The Story of My Conversion So Far
[By Anonymous]

I was raised by loving parents who modeled and taught us good morals: to be honest, loving and kind to each other and all people. They brought me to Baptist Sunday School and when friends invited me I went to Methodist vacation Bible school. I learned about God, the Bible as his word, and how applications can be made from God’s word to daily life. I learned that the world of nature that so amazed me, all the stars of the heavens that shined brightly from the field where I stood in rural Maine and all of us are God’s creation. I learned about good (defined and exemplified by God and his son Jesus) and evil, and saw evidence of God’s goodness in our world. I saw his sun and rain making things grow, providing food for his creation, and that love and kindness exist. At 8 years old when given the opportunity to pray and let God know I believed in Jesus and wanted to follow him, I did, and was given a Bible I was encouraged to read. As I read I was impressed with the life of Christ and God’s teachings, which I found over the years to be true and effective in relationships, and with the depth of his love in giving his life in our stead to give us opportunity to become right with God. My love for and trust in God deepened.

A few years later one summer there was an opportunity to be baptized. My parents encouraged me to wait until I was older. I began to attend church services first in a Baptist then a non-denominational and while in college an Episcopal-Presbyterian congregation, learning more and continuing to see how the principles Jesus taught are true and work in life.

At this time my fiancé began sharing with me what he was learning in Bible studies with members of the church of Christ. I visited a congregation and participated in a Bible study that included Romans 6 and examples of conversion from the book of Acts. I had understood that I had sinned – done things against God’s word and/or failed to do good. I knew one must have faith in God, leave sin behind and follow his lead in your life to be right with God and have a hope of heaven one day. I struggled with the concept that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). If that is true – and I didn’t think the Bible contradicted itself –  why in passages like John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-13 was there no mention of baptism? It took time and more study. In the end James 2:21, 22 was most helpful. Abraham’s actions made his faith complete, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Faith and belief then are terms not just about acknowledging that God is and knowing who he is, but encompass trusting and obeying him. I understood then that I needed to be baptized for the forgiveness of my sins.

First though I needed to know that the organization of the congregation I would joining on becoming baptized was scriptural – it was different from what I was used to. I was attending services with my now-husband. I saw a loving group of people thankful for the grace God had extended them. I studied until my questions were sufficiently answered. I was then baptized and at peace with God. One’s conversion to Christ does not end there. As Jesus said at the end of the sermon on the mount: Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them in to practice is (spiritually) like a wise man who built his house on the rock; it will stand. The one who doesn’t, will fall. It has been and is therefore my goal to keep reading God’s word and as situations arise in life to avoid immorality, rage, greed, malice, slander, lying etc. (as noted in passages like Colossians 3). Instead with a heart so thankful that Christ extended  compassion, kindness, humility, patience, love and mercy to me, it is my goal to pay these things forward to those around me. I am far from perfect at this and so thankful for God’s continued patience and forgiveness when I acknowledge my shortfalls, get up and try again. I have seen the amazing work of God in the lives of others around me and pray I will continue to grow.