Baptism June 3, 2018
The following testimonies are from those who were baptized during Sunday in the "Church" on June 3, 2018.
GRACE ACEBO
Hi my name is Grace-Anne Acebo. I’m 14 years old and going into tenth grade. I am incredibly fortunate to have grown up in a supportive Christian home. I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior at three years old. At that time I was sharing a room with my brother Andrew and my dad would come in every night to pray with us. One night I decided to accept Christ into my heart with my little comprehension. When I was finished praying, me being me, I looked over to my dad and asked “did I do that right daddy” and he said yes. Ever since I was little I have struggled with severe anxiety, little things like sleeping over at a friend’s house were difficult for me to do. Fear would creep into my mind and I couldn't combat it. In 2012 around Thanksgiving I was outside painting a picnic table with my grandfather and I told him about my anxiety and my struggles with fighting it. He looked around the table and said, “Why? There's no reason to be afraid when you have God.” It's easy to respond to that with “easier said than done”, but it wasn't a command it was reminder that when you are afraid, if you look to God, he will help you through it. A few days later he unfortunately passed away, but I carry his words with me every day. My sister pointed me towards a verse, my now favorite verse, Philippians 4: 6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.” Colleen had me read this verse every day until I had it memorized and now any time I am anxious I recall this verse and am pointed to God. With my grandfather's advice and my sister’s verse it got easier to work through my fears. I am incredibly lucky to have the family and friends that I do. My family has always had open hearts, open arms, and open minds when I most needed it. I am being baptized today to display my faith in Jesus Christ
STEVE BRAUN
I accepted Christ at a very young age. I went to Christian schools most of my life. I was baptized somewhere around 8-9 years old. Most of my life I identified as a Christian, but the older I got the less my life showed it. I stopped going to church around the age of 18. If asked I would say I was a Christian, and I always believed in Jesus and the gospel but I was not following him.
Over that time period I did see some miracles that God worked in my life. He was always faithful to me even when I wasn’t faithful to him! Nelson Boll was talking to me for a while and encouraging me to try LEFC. After God performed yet another miracle in my life, my wife and I decided to try LEFC one time! I wasn’t expecting much. We were going for one service to more or less appease Nelson and then planning on moving on to a smaller church or something. That was August of 2014 and we’ve been here ever since! Thank you Nelson! My wife and I are Oikos success stories!
One Sunday shortly after I started going to LEFC, I prayed with Tony Hunt and rededicated my life to Jesus. I have been following him ever since. It is amazing to see the work he does in me and my family! I am not the same person I was. My attitude and outlook on life, money and family have changed drastically.
Like I said I was baptized at a young age. I don’t think I really knew what it meant. Since I spent all those years not following Jesus, I want to proclaim him as Lord of my life and be re-baptized, fully understanding what baptism means!
ANDREW DAHL
I first started thinking about God when I went to church as a little kid. I realized I was a sinner when I did bad things to my parents or my sisters. And that’s when I realized I needed God’s forgiveness.
I asked God into my heart in April of 2017, after asking my Mom and Dad some questions. Ever since I asked him into my heart, everything felt different to me. I didn’t feel like doing anything the next day and I felt really happy.
I’m glad I asked him into my heart because I now he saved me from my sin. He let all the sad and angry thoughts out of my brain. Now that I have Jesus in my heart, I realize I’m still a sinner. But no matter what, he forgives my sins.
KAITLYN DAHL
I don’t remember much before I became a Christian and before I asked Jesus into my heart. My parents always pray with me at night and have told me Bible stories so I always knew who Jesus was. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized how important Jesus should be in my life.
I was six years old when I was talking to my Mom getting ready for bed and I had a lot of questions asking mainly about Jesus. After a long conversation I prayed with my Mom and asked Jesus into my heart and to save me from my sins. Now that I did that, I realized that this is the only way to heaven.
Now that I asked Jesus into my heart, I try to live a life focused on Jesus and I want my friends to know that Jesus is real in my life. I also know that I am still sinful, but I also know that He has forgiven me even though I still might make mistakes.
PRISCILLA MITCHELL
Hi, my name is Priscilla Mitchell and I am 9 years old. Today I want to share what Jesus has done in my life and why I want to get baptized.
I was born in Ghana and when I was 4 years old, I was adopted along with my sister, Gina. I believe that Jesus helped me when I was getting adopted to have courage during it through the difficult flight and transition from life in Ghana to America. I think Jesus had a plan for me when my parents came to visit us in Ghana and eventually adopted us. I believe He lead me to this family because they would be good support for me and help me with my struggles. With them, I have been able to go to LEFC and learn about Jesus.
I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was 5 years old and since then I have continued to believe in Him. He has helped me to make friends at school since it can be hard to find good ones. He also helped me when I was recovering from a broken arm. I can see many moments in my life where Jesus was by my side.
I want to get baptized today because I have accepted Jesus as my savior and I know that he will always be with me whenever I am struggling with something. I want to show people that I have put my faith in Him. My favorite verse is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life.” Now I want to help other people learn about Jesus and put their faith in him as well.
AMELIA WITTMAIER
My name is Amelia Wittmaier and I am 14 years old. I cannot remember a time when I didn't know Jesus. When I was 5 years old, I accepted Jesus into my heart.
Going through elementary school, religion didn't play much of a role in my life. I went to school and what religion I was didn't really matter. Then I went to middle school. That was where I first really started seeing how being a Christian impacted my life. I had the choice then to act like everyone else, or to be different--all because I was a Christian. Even though it was hard at times to be different and to stand out, God has made it possible for me to do so.
My favorite verse, Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Even though I'm in a public high school and it can be hard to not conform to today's society, believing in God and trusting in him has made all of the difference for the better good. I want to be baptized today to show that I follow Jesus and live my life for him.