my testimony

[dano884christ]

I was born in Northeastern PA, in 1988. Grew up with a brother and sister, as the oldest child. Had an interesting childhood. Went to a lutheran church growing up, the old, pipe organ type. My dad could be verbally abusive at time, yelling, cursing my mom out, for hours on end. It was so bad I was afraid it'd get physical and my dad would beat her up or worse. I had a stuttering problem until i was 12, was picked on constantly, which also made me angry and could lash out at people. I got beat up when I was in second grade, so my dad enrolled me in boxing and self defense classes, where I could defend myself, and with my anger, it was a bad mix, was in many a fist fight from juior high into my college years. I was an athlete, in the popular crowd in high school, made all-region for baseball and football, and felt like I could run the school, as I started in baseball as a sophomore in high school, and here I hung out with juniors and seniors growing up. I went to their weekend parties, where I had my first drink, and smoked my first joint, and Lost my virginity the summer going into my junior year. Sports, Friends, Parties, drugs, and girls were how I esteemed myself. I eventually got a girlfriend after having a few random "hookups", and slept with her frequently. I was also editor of the school paper, an aspiring journalist, and made good grades, so i figured I was a good kid because I wasn't a total pothead and was faithful to my girlfriend, who I lived with for a few months my senior year because I beat up my dad for cursing my mom out (bad idea, I know). I went to a youth retreat at a baptist church, where I heard the gospel, and said the sinner's prayer. and started attending a baptist church, reading the bible, but still partying, drinking, and sleeping with the girlfriend. I did reconcile with my dad, and we have a good relationship now. I went to a good school on a baseball scholarship for college, majoring in Journalism, still with the girlfriend, but wrestling with it, felt convicted. I got kicked off the baseball team for a fight in a frat house, and my world fell apart, it didn't help that a month later my girlfriend dumped me, so I went back to having random one night stands for a while and drinking.
I believe at an RUF event at my school was where I finally trusted Christ with everything in 2008 and where I got saved, His grace was so freeing, and so fulfilling. I felt liberated and free. I finally understood that my standing before God is secure in Jesus if I trust in who he is and what he did for me on the cross. My life completely was shaken by the good, amazing grace of God through Christ in the Gospel. that summer I attended a bible study for the first time, ran by a couple I consider my second parents, and continued to grow, made amazing, godly friends, and the bible, which I knew well, conitnued to come alive.
I graduated with my Journalism degree, but a few months before graduation, I felt the call on my life from the Lord to get into pastoral ministry. I applied to seminary, and was accepted. Summer of 2010 is also where I met the amazing woman who I now call my fiancee. I've gotten the call to be a pastor confirmed by many people, and I am looking forwards to where God takes me and my fiancee as I join His work in my life.