epiphany

New Life

Sometimes I really love my church. Tonight we had a baby dedication and baptismal service. There were nearly 30 babies and 45 new converts. Where I'm from, baptism is a very quiet occasion. Out here, people get a little rowdy, clapping, cheering, and whistling. A few years ago, I would have found it disrespectful. Now I'm starting to understand celebration. We're honored to live in a place where we can openly celebrate God's gifts and love through Jesus.

Another terrific thing is that nearly all the converts are adults. Each has a story. Each has a life. Each has seen love in Christ, and change is the result. With that many baptizees, only a few tell their entire tale during the service. The rest give short statements of belief. However, all of them tell their story in a handout the audience received as we entered. I'd like to share a couple. I love how human and real these people are. (I'm leaving off last names since I haven't asked permission to reprint these.)

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Sara A, age 25

I remember from a very early age feeling a sense of isolation in Islam. I remember long treks in the snow with my family from our house to the local mosque. Once inside, I had to put my hijab on and go upstairs to the loft area whee the women prayed, separated from the men. At this age of 6 or 7, I was already a pretty rebellious kid and I would always try to pull the hijab away from my head and peer down the railing - wondering why we had to be separated.

After a few colorful teen years, I found myself in Seattle. I was away from my parents and isolated from all my friends and had to make all my decisions on my own. It was then that I met someone that introduced me to Jesus, not just "God." I was very resistant at first. The first time I came to Mars Hill, I was completely taken aback by the scene. So I attended a different church for the next ten months. And then the Lord finally opened my eyes and my heart when I returned and listend to one of Pastor Mark's sermons abut Christ on the Cross. I found myself identifying with everything he was saying. By the end of the sermon I was wrecked, completely convicted, and with tears in my eyes, I went to thte front desk and asked for a copy of the Bible. I then went to my car and cried like I had never cried before, literally craying from the depths of my soul. All the while I kept thinking "Oh crap, I am a Christian." I knew that my tears were of joy but also of pain because I knew that I was going to face my family who would not accept my decision, because being an Afghan and Muslim is so cultural. Regardless, I believe that the Lord provides and that my hope comes from Him, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

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Damon C, age 38

I was raised by an abusive Jehovah's Witness grandfather who gave me a horrible idea about religion and religious people. By the time I was 19 years old, I was in the Army and declared myself an atheist. I was mean to people who loved Jesus or any other god and believed it was my job to alert them to what seemed to me to be the cruel truth. I began fostering a serious drug and alcohol problem and a bit of a criminal record. I hated everything and everyboday. In the middle of my remorse and hopelessness, I agreed to seek help from God as I understood him and God sobered me up. I knew that God had done for me what I couldn't do for my self and eventually, about 10 years ago, God gave me the idea to read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I prayed to God and asked Him to tell me if the Bible were true or not. Then, the Bible came alive for me and I knew that Jesus is God, died and rose to conquer sin and death.

Since then a lot has happened. I have completely lost interest in neo-spirituality and philosophy, except as it reflects the might, truth, and beauty of Jesus. Two years ago, I found Mars Hill Church and have enjoyed becoming a member of a group that believe that the Bible, the living Word of God, is authority above all others. I also host a Bible study at my tattoo shop on Wenesday nights so I can try to spread a little of the gospel message up on Capitol Hill [the Seattle neighborhood with the mass murder this weekend]. I'm way over due to be baptized, and I am excited to do it at Mars Hill with people that I know love Jesus as much as I do. I hope my testimony helps someone.

Posted by jonhanneman at March 29, 2006 9:47 PM | TrackBack