For SeanGoh-ANswering Questions

[reeann]

<P>Sean:</P>
<P>This is in response to your question of how I became a Christian. My background: #4 child of a family of 8. Catholic upbringing, parochial school. Married at 17, three children by 21. My husband and I are still married (miracles *grins*). When did I become a Christian? I say Father’s Day 1994. (I think, my memory isn’t as good as it used to be, I’ll have to check that date). I was led to pray the sinner’s prayer by a friend in Shoney’s Restaurant in July 1994. I was baptized in August 1994.</P>
<P>What led me to that church? I was searching for understanding of myself for quite sometime. I was miserable, mean, and bitter. I am an avid reader and read 24/7 different psychology books, self-help books, followed and studied different religions and new age movements, including transcendental mediation, etc. I was given a lot of understanding about my behavior patterns, and why I acted the way I did but always failed to have the power to change it. I literally was open to anything and everything. I avoided churches because of some things that happened to me as a child in the Catholic schools. Finally, I was reading a self-help book and had done all the exercises of how to help myself change. One thing listed in that book was join your local church. By that time, I felt I had nothing to lose (I really didn’t expect to meet God in church). I picked out this church because my brother and his wife lived next door to some members of that church and they had invited me to a pot luck there. I thought the people were nice. So, on Father’s Day, I dragged my kids out of bed, left my husband at home (he didn’t believe there was a God back then), and met Gail (my brother’s neighbor) to go to The First Baptist Church. </P>
<P>Gail first took me to a women’s Bible study class. She had talked and talked about Millie and what an awesome teacher she was. The day I was there though Millie was sick and her faithful but a lil grumbly husband took over her class (apparently, he did not relish the thought of taking over a class full of ladies *grins*). He was teaching from 1 Corinthians. The words he spoke and talk about truly awoke my heart and in the middle of that class I heard the gospel. This man may have been grumbly but the Holy Spirit moved my heart that day, I felt a rock roll off my spirit and I KNEW it was God and He wanted to love me. I am not sure all of what was said in that class , I was trying to digest what was happening. One thing for sure, I just KNEW it was God, I have no doubts about that. Thereafter, Gail with her joyful chatter led me to the front row (I was horrified, I wanted to sit in the back) for service. I’ll never forget that day *giggles*. I had back then fancy myself a feminist and the Pastor walks up to podium and says "I believe the husband is the Spiritual Leader over all of his family". If I had not been in the front row I think I would have bolted. The rest of the sermon however moved my heart. He spoke of God’s love, of how a man was to be submitted to Christ, and how a husband needed to love as Christ love the church. I was floored. I knew Jesus was the love and the meaning I had been searching for. Right there, I know my heart reached out to God and He changed me forever that day.</P>
<P>The rest is history. Gail gave me a bible right after service (a big brand new one, I was floored again). She kept in contact with me, we discussed what I heard, how I felt in church and she prayed with me in Shoney’s restaurant over a cup of tea. The next day, I walked forward to make a public statement and join the church. I <A name=BM_1_></A>was baptized shortly thereafter.</P>
<P>Sean, if there is anything more you need to know, just ask. </P>
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[Gerry]

Thanks for posting this inspiring testimony! Hope it will lead to many others being posted here as well.