2012 BAPTISM TESTIMONIES
CHRISTIN ADAMS - I was raised to believe in God. I attended church, Sunday school and parochial school as a child. Throughout my adolescent years I stopped going to church and grew further from God. When I met my husband he would share stories of his church experiences and his love for Christian music which encouraged me to start attending church more frequently. I came to a point in my life when I was not enjoying my career and felt like I needed something more. I prayed to God to point me in the right direction and He placed me in a career where I was able to work and help others as a Social Worker. I have decided to get baptized today because I have seen firsthand God’s amazing work! Through working with children and families, I have learned that with Him all things are possible. My dad and mentors taught me to remind myself that I work for God. I found when I do that I have peace in my life and great things happen! I have also learned that He will take care of everything, as long as I let Him. Today I am proud to say that the weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and He carries it all for me, and what a free feeling that is to know that He is in control!
Justin Shepard
When I was in third-grade, I accepted Jesus into my heart. I want to get baptized because I want to let everyone know that I accepted Jesus into my heart and I want to follow in Jesus' ways.
Elijah Steven Adams
I want to be baptized because I want to be with Jesus. And I want to show other people I trust him.
Kim Nayakwadi
I want to be baptized because I want to be closer to God. I want him to be in my heart.
ERICA AUGUSTYNIAK - Let me start by saying how much I love God and how awesome He is. Because really, that is what this testimony is all about. Like many Christians, I was baptized as an infant and was raised in a Christian household. I attended church regularly, learned the Lord's prayer, took Holy Communion, and feared God. However, I was missing what it meant to be a Christian, a follower of Christ. I never had a personal relationship with God. The funny thing is, God never left my side. I am so grateful that He did not give up on me. Then it happened. Nothing monumental. We were having a hard time conceiving our second child. We were in the early process of finding out what the problem was when I decided it was in God's hands. I was in God's hands finally. By the time we had our doctor appointment, we had conceived. I knew then that God was my Lord, that Jesus was my Savior and that I needed him in control Our son, Hayden, is proof of my surrender to God. For the past 12 years, I have been working on my personal relationship with my Lord. I have been studying the Bible and learning what it really means to be a Christian. Now I can be baptized the way Jesus has always wanted it, with all my heart and all my soul and with all my mind and with all my strength!
ERIN AUGUSTYNIAK - I have grown up in a strong Christian home all my life, attending Bible camps and church almost every weekend. Both of my parents are encouraging and teach me the ways of the Lord. I have always believed God sent His only Son to die for me, but I wasn't able to completely comprehend it. In June of 2011, I had spent a day doing volunteer work for the DO Something project at our church. I thought to myself, "I just want to be part of something bigger than myself." It was then I realized I already was. I was part of the Body of Christ. I was one of the many people who call themselves Christians and who were out spreading God's love. At around 10:00 that evening, I fully surrendered myself to Christ. It has only been a little over a year but I have changed so much already. I have been baptized before, but I was only a baby. Because God has shown His love and because I have given my life to Him, it is only right for me to be baptized as a Christian.
HAYDEN AUGUSTYNIAK - Ever since I was little I went to BSF, KidZone and VBS day camps. I knew that I wanted to be closer with God and Christ. At around 7 or 8 I wanted to learn more about God and Jesus, so my sister and I went to the regular services with our parents. i got to know the way things work out with God, and you don't always get what you want when you want it, or not get it at all. I started to get more serious about praying. My father never was a strong Christian when he was younger, after a certain age, he didn't go to church as often. I started to realize that I might not see him in heaven. At around 10 and 11, I started to pray for him. I prayed a lot and nothing happened. I lost faith and gave up. Then a couple months later, he suggested that we do some family devotionals. We did some, and we became a stronger family. Then he signed my sister up for D-Groups and me for WOW! I began to build up faith in God. Now I want to take a bigger step forward. I want to get baptized to let God know that I want to become closer to Him.
WAYNE AUGUSTYNIAK - I was raised by a Catholic father and a Protestant mother. However, Dad was not overly involved with church, therefore, we were not raised Catholic. We were your typical church-going family. We went to church because it was the right thing to do. I met Erica (my wife) at 16 and she was also from a churchy family. I started to attend her church (Episcopal) more than my own, probably because I was spending more time with her than with my own family. I am an avid hunter and outdoorsman, therefore, I spend countless hours with God and all his glorious creatures. I have always found my outdoor time to be a very abundant source of all things Godly. I have learned through scripture that infants are not able to make the commitment to Christ. Therefore, true baptism needs to be an informed decision to receive Christ as my true Savior. Now it is my time as a father of two amazing children, Erin and Hayden, to re-commit to Jesus. Together with my beautiful wife and our two children we will all be baptized with the true meaning of all that is Jesus Christ.
FRED BADENHOOP - Baptism is one of the most important things in life! I am choosing to leave the past in the past, and follow Christ in my future! We are all forgiven by His wounds! May we all have hope, faith, and love!
MARGARET BADENHOOP - I am 31-years-old with congestive heart failure, a defibrillator/pacemaker implanted in my chest, back, kidney, and liver problems, have had four heart attacks in less than six months, lived in a nursing home, and for some reason, I’m still alive! I have done some non-Christian things in my life, but Christ has forgiven me. Baptism is a sign of my new life in Christ. I can start fresh and new as a Christian woman.
LEVI BEAM - I lied before I let Jesus into my heart. It felt bad. Then when I let Jesus into my heart I didn't, but then I lied again. And now I have stopped lying. Instead, I make lots of wise choices.
CHEYENNE BRIDGMAN - I want to be baptized to let people know that Jesus is my Savior and my Lord. I love him and he loves me. He died for me and cares for me. If there are people who don’t know, I’d tell them Jesus loves you and he’ll take care of you just like he takes care of me.
