David

I grew up in a Christian home just outside beautiful Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Some of my earliest memories are of me going to church.  (Though going to church can’t save you I am very thankful for the testimony and faithfulness of my parents in teaching me about Christ.)  In Sunday School, church services, and family devotions, I was exposed to Biblical teaching.  I can remember understanding what sin was, and how my sin displeased God.  I can remember my teachers telling me how Jesus Christ died in my place to pay for my sin and that unless I trusted Him to be my Savior I would die and go to Hell.  All of this is a lot for a young boy of five to process and I had lots of questions.  The day I asked Jesus to save me, my parents, my brother, and I were riding to church in our old Nissan Sentra.  For most of the twenty-five minute trip I had been asking my parents questions about God, and salvation.  After explaining everything to me again, they asked me if I wanted to ask Jesus to come into my heart and save me.  I told them, “yes”. As we pulled into the parking lot of my childhood church home, I prayed and asked God to forgive me of my sins and to save me.  I can remember the joy I had in my heart after I was done praying;  I had never done something like that before.  Afterwards I ran inside and started telling people I had gotten saved.  There was one older lady that I remember running up to and hugging her and telling her I was saved!  I continued to grow in the Lord through out my elementary, junior and teen years, and at the age of sixteen I was baptized.  I attended Ambassador Baptist College and while there He made it clear to me that He was calling me to be a pastor.  God has been very patient with me, but I am thrilled to be able to serve him with my life!

Amieé Marie

On March 21st, 1993, at the age of eight years old, I laid in bed tossing and turning. I couldn’t get the words that my Pastor had said during that night’s sermon off my mind: “The distance from Heaven to Hell, for many, is as far as their hearts are from their brains. It is not enough to know it; you must believe it.” 

I had previously made a profession of faith a few years back; only because I had been fascinated with the idea of getting baptized. I knew I hadn’t really believed it; and now I knew that I was a wicked sinner on my way to Hell. My works, even at eight years old, were evil; I would never be good enough to make it into Heaven on my own merit. 

The next morning I sought out my sister. She reminded me from the Bible of God’s righteousness, love, and forgiveness. Many of the verses we read together I had memorized before; but they held a new meaning for me now. God loves me and didn’t want me to spend an eternity in Hell! Because of that love, Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood in payment for my sins! He was buried, and three days later arose from the dead, victorious over sin and death! 

I accepted His free gift of salvation that morning on the floor of my childhood bedroom. The joy and peace that washed over me afterwards is still too wonderful to describe. I know that when my life’s purpose is finished here on Earth, I will go home to be with my Father for all eternity.