I would like to offer my personal testimony. I've always considered myself a Christian, though I didn't feel as close to Jesus as I wanted to be. My best friend is very close to Christ and is very well-read spiritually. He has kind of acted as my sounding board for questions I've had over the years. He's been quite a help. My father, who I am very close to, was also instrumental in helping me get closer to Christ.
Over the last 3 years or so, my Dad and I discussed attending a Promise Keepers event. He had been several times though I had never gone. A year ago July my father was diagnosed with leukemia and he and I spent a great deal of quality time together over the course of 6 or 7 mos, much of it discussing our spirituality as well as our feelings for each other and for Jesus. Unfortunately he passed away last February, a few months before PK held an event in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Understandably I took it very hard, though I believe he spent a few weeks both before and after his death trying to help console and inspire me to become closer to Christ. My best friend and I decided to attend the PK event and I was at first somewhat taken aback by the very "open" expression of Christianity that the 17,000 attendees showed. You see, I am somewhat conservative in my spirituality and have never been to a church where the attendees were outspoken or "charismatic". However, I felt something stir within me during the first hour or so of the event and soon found myself searching for a way to get to the floor of the arena when the event organizer asked those in attendance to come to the floor to ask Christ to come into your life. As I was walking my buddy came beside me and put his arm around me as support and came to the floor with me. As I asked Christ to come into my life during that session, I felt a 37 yr. old weight being lifted from my shoulders and heart and I literally floated back to my seat. The first thing that the speaker said as everyone got seated was "I bet those of you who came down to the floor feel a lot lighter now." His statement could not have been more appropriate to describe the way I was feeling. I had a wonderful 2 days at the PK event. I also shared my story with my wife, and it was at that time that I told her I wanted to be baptized at our local church. She was ecstatic and so was I. A few months later, at a very special ceremony at our church, I was baptized, along with 7 or 8 others. I shared this story immediately prior to being completely immersed in the baptismal waters. I have been on a quest to read more and learn more about how to become closer to Christ ever since, and I couldn't be happier. I'm sorry if my story was a little long-winded. As a lawyer, one of the first things they taught us in law school was how to talk and write too much. Thanks for letting me share my story.
Over the last 3 years or so, my Dad and I discussed attending a Promise Keepers event. He had been several times though I had never gone. A year ago July my father was diagnosed with leukemia and he and I spent a great deal of quality time together over the course of 6 or 7 mos, much of it discussing our spirituality as well as our feelings for each other and for Jesus. Unfortunately he passed away last February, a few months before PK held an event in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Understandably I took it very hard, though I believe he spent a few weeks both before and after his death trying to help console and inspire me to become closer to Christ. My best friend and I decided to attend the PK event and I was at first somewhat taken aback by the very "open" expression of Christianity that the 17,000 attendees showed. You see, I am somewhat conservative in my spirituality and have never been to a church where the attendees were outspoken or "charismatic". However, I felt something stir within me during the first hour or so of the event and soon found myself searching for a way to get to the floor of the arena when the event organizer asked those in attendance to come to the floor to ask Christ to come into your life. As I was walking my buddy came beside me and put his arm around me as support and came to the floor with me. As I asked Christ to come into my life during that session, I felt a 37 yr. old weight being lifted from my shoulders and heart and I literally floated back to my seat. The first thing that the speaker said as everyone got seated was "I bet those of you who came down to the floor feel a lot lighter now." His statement could not have been more appropriate to describe the way I was feeling. I had a wonderful 2 days at the PK event. I also shared my story with my wife, and it was at that time that I told her I wanted to be baptized at our local church. She was ecstatic and so was I. A few months later, at a very special ceremony at our church, I was baptized, along with 7 or 8 others. I shared this story immediately prior to being completely immersed in the baptismal waters. I have been on a quest to read more and learn more about how to become closer to Christ ever since, and I couldn't be happier. I'm sorry if my story was a little long-winded. As a lawyer, one of the first things they taught us in law school was how to talk and write too much. Thanks for letting me share my story.
I thought that story was touching and I almost felt like I was there with you. I remember my journey in getting to know Jesus Christ. I remember like you, the day when my pastor asked anyone who didn't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to come to the altar. So, I did and the pastor laid on hand on me and he started to pray for me 
. I felt the holy spirit take hold of my soul and I began to cry
. God is powerful and he can change your life if you let him. I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ now and I continue to grow and learn more.