BETTY DAVIS - I was watching Reverend Charles Stanley, and he was talking about being repentant and believing. So I did that, and now want to be baptized. I say my prayers to Jesus and God every day. I am never ever alone.
JUSTIN DEVEREAUX - I will keep a very long story as short as possible. I grew up with a lot of “religion,” and always believed that Jesus died for me, and for all of us! Since January 6 of this year, my relationship with God has grown daily. As I have been growing closer to the LORD, I have had the desire to be baptized in His name so I may continue my growth with Jesus! I am not doing this for public confirmation because that is minimal to me. I am doing this because Jesus commands it, and I need it to continue my growth with the Lord. Since I have given my life to faith in God, I have been able to see all the miracles He performs on a daily basis. I am excited to see what becomes after my baptism!
BROOKE ELMORE - I accepted Jesus when I was 10. I was in my room alone and I said the prayer. Then I went and told my mom. Now that I am following God I want to help people. I had always known that God was in my life because we have always gone to church. But now I like knowing He is in my heart. I want to thank my parents for taking me to church to learn about Jesus. I am happy to be baptized so I can follow Jesus.
KAYLA RENAE FLANAGAN - Before I accepted Jesus I thought everything was about me. I didn't think about others’ feelings. Now I try to do the right thing and find Jesus in me. I am a lot more caring and this is how Jesus and God have changed me. I would like to be baptized to show that I am devoted to my faith.
STEPHEN FULLER - I want to proclaim publicly my love and commitment to Jesus. Baptism will help me to grow spiritually on my walk with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The outdoor baptism is really neat, just like our Lord in the Jordan River. The Lord and Savior of the world was baptized, that seems like an excellent reason for me to pursue this symbolic act. This act will help me become even more free from the world and even closer to Christ. My choice might lead others to Christ, not only in my own family, but also those in my church, those watching, and those I encounter after being baptized. Peace be with all, help non-believers to see the Light and come to the Savior.
RONDA GIPSON - I was raised as a Christian and have lived most of my adult life as a Christian. I have lost both of my parents, and yes, I was angry when God called them both home at such young ages. I have finally come to peace that they were needed in heaven. I have also come to peace that they are both living a much better and deserved life with God. God and Jesus Christ are in my heart and I speak to them almost every day. Whenever I feel troubled or lost I search in my soul and let God show me the way. I have thought about baptism for many years, but I believe that I am now ready. I thank Jesus often for his sacrifice of dying on the cross and hearing my prayers. I am starting a new chapter in my life with my fiancé, Tim. Thank you, Pastor Bob Confer, for being the one to baptize me alongside Tim in my hometown. I know July 22 will be a day that will be celebrated each year to remind me of my new relationship with Jesus Christ.
AUTUMN GUFFEY - I want to get baptized because even though I was "spiritual" when I was little, I feel like its not the same. I have grown up with the church, accepted Christ, and at a church camp "proclaimed" my connection with Christ even more. And I feel that being baptized would bring me even closer to Him and lead me further in my walk with Christ.
LAURA HESS - I have been raised a Christian all my life, but I have never been baptised. God has continually blessed my life in the good times as well as the bad, even when I didn't deserve it. I feel it is time I acknowledge Christ in my life and show Him my Love, my Faith and devotion through Baptism.
TIM KIESTER - I was baptized a few years ago in a Lutheran Church. The baptism was with drops of water over my head. I was glad that I was finally baptized, but I really wanted to be baptized like Jesus was, having my body totally submerged. My fiancée, Ronda, and I were talking to Pastor Bob back on June 17, 2012 about our future wedding in the First Church of God and the subject of baptism. Pastor Bob invited us to be baptized together. I have three sons, and I hope that I will live long enough to see them all baptized. Thank you, Pastor Bob and First Church of God, for allowing us to be baptized and married in your church.
CALI LAUGHLIN - I want to be baptized because I have known God for as long as I can remember and I asked Him into my heart in KidZone when I was little and finally wanted to be a part of God's eternal family. I am glad to have a loving Christian family who loves and supports me. I want to continue to grow as a Christian. I want to be able to show the love of God through me and have him help me in doing everything to the best of my abilities for Him, others and myself.
LIBBY PRICE - I've been raised in a Christian home and have always known about God. I know the only way to get to heaven is through Jesus. I want to be baptized so that I can be His forever friend, and live with him in heaven.
GRANT AARON ROSE - In KidZone we talked about baptism. Other kids said that they were baptized and I decided I wanted Jesus to live in my heart. This way he can help me with things like being more patient and to keep me from hurting other people when they hurt my feelings. I want to follow God the rest of my life because I love Him and I know He loves me.
BRIAN ROUSH - Attending First Church worship services, classes, reading the Bible and being surrounded by strong believers in Christ helped to show me how to further understand the meaning of life and help get through life’s challenges. I was baptized as an infant and raised in a good Christian home. Lately there has been that little voice tugging in my ear saying hey, follow Jesus ’s commandments, get baptized, continue to grow. I believe Christ died for us, was buried, and rose for us, I feel baptism is a part my of having a continued commitment to being a follower of Jesus in a Christian life.
TOM SAMPLES - I want to be baptized. I want the blood of Jesus. The full armor of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to help me fight the devils.
TAYA ZIELKE - I knew about Jesus since I was about 4-years-old. But I didn't really understand until the age of six. That's when I let him into my heart. I really want to get baptized so I can show people how much I love Christ.
TESS ZIELKE - I was baptized as an infant and confirmed in 8th-grade. I have been a believer for as long as I can remember. I am a child of God! God has recently been nudging me toward immersion baptism. I choose to be baptized the way Jesus was, I want to follow in His footsteps for the rest of my life.