Isaac was baptized in August 2023. If you have interest in getting baptized at Hope Community Church, you can learn more by visiting hopecc.com/baptism.
Growing up in the church, I always believed that God created the world and sent his Son to die for my sins. I never doubted that. But what I did doubt was if God’s plan was best for me. Having a relationship with Jesus seemed like no fun because I would have to stop doing many things that I liked doing. So, I decided to live on my own terms. I had a faith-someday mentality: I was going to live life my own way and repent when I’m older so I could still go to heaven. I did that for a while. But this life didn’t satisfy the Jesus-shaped hole in my heart.
So, this past winter, through God’s grace and being surrounded by faithful friends at Cru, I made the decision to pick up my cross and follow Jesus. To lose my past life and find new life in Christ. The Parable of the Lost Son has been so meaningful to me in my faith journey. It gives me so much joy that after choosing to live my entire life my own way, I can still come back to Jesus who is waiting with open arms, just like the father who ran out to the lost son when he returned.
I am getting baptized both as a public declaration to the church that I trust Jesus alone for the forgiveness of my sins, but also as a reminder to myself that he saved me, and I will never leave His love.
