptism Aug. 9, 2020
Nathan Wenger
Hi, my name is Nathan Wenger. I am going into 9th grade at Warwick High School. I accepted Christ into my heart when I was 5. At that time, I didn’t know what that meant to the full extent, but recently, I have gained more understanding.
I have been going to LEFC for my entire life and throughout my time here, I have grown closer and closer to Christ. Some of the most important steps of my faith have been at church camps and the middle school discipleship group.
I would like to get baptized today as a public profession of faith. My favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11, which says: “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.” This is my favorite verse because it reminds me that God has a plan for my life and I don’t need to worry. I look forward to seeing what God has planned in my future.
Mya Tommasi
When I was four, in my class at church we were learning about what it meant to be a christian and to accept Christ into your heart. That night I was talking to my mom for a while when I was in the bathtub, I had decided I wanted to ask Christ into my heart and so that night I prayed and accepted Jesus into my heart!
In February I went to Winter Blast and really was able to connect and talk with my life group leaders and friends. It really made a big change in my life, both spiritually and physically!
One day I was reading ACTS and this one verse really spoke to me, Acts 2:38 Peter replied. "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." That verse made me realize that I want to be baptized, so today I am here proclaiming my love for Jesus!
Aydan's Testimony
When I was around 8 or 9, my mom signed my twin sister and I up for Good News Club after school. One day, one of the leaders asked me if I had ever accepted Jesus into my heart. I said no and she led me through the process. That was the day I accepted Jesus into my heart.
We lived with our mother at the time, and although my mother and older brother knew who Jesus and God were, we all didn’t live the way we should. Although I thought I was a Christian because of what I had done at my club, I was not really living as “God's example.” I continued going about my day not worrying about it. Then things got a little rough with my mom, so we came to stay with our uncle and aunt for a summer. Our uncle and aunt did however live the Christian life. I was not completely used to it, so I just went around playing like I was a good Christian, but at the end of the summer, we went back with our mom, and I went back to the things I used to do.
Again, my home life was not the best, so my sister and I went to live with our friends, but they were not Christians, and in fact, the mother of the kids was an alcoholic. So, at the end of 4th grade, my mother decided that we would be going back to live with our aunt and uncle.
Our aunt and uncle took us to church every Sunday, my relationship with Jesus started to grow, because I was actually living like I was supposed to. Over the summer, they put us in a wonderful summer camp. One night at camp, there had been a really powerful message. I thought hard on what I used to do in the past. I resubmitted my life to Christ, and I have been trying to live as a Christian ever since.
Lately, I think God has been showing me how much fun you can have in being a Christian. I am always excited to go to church or anything that has to do with Crossover. I also feel that lately I have been wanting to put more faith and trust in him. I have been reading my bible throughout the week, and when I listen to music, it is normally Christian music. Every time I walk into church, I see happy people worshiping God and I realize that I want that too.
We have been living with our Aunt Renee’ and Uncle Jerry for about 4 ½ years now and they have really been a great influence on me about how to love Jesus. I am here today to proclaim that I am a follower of Christ and that I want to share the good news of Jesus with everyone by being baptized.
Dayna Schaeffer
When I was younger, I lived with my mom, it was not a Christian place. Then, we went to live with our Aunt Renee’ and Uncle Jerry for the whole summer. We learned more about Christ with them. That summer my aunt and uncle signed us up to go to a camp called Camp Conquest. It is a Christian camp where my aunt volunteers. We loved it!
At the end of the summer, we went back to our mom and our old habits. It wasn’t long before we went to live with our friends. They also were not a Christian family and it was not a good environment. The mother of the kids was an alcoholic and my mother decided that it would be better off if we didn’t live there anymore, so we went back to our aunt and uncle’s house. We went to camp again that summer. It was awesome to be back there. We kept going each summer. That is where I accepted Jesus into my heart.
I was 11 years old when my counselor was pulling kids aside to ask about their relationships with Christ. When she pulled me over and asked if I accepted Jesus into my heart, I said no, I hadn’t. So, then she asked me if I wanted to and I said yes. She prayed with me and I asked Jesus into my heart.
When I got back from camp I tried to be as Christian as possible. Many times, I have re-submitted my life to Jesus. I might not have seen a lot of change in my life, but I like to see how God changes other lives, it helps me think about what he can do in my life. Being with my aunt and uncle has taught me a lot about trusting in Christ. I love going to church and worshiping, I love hanging out with friends at Crossover, and I love hanging out with friends that love Christ, and I love having a relationship with Christ. My friends and family help me understand that God has done wonderful things in our lives. That is why I want to be baptized. I want to be born again in the name of Jesus.
Megan Groff