That Church

My mother was introduced to a new church when I was about seven or eight years old. My siblings and I started attending with my mother, and I remember absolutely loving it. My mother eventually stopped going after about a year. Growing up, I vividly remembered “that church” every time we drove by it. I did not know the church’s name, but I would always tell my mom that if we went back to church, I wanted to go to “that church,” which we attended when I was little.

Wayward Life

By the time I was in high school, I had started drinking and partying a lot. The drinking led to experimenting with drugs, and that led to addictions. In the midst of all of this, I still believed in God, and I knew that He was watching me. This was somewhat my guilty conscience. Even though deep down I knew what I was doing was wrong, I kept doing it. Partying was my life throughout high school and through most of my time in community college. This was the life that I knew well.

In 2007, my mother started attending the same church again, and she managed to convince my brothers and my dad to go with her. I remember her asking me to go with them sometimes, but I kept putting it off. Finally, I started going with them, but most of the time, I had a hangover. I remember being overwhelmed by the people in the church with their sincerity and warm welcoming. The feeling that I got every time I went scared me because it just felt so right.

One day this woman came up to my brothers and me and asked us if we wanted Bible studies. We looked at each other, and I answered her with “sure.” I really did not think much about studying the Bible; to me, it was nothing important.

A Change Inside

As I studied, I gradually became intrigued with what I was learning and began to feel a change inside. That scared me because I felt like something was happening that I could not control. I believed in God, and I knew His character more than ever in my life, but how could I give my life to Him? I struggled with it because I was afraid of leaving my old life.

Little by little, I cut back on my addictions, and I began letting go of long-time friends who negatively influenced me. Finally, I committed to being baptized in June 2008. When it came time, I remember being afraid as I walked out to the water. Wanting to turn around, I stopped and looked behind me. As I was stood there, I felt God telling me it would be okay and not to be afraid. After that, I continued walking toward the water, and I gave my life to God.

I have been drug and alcohol-free for over three years now. I am at a place in my life where I never thought I would be. “That church” is now part of my life. God has blessed me so much the past couple of years, and I love my new life and the fact that God is walking with me every step of the way.

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* A Seventh-day Adventist Church

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